Grant Manship

The Walkmen - In The New Year

Get Your Free Digital EP From Grampall Jookabox

A few weeks ago, I suggested calling Grampall Jookabox's brand of music, "folk-hop."  Word from Asthmatic Kitty suggests he is a, "ghetto-folkster."  Pretty close right?  Today, we get a better glimpse into just exactly what a ghetto-folkster sounds like with the release of Grampall's free digital EP called Rill Bruh.

The EP contains the previously posted "The Girl Ain't Preggers" in addition to seven other tracks.  You can download the EP here or, if you want to listen before you leap, check out "Air Penance" below.  It sounds like this track's narrative does a nice job of  picking up the theme of family turmoil where "The Girl Ain't Preggers" left off.

• Grampall Jookabox - "Air Penance" from Rill Bruh EP

Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

I'm a huge fan of The Sleepy Jackson.  If there was one band from overseas that I wish was a lot bigger and would tour more in the US they would be at the top of my list.  I still listen to Lovers and Personality on a regular basis.  Also, as is evident with my posts about MGMT et al., I'm a total sucker for electro-pop stuff.  This all means Empire Of The Sun is pretty much a perfect storm of musical goodness for me with Luke from the Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of PNAU teaming up.

The video for the debut single off their self-titled album, due out this fall, can be seen below.  I think I'm going to start a petition for a MGMT/Empire Of The Sun U.S. tour.  Luke is supporting MGMT in Australia this winter so it's not totally out of the question is it!?!

New MP3 from School of Seven Bells

If you missed my prior mention of School of Seven Bells or are unfamiliar with the group, they are Ben Curtis (formerly of the Secret Machines) and twin sisters, Alejandra Deheza and Claudia Deheza who previously were a part of On!Air!Library!.

When I first heard a track from the band, I believe it was "Chains", I think I remember feeling as if it was the Secret Machines but with an obvious feminine touch.  Now that I've heard their new album Alpinisms in its entirety I realize that such a generalization couldn't be further from the truth.  While there are small elements of Ben's prior gig that show up now and then, School of Seven Bells is an entirely different animal.  The Secret Machines sometimes strike me as being somewhat formulaic.  I don't mean that in a bad way, it's a very complex formula but a formula nonetheless.  What strikes me about School of Seven Bells is the range of feelings and/or emotions that come out of the record.  Maybe it's the dichotomy between the male/female aspects of the band and the perspectives each camp brings to the music.  Maybe it's just the excitement of the new creative outlet the members have found that comes through.  Regardless of what it is, it works for me.  Whether it's a track like "White Elephant Coat" and it's Dead Souls-inspired bass line or the very danceable "Connjur", I'd say there is plenty here for everyone.

Finally, to Ben in regards to his new bandmates.  Well played sir!!!  Your new bandmates are exponentially more easy on the eyes than your former ones.  At least for the heterosexual male portion of your fanbase that is.  No offense to Brandon or Josh but come on!  I think I might have a new crush or two in the world of indie music.  Now that I've said that, let's return to what is really important and also less likely to get me in trouble with my girlfriend.  Here is a track from Alpinisms, due out October 28th, for your listening pleasure.

• School of Seven Bells - "Connjur" from Alpinisms

I Met The Walrus

Some of you may have already seen this but I hadn't until today and I'm really blown away by it.  Here is the deal, in 1969 a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace.  Could you imagine pulling something like that off as a 14 year old?  If John Lennon had been alive when I was 14 and I had actually met him, I'm pretty positive I would have sounded like an absolute moron.  I imagine it would have been quite an accomplishment for me to have been able to speak at all.  That wasn't the case for Jerry Levitan though.  One of the things that strikes me most about this interview is how composed and articulate Jerry comes across.  Maybe it was what I assume would have been a peaceful presence from John Lennon that made Jerry come across as so comfortable during the interview.  Maybe I just get too starstruck but come on, this is John Lennon we're talking about. 

