So my good buddy Brian Mclendon released his new album titled Syncopated Peach under the name I Have Been Floated this week, and he’s just simply killing it. We’ve got 9 freaked out tracks, some are reworkings of old songs, some are brand new songs, and all are feeling great. For fans of Neutral Milk Hotel or any off shoot, this is the one for you.
The rest of this stuff is familiar business, so the only thing left for you to do is get Brian’s new album.
So I got a text from my buddy Jason Small, who runs XOXO records, asking me if I could turn a poster around for a contest his label was throwing. This was aroud 8 pm, and they needed it by 8 am the next day. The information was scattered and coming to me in bits and pieces, but I was glad to help out anyway. So with the pressure on, and the clock ticking, I started working on this.
The contest itself, named “Contest Name Here”, is a pretty awesome deal and a great chance to catch these 1 of these 3 super bands if you live in or near one of the cities they’re playing in. Apparently this is going on absolutepunk.net, so if you frequent that site, you might catch it on there. If not, I’ll try to screen cap it once it’s up.
In another news, I heard that the ad I did for River City Extension’s new album is in the current issue of FILTER magazine right now. Broken Social Scene is on the cover if you’re trying to pick that up, I know I am.
I can’t believe it’s lined up so perfectly, but today, and this post, marks both my 1 year anniversary of this blog, and my 100th post. It feels like I’ve been doing this forever, and at the same time, it feels like this past year just flew by. Much has happened in this time, I got hired full time (my initial reason for starting this), Nom Now has emerged as a tower of power (to add to the list of stuff going on today, we’re in our first real deal art show Power In Numbers tonight in Philly), and I’ve gotten a few awesome clients. It’s been awesome, and here’s to hoping this next year is as bonkers as the past one.
I’ve been waiting a long time to finally hear The Drums new self titled full length pretty much since I first heard their EP, and it was certainly what I was hoping it would be. As almost defined by their EP’s title, these guys are summer time. I’m loving this.
I also gave listens to a few bands I’ve been hearing so so so much about. Those being Flying Lotus, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, and Janelle Monáe none of which sounded like I had imagined them to, but I enjoyed all, & Flying Lotus the most . Janelle Monáe’s song Tightrope is bonkers, but the rest of the album is kind of a let down like most pop artist’s albums are.
Check out The Drums new album, and slide over to my last.fm if that’s what you’re into.
Here is a new wallpaper for anyone looking to freshen up there desktop. This phrase came from Mike, and we kind of twisted it to define a situation where you wind up accidentally roasting yourself. Aside from that though, the words just go nicely together. Anyway, this idea came to me and I wanted to make it happen. Boom, Ghost Roast. Go ahead and click on this to grab it full size.
While I admit, this week was wimpy in regards to what I was listening to, I packed in some plays where it counts. I’m shamelessly admitting that I am becoming a huge Eminem fan. In my opinion, his new record Recovery is his best yet. No more silly sound effects accompanying his lines, it’s just straight lyrical dancing. I’m amazed by his flow time and time again. This album also features him talking about positivity and well being, something that at times seems so strange, but if you look at this album in regards to his others, almost necessary.
This week I also remembered how great Andrew Bird is. Club 8 is still doing so right be me. For sure give them a listen.
Happy listening.
In honor and anticipation of the new Toy Story movie, which comes out this Friday. I haven’t been this excited for a movie in a long time. In the words of my friend Dan, the biggest Pixar freak I know, “At the end of the day, whatever happens, there’s still going to be another Toy Story.”
This week was all about Wisdom Tooth. John’s long awaited album release show was this past wednesday, which finally allowed me to get a copy of his newest work Baby Neptune. I have to say, he’s really outdone himself this time. In production quality, songwriting, artwork, basically the whole package has been brought to a new level, though I’m not surprised. John is a good friend of mine, so this is going to sound bias, but you need to get his new album, because it quite worthy of your time. Fortunately/Unfortunately this is a record that whatever I say isn’t going to do it any justice, you just need to hear it. Great work John!
As far as the rest of this goes, worthy of mention is Brick + Mortar an insane 2 piece band tearing up the Asbury music scene right along side bands like River City Extension. This band is literally unbelievable and I HIGHLY recommend you listening to them.
I was passed some new Dark Surfers tracks from my boy Brian, apparently before Yapes got them (soooooo VIP), and much like the new Wisdom Tooth album, this is something else coming out of Trenton that I can’t wait for.
Get me on last.fm if you want to check compatibility.
Last weekend I went to a park in Pitman to take a few photos for some projects I’m working on. I was sorting through them a little last night and came across a few that I had no use for as far as what I originally needed. So I used a couple of them and made this. I had been looking to make something involving our mantra of sorts, “Realize. Create. Beautfiy.” and this finally felt right.
