Grant Manship

Albert Hammond, Jr. - In Transit

Directed By Joaquin Phoenix

Late Night TV Goodness!!!

The National are going to be on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:35 AM EST so don't miss their performance.  I was lucky enough to catch the band's Chicago and Cincinnati shows this past weekend which were excellent so until they come to your town, this will hopefully whet your appetite.

Wooden Shjips

Wooden Shjips hail from present day San Fransisco but when you hear the band you'd think they came from another era where psychedelia reigned supreme.  The band is certainly making an argument for the genre's triumphant return.  Comparisons to Guru Guru and the Velvet Underground are extremely fitting.

As far as describing the bands sound, other than just comparing them to other bands, one of the more interesting ideas I've heard about the band's music is a comparison from their holiest of labels, Holy Mountain.  They suggest the music is similar to that of the Japanese phenomenon called maboroshi, which is somewhat similar to seeing a mirage or hallucinating in time. In the context of imagination/dreams, maboroshi is attributed to past occurrences and can take on a meaning like "phantoms".  As abstract as that seemed when I first read it I don't think there's a more accurate way of describing the Shjips music.  At the risk of sounding a little overzealous, the material is mesmerizing if not awe-inspiring.  After listening to the bands self-titled debut last night, out this week on Holy Mountain, I honestly couldn't wait to post something about the band and in turn share it with everyone.  If you ask me, you might as well jump aboard now because I have a feeling that this is one bandwagon, or should I say Shjip, that will soon be very crowded.

• Wooden Shjips - "We Ask You To Ride" from Wooden Shjips

Phosphorescent

Halfway through the recording of his new album Pride,  Phosphorescent mastermind Matthew Houck left Athens, GA and made the move to Brooklyn, NY.  The change of scenery resulted in a very different experience album-wise when compared to his previous offerings.  This time out, Houck recorded every instrument himself and only enlisted the services of a makeshift choir to fill any potential gaps. 

While there will likely always be a Southern-gothic touch to his work, Pride goes somewhere a little more abstract.  You hear a lot of people talk about the spiritual, or even mystical, aspects of Houck's music.  I certainly agree with the use of the these terms.  When listening to Phosphorescent you get a feeling of something that's nowhere but at the same time everywhere.  It's as if Houck is plugged into and channeling something completely supernatual.  Then again, don't take my word for it, check out the opening track from Pride, due out on Oct. 23rd from Dead Oceans, below:

• Phosphorescent - "A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise" from Pride

Interpol - No I In Threesome

Andrew Bird - Imitosis

Favorite New Release(s) of the Week - Sept. 11, 2007

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

I wasn't sure Animal Collective could top themselves after they put out Feels and I didn't think they would get any more accessible either.  That was, until I heard Strawberry Jam.  It's amazing what a little verse-chorus-verse will do as far as accessibility goes.   I mean, why not?  We already know that  the boys in Animal Collective can do everything else.

The constant percussive sounds similar to a locomotive underpin the exceptional "Fireworks".  The track is another song, as many on Strawberry Jam are, which bring Avey Tare's vocals sharply into focus.  It's great to hear Avey Tare's voice so far out in front throughout the album.  Back to the topic of focus, this album has it in spades.  Where it's safe to say many of the band's previous songs meandered gracefully in a world of experimentation, the majority of songs on Jam play out like very concise, calculated stories.

"Cuckoo Cuckoo" seems to resemble something similar to the album cover.  You aren't quite sure what it is even though you think you have a pretty good idea.  The psychedelic lullaby, or love song, or maybe just straight up freakout could quite possibly be my favorite track on the record.  Finally, just as Person Pitch made painly obvious, album closer "Derek" proves beyond a doubt that Panda Bear is probably as close to our generation having a Brian Wilson as we're going to get.  Regardless of what you take away from this record, you won't love Animal Collective any less if you're already a fan and if you weren't, you'll finally see what all the fuss is about.

The National - Apartment Story

Aesop Rock Performing on KEXP Today

Aesop Rock is performing live on KEXP today, September 6th, at 4 pm EST.  Be sure to head over to KEXP to hear his live set and an interview.

• Aesop Rock - “Citronella” from None Shall Pass
• Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass" from None Shall Pass

Menomena - Evil Bee