Anyway, here we are 38 years later.  Mr. Levitan decided to produce a short film about his encounter using the original interview recording as the soundtrack.  The film is directed by Josh Raskin who has combined the work of James Braithwaite and the digital illustrations of Alex Kurina.  The result is really touching when you think of some 14 year old kid sneaking his way into John Lennon's Toronto hotel room and John taking the time to talk to him.  The interview is an amazing document of the ideals of one of the world's most incredible musicians and what is a timeless message.  It sounds cliché but it sure does feel like we could use John Lennon right now.  Obviously his thoughts and spirit will have to do and luckily we have this to remind us of those things.

(via Transbuddha)

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today Is Available Now

As you've probably heard, David Byrne and Brian Eno recently completed work on their new collaboration Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.  In preparing for the release David has stated he's curious to see if people will hear about the record without the traditional marketing methods that usually go into a record release.  Specifically, David had the following to say about these plans in a recent post on his blog:

I’m also wondering whether the web-curious will allow news of the album to spread more or less by itself. In the past, I might have undertaken all kinds of expensive marketing plans to prepare for a record release: there would be a teaser, live shows, posters, magazine ads, interviews, and advance CDs sent to writers and reviewers. We’ve done a few interviews, but that’s about it. It will be interesting to see if audiences find out about this song — and the record — without all those marketing techniques, and solely through Internet word-of-mouth.

I think it's safe to say that word of anything David Byrne or Brian Eno do, and certainly projects they undertake together, will spread like wildfire in today's state of the Internet.  News of the first single, "Strange Overtones," seemed to be all over the blogosphere on the day of its release.  Now comes the next phase in Byrne's experiment.  They've released the record today via the web à la the well-known-by-now Radiohead method, minus the pay what you want aspect.  You have the option to buy a DRM-free download of the album, a download plus a physical CD or a limited edition custom package designed by Stefan Sagmeister.  There is also an option to get FLAC files with any of the above purchases. 

You can preview the entire album below and use the "Get the Album" link in the player window to go to the site and make your purchase.  During my initial listen to the album it sounds absolutely wonderful.  I'm certainly looking forward to seeing Mr. Byrne on his upcoming tour.

Albert Hammond, Jr. - Feed Me Jack [Acoustic]

Thanks for the heads up Jake!

New MP3 from The Secret Machines

It's been over 2 years since The Secret Machines released Ten Silver Drops and after losing one of their founding members, we're finally going to get a glimpse into what they've been working on since then.  I've been curious to see how things will sound after the departure of one-half of the Curtis brothers, and founding member, Benjamin Curtis would effect the band.  If you're unaware of Benjamin leaving, he left a little over a year ago to focus on work with his other band School of Seven Bells.  From the sound of the track below, The Secret Machines are going to be just fine.  It's over 8 minutes of classic Secret Machine space rock.

The band is planning on releasing the follow-up to Ten Silver Drops through their own TSM Recordings with the help of World's Fair.  While this track is a non-album b-side you will eventually be able to pick it up on limited edition vinyl later this year.  For those of you who are fans of instant gratification, check it out now down below.  The self-titled Secret Machines is due out on Oct. 14th.

• Secret Machines - "Dreaming of Dreaming" [non-album b-side]

The National Debut A New Song In Denmark

As I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of low quality videos fans shoot during concerts but every once in a while something shows up that is worth posting.  In my opinion, Cincinnati natives The National debuting a new song counts as one of those times. 

The following video was shot at the band's recent show at Vega in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Several blogs initially reported the song is called "A Thousand Black Cities" but it appears it might actually be called "Believe Me" based on what the person who shot the video stated was on the setlist.  Maybe I'm crazy but I kind of get a little latin, "Spanish Harlem" vibe from the song in the beginning.  A little Ben E. King never hurt anyone so it works for me.  Anyway, enough of what I think.  Enjoy!

(via i guess i'm floating)