Well again, last.fm got a little jerky with me and some of these are carry-overs from last week. But the important thing is that finally, Wye Oak hit a stride with me. I had gotten their album The Knot a while back and for months it didn’t really do anything for me. Well finally, and thankfully I heard it with a new set of ears and just loved it. Take It In, Siamese, and Talking About Money is one of the greatest 3 song processions I’ve ever heard. I finally understand the buzz about this band and they are worth all of it. Don’t make the same mistake I did, and start listening to these guys now.
This was also a week for The Nerves as I finally got their album of demos, b-sides and live recordings, One Way Ticket. I love these guys. They have the best pop songs.
Also this week led me to The Trashmen a 60s surf rock band who’s song Surfin’ Bird I’m sure you’ve heard before. Very summer, very cool. Check it out.
As per usual, hit me up on last.fm.
Here’s a new wallpaper for anyone looking to update that musty old one you’ve had for too long. I haven’t been updating as much as I’ve liked to, but there will be some more things coming your way in the near future. I’ve working on some ideas for Nom Now pins, which I’ll be sure to post most likely on the NOM NOW facebook page, and let you decide. Anyway, enjoy.
Two Europeans is a project that Ian and I have been working on for nearly 3 years. The concept is simple: Two European guys enjoy eating some form of sweets. There is no talking (aside from the occasional “Ta’as La” or other other made up terms. These guys just love eating food (with each other) and taking videos of it. You can see the evolution of the characters from the first video to the most recent. They sort of become maniacs. I can’t guarantee you’ll like this, but the general response has been those who like it; love it. I find these hilarious to both make and watch, and I hope you get a kick out of them. Test the limits of this humor and see if you’re friends find this entertaining. All the installments (thus far) are below, in the order they were created.
I was finally tuned into the world of No Age this week. And in all fairness it was because I saw a photo of my buddy Mike Walsh showing off a vinyl of theirs. He’s up on the good stuff as much as anyone I know, so I took it as a sign to give it a peek. Described often as noise rock, I found them to be less noisy then some of the other bands being called the same. Which I was happy about…I often find those bands too be a little too noisy. No Age was doing it all right in my book. I’ve only listened to their album Nouns but I’ll be exploring some of their other stuff for sure.
Some other new bands I just got into are Avi Buffalo, who I’m just loving, The Alps who are this chill instrumental band who I was feeling, Junip and their awesome new EP, which led me into some José Gonzalez who I hadn’t listened to in a while and it was long overdue. I also found the first Bruce Springsteen album I actually can say I liked thanks to my pal James Ramirez. Surprisingly enough it was his 2005 album Devils & Dust. Despite my distaste for The Boss, and the fact that guys like him make worse each year starting from their debut, this actually did something for me. Check it out if you’re not too embarrassed to have it show up in your last.fm.
I hadn’t made a strictly Nom Now poster in a bit, but with the Facebook page in full gear, I’m more excited about this than ever. Go on over and “like” it if you haven’t already, there will be many updates through there, and plenty of ways for you to get involved. Speaking of, that’s sort of where the inspiration for this came out. We’ve had quite a few people looking to get involved with Nom Now, and while I’m not in the business of turning people away, especially those looking to help, the idea is that you go out and do your own thing and contribute something of your own to the world. Because you can, and because you should. I’ve asked myself many times “How are you going to contribute?” It’s a question worth asking often. It keeps me in the mind set of never becoming stagnant. It’s also a reminder that our world is only comprised of what we put into it, that being said, we have quite the duty. I hope this all sparks something in you, and you “contribute” this week. Let us know what you’ve done, we’re looking for inspiration all day every day.
So this is going to be the new style for Music Mondays. I’ve decided I’m going to make a poster for the top artist rather just a general accompanying image. I’ll also continue to post screen grabs from my last.fm, but I don’t think I’ll be talking about much besides the week’s top artist. I’m doing this in part because I was feeling slightly stressed out trying to talk about new things week it started to impede how I might normally listen to music. I also wanted to turn this into an opportunity for me to make more posters. So we’ll try it like this for a while. If things don’t work out, we’ll move on.
So this week I was getting into Fruit Bats who’s album The Ruminant Band was hitting the spot in all the right ways. It’s a lot of acoustic songs with an occasional supporting backing band with tons of great harmonies/melodies. I had this on Saturday morning, and it just seem to be the perfect music for the day. I’d really recommend checking them out and The Ruminant Band is a great place to start. Below is how the rest of the week rounded out…if you’re interested in anything else, just leave a comment.
Here’s a little poster I made for the Seaside Music Festival, which is actually today. I forgot about this thing until now, and while this isn’t really doing much as far as getting you there at this point (although you still could go), I just wanted to let you have a look see.
