While browsing through our submissions inbox (and deleting a majority of the older stuff in there) I came across an email with two remixes by a fella name Micah Smith, who creates music under the moniker BEAKR. The names of the two originals BEAKR informed us he had reworked happened to be my main reasoning for initially opening the email, as they are both very strong tracks in their own right. In my poking around for more info I also came across BEAKR’s remix of The Temper Trap’s “Sweet Disposition.” Looking at what he has remixed thus far, it is apparent BEAKR does a nice job in choosing originals, working off inherited strengths and giving them his own twist.
I’ve already posted my opinions on this track being my favorite from One Life Stand, and at this point in the year the album is easily within my top ten releases on the year. That might put this song high on a year end list as well. I tried posting the video weeks ago when it first made its way onto the interwebs, but I was unable to locate an embed-able link at the time. It went out of my head subsequently until I stumbled across it again the other day. The first time I viewed the video I chuckled outwardly, if not full-out laughed. Perhaps making fun of the song – it being a bit poppy and boy-bandish? – is easy evidence of the band not thinking themselves too serious, though I suppose the old promotional pictures with large green hands would do that too. As for the video, I love the facial expressions of our bald and bony character. He conveys quite a bit of humor in his moments on screen and does some fine acting. I thoroughly enjoyed this video, though I have just this one question; If those dudes knew he was going to shoot a lightning-like laser out of his mouth capable of rendering an individual dead or merely unconscious even momentarily, why would they continue to go out and try to have a dance-off? Seems silly.
This cover has been out for a while but we never wrote anything about it. We certainly are not always the first to post something, so if anyone feels like mentioning that we’re slow on it – we know, thanks. I think some of the snarkier blogs disliked this cover, but don’t hold me to that statement. On the other hand, I think it works. It’s much slower and more what you would expect from Grizzly Bear, but still fits the aesthetic of beautiful, simple tunes because of Ed Droste’s amazing vocals. It also doesn’t hurt that the original is pretty solid too.
Once again I’m going to touch briefly upon some of the year’s biggest releases with quick-hit thoughts on the albums. In doing so I will also be putting up a song I enjoyed, though not necessarily my favorite, off the album. In other news, today is the beginning of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. I am displeased because I like to sit and watch endless basketball on the first weekend, and my chance to do that this year has essentially been denied because of work. That being because my schedule is close to awful. Enough of my complaints.
I’ve listened to this album more than any other besides Local Natives and Vampire Weekend thus far in 2010. There isn’t a track I dislike and several I adore greatly. Not certain where it will end up on my year end list, but it will be there somewhere.
I really enjoy One Life Stand but there are moments I need to skip out of ear discomfort. In particular I need to skip “Slush” because I truly dislike the song. Then there are others I could repeat. How does loathing one song off an album affect its entire rating?
This album is my second experience with The Besnard Lakes. I can’t decide which of the two I own is better, and that is a good thing. The band’s style fits my tastes at certain moments of my day quite symbiotically; When I’m looking to be absorbed into thought with a soundtrack to enhance my thinking power.
Looking through the new music that’s released each week, I’ve noticed that a lot of times, the music seems to trend to one genre or another. This week, for example, there is a lot of angry sounding music, with albums being released with titles such as Neo-Satanic Supremacy (Troll), Starve for the Devil (Arsis), and Draw Down the Moon (Icarus Witch).
We don’t swing that way (if you couldn’t tell), so if you’re interested in the new Troll album, we’ll let you track it down on your own. Other than that, we’ll tell you that we’re going to look into the Massive Attack, Hot Chip and Yeasayer albums. It’s good that it’s a lighter week, because we’re still catching up from the past couple weeks.
As always, there’s a couple of tracks after the list to get you in the right headspace, and have an excellent week.
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
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Upcoming Western NY Concerts
NOTE: Concerts are in Rochester unless otherwise noted.
1/5: Les Racquet
1/12: Joywave with Old Tapes, Dave & Marissa
1/13: The Dads
1/14: My Brightest Diamond
1/17: Josh Netsky Band with Cuddle Magic
1/18: Tycho (Buffalo)
1/26: Avicii
1/26: A$AP Rocky (Buffalo)
1/28: The Crystal Method (Syracuse)
2/11: Blind Pilot (Ithaca)
2/22: William Fitzsimmons
2/24: Mike Doughty
2/25: Charles Bradley (Buffalo)
2/29: Summer People
3/3: Matthew Good
3/5: Evening Man
3/23: The Men
3/30: tympanogram’s 3rd Birthday with Born Gold, Old Tapes, TBA
4/20: fun.
4/23: Cults (Buffalo)
5/6: Bear In Heaven (Ithaca)
5/7: M83 (Buffalo)
an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum, and the conduction bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.
Basically, it sounded like a cool name for a blog intended to be primarily about music. We’d both had other blogs previously, but over beers it was decided that more damage could be done as a joint venture. And here we are.
We share a passion for the undiscovered and under-appreciated, and hope that you’ll be able to find something you love as well.
Disclaimer
The music offered on this blog is for sampling purposes only. If you enjoy something you hear here, please go out and buy the music, see a show, or purchase some merchandise. Posted mp3s are available for a limited period of time only.
If there are any materials featured here that are your intellectual property, and you would prefer them removed, please notify us and we will be happy to oblige.
Contact Us
Do you have an artist or band you think we should hear? Please feel free to let us know and we'd be glad to give it a listen.
Submissions can be sent here, or email us for an address if you wish to send physical submissions.
Please note that we try our hardest to respond to all submissions, but we get a lot of requests, so we will get back to you as soon as we can.
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About the Author: Dave
I like music. I can't describe how I came to like the music I do, because I don't know how or why, I just do.
Many years ago, Napoleon's brother, my great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather, came to America. He was asked his name on Ellis Island while being processed as an immigrant. Not understanding English, he was under the impression that he was being asked how he had arrived in the new land. So he turned around and pointed at the sea vessel and said, 'LaBarge.'
About the Author: Andy
I come by my music taste of my own free will. My friends listened to 2Pac, my parents to contemporary Christian and me? Sunny Day Real Estate. I can’t explain it.
“Music, true music, not just rock ’n’ roll, it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone, listening to your headphones…” - Lester Bangs
![2642 63966507777 57985987777 1454203 3806680 n [mp3] BEAKR Remixes](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs020.snc1/2642_63966507777_57985987777_1454203_3806680_n.jpg "[mp3] BEAKR Remixes")
Once again I’m going to touch briefly upon some of the year’s biggest releases with quick-hit thoughts on the albums. In doing so I will also be putting up a song I enjoyed, though not necessarily my favorite, off the album. In other news, today is the beginning of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. I am displeased because I like to sit and watch endless basketball on the first weekend, and my chance to do that this year has essentially been denied because of work. That being because my schedule is close to awful. Enough of my complaints.
Looking through the new music that’s released each week, I’ve noticed that a lot of times, the music seems to trend to one genre or another. This week, for example, there is a lot of angry sounding music, with albums being released with titles such as Neo-Satanic Supremacy (Troll), Starve for the Devil (Arsis), and Draw Down the Moon (Icarus Witch).