In regards to the Arizona Immigration Law…
It’s pretty mind boggling that is actually happening. I’m ashamed by the regression of our country through this bill, so I wanted to flip this around and ask a question to the people who are afraid of immigration. We’re here because our ancestors came and stole the land from the indigenous people who were living here. Now, if that isn’t an illegal immigrant, I don’t what is.
This new bill is opening the door for legal racial profiling and is absolutely a step backwards in history.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave a comment.
It’s been just under 4 months since I started this Music Monday thing, and I wanted to talk about what’s been topping the charts in that past time. And because next week will introduce the new format of Music Monday, I wanted to give you a culmination of the past time. So above is all the accompanying pieces of art from past entries combined to make one big piece. Last.fm offers me a chart for the past 3 months, so that’s what I give to you.
Real Estate is not surprising to be found at number one because I went through a few waves of obsession. These guys are playing with Kurt Vile at Johnny Brendas on July 11th and I will be there, so do me a favor, and do yourself a favor and meet me there and let’s have a good time. If you still haven’t checked these guys out…well I don’t know what to say besides help me to help you.
Joanna Newsom no undoubtedly makes this because of her seriously great new record Have One On Me. I know that some of you may be on the fence with her, for various reasons, but in my opinion, this is by far her best work. It such a dense record that has a lot to offer in its many layers, which keep unpeeling themselves a few listens in. I also love the album artwork.
Harlem is one of those bands that almost slipped by. But I obviously was able to latch onto them, and once I did, I realized it was a good thing I did. Hippies is one of the most fun sounding albums I’ve heard recently, and it makes you want to put it on loud and drive with the windows down.
I came across Local Natives in the beginning of February and have been listening to them pretty consistently since then. They are one of my favorite new bands, and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, these guys are on the edge of blowing up in a big way, pretty much in the same way that Fleet Foxes did. The dynamic of this band isn’t necessarily anything you haven’t heard before, but they are doing it so well that it just doesn’t matter at all.
Dr. Dog is a band that because of their latest album, Shame, Shame, my interest in them has grown even stronger. It’s a great album that I wouldn’t be hesitant to call their best, and like I said, has put them on my permanent radar. I feel like I can recommend these guys to almost anyone and they would enjoy it.
King Tuff had a wild grip on me these past few months, and much like Harlem, I want to put it on loud and drive my car. The music makes you want to get wild and eat pizza. I can’t really think of a better way to describe it than that…so if anything of those things sound like stuff you can get down to, well by all means, this is for you.
The Avett Brothers are a huge staple in my music listening. In the past year I’ve become obsessed with them, and now they’ll be a part of my life forever. I can’t really think of better songwriters than this band, and I think anyone who gives them a chance, will soon be bitten by their bug, and from there on out, you’re pretty much helpless to them.
Broken Social Scene garnered some plays in part of their new record which reconnected me with them. The cool thing about BSS is that their records are usually packing some serious songs, this most recent one had 14, which is pretty impressive with all things considered. I don’t think I need to convince any of you to give these guys a listen, as I’m sure you have already. But if you haven’t heard the new album yet, I certainly would advise you to give it your ears.
River City Extension just happens to be a group of people who I know, but they’re also a band that even if I knew none of them, I would still be in love with. I’ll spare you because I’ve more than talked your ear off in regards to this band, but RCE is by far one of my favorite bands and I will forever be recommending this band to anyone willing to listen.
Washed Out. To be honest, I can’t really say that I listened to this much after it initially captivated me. It’s one of those things where I listen to something perhaps too much too quickly, and then it’s hard to go back to it for a while. I’m sure by the next EP, the ban will have been lifted. Which speaking of, if you’re looking for a place to start, Life Of Leisure is the way to go.
As always check me out on Last.fm.
Had the pleasure of working with these two fresh bands from the Toms River area on a DIY project they were undertaking. I’m actually really pumped with how this turned out, and it’s a good example of how you can make something look good on a budget. This has started being sold at shows a few weeks ago, so if you can catch either of them live, check this thing out.
In fact, there’s a big show in 2 weeks with these guys, and River City Extension in Baville. It’s on all their myspaces if you need more information. It’s also for my birthday, so I’d like nothing more than to see all of my friends.
I just got in contact with my friend Joe Shure who told me he had been reading this blog. Joe is a very talented guy who I used to play a lot music with. Now he’s somewhat of an entrepreneur, he’s started his own company, and even more recently, and more poignant to this, he’s started his own blog. It’s called Building Week and it’s dedicated to interesting buildings. I told him I would link him up on here, and I used this as a chance to make something interesting. So go and check it out, he’s a great writer. It’s a tumblr, so if you’re on there, be sure to follow him.
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