Song of the Day: Okkervil River - Singer Songwriter

In my last post I talked about how the majority of singer / songwriters these days don't have much going for um. They for the most part are poor imitators of things from a better time, and rarely exude any sort of originality in what they do. They're ultimately forgettable amongst the terribly over-saturated market, because their music all blends together. Well...this Okkervil River song is pretty much about just that.

Favorite verse:
And this thing you once said disappeared from my head
in the time that it took to be amazed.
And this thing you once did might have dazzled the kids,
but the kids once grown up are gonna walk away.
And your world is gonna change nothing
And our world is gonna change nothing



That said I won't try and act all high and mighty like there is no one these days doing anything worth a shit, you just really gotta sift through the lot. Some of my favorites: David Bazan, Chuck Ragan, M. Ward, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Damien Jurado, and Rocky Votolato.

Song of the Day: Leonard Cohen- The Old Revolution

I know its the second Leonard Cohen song, but deal with it. It's a sad day when you realize that music really just isn't what it used to be. No one sings about the types of things songwriters like Cohen, Dylan or Lennon did anymore, granted they were in a different day and age. Anyone who tries to attempt their subtle yet insightful lyrics and somber melodies these days for the most part falls flat on their face, and comes across all too self righteous and contrived.



The reason I picked this song for today though is because I came across a cover The Walkmen did of it for a Daytrotter session. Listening to the bands rendition of the song, and thinking about their music in general, really made me realize that they are the closest thing we've got to these previous masters. They sing songs and make music for the old souls who are still out there, it's really a timeless approach, and one that I relate to more then most other music period.

The Walkmen have two separate sessions on Daytrotter, the first, which includes their cover of Cohen's "The Old Revolution," is comprised of all Cohen covers. The second is a bunch of Neil Hagerty covers. You can freely (and legally) download both sets. Enjoy.

Song of the Day: M. Ward - Requiem

One of my favorite songs on M. Ward's 2006 classic "Post-War." Everyone and their mom is a singer/songwriter these days, but M. Ward does it with style. His unique voice, keys, guitar plucking ability, and honest, lo-key, minimalist approach set him above the rest by miles. His new album "Hold Time" is out today, I'll probably be buying it tomorrow.

Sasquatch hoooo

The Line Up (So Far):Jane's Addiction (feat. all four original members), Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, Of Montreal, Explosions In The Sky, Devotchka, Peter Bjorn & John, Gogol Bordello, M. Ward, The Avett Brothers, Doves, Calexico, Grizzly Bear, M83, Girl Talk, The Gaslight Anthem, The Walkmen, Chromeo (dj set), Deadmau5, Mugison, Sun Kil Moon, Airborne Toxic Event, Blitzen Trapper, Shearwater, BLK JKS, The Wrens, Tobacco, Monotonix, King Khan & The Shrines, St. Vincent, Passion Pit, John Vanderslice, Bishop Allen, Blind Pilot, AA Bondy, Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Knux, Ra Ra Riot, The Dodos, Beach House, Arthur & Yu, The Submarines, Owl City, Viva Voce, James Pants, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, The Builders & The Butchers, The Dutchess & The Duke, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele, Fences, School of Seven Bells, Death Vessel, Horse Feathers, Hockey, Point Juncture, WA, The Pica Beats, Loch Lomond, Vince Mira & more to come.

Who I'm actually excited to see:
Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Erykah Badu: Four acts I don't absolutely adore but in the festival setting will no doubt be pretty incredible.

M. Ward, Animal Collective, Gogol Bordello, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Shearwater, Beach House, John Vanderslice, TV on the Radio, Blitzen Trapper: A bunch of acts I've been dying to see for years but have never got the chance. I've heard that Animal Collectives live sets are a sight to behold.


The Walkmen, The Dutchess and the Duke, Girl Talk, Monotonix: Old favorites who have never disappointed live.

Explosions in the Sky and King Khan and the Shrines: These are the two I am easily most excited about. Neither of which I've seen live, but whose music just seems so incredibly conducive to the live open air setting.

Chromeo: Only if I'm trashed enough and this is a 3 a.m. dance tent event...

Zack Galifinakis, Demitri Martin, Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job: Comedic Genius

Someone I'm not excited at all to see...AGAIN: Ben Harper, why in the hell is he continually booked at these things.

Song of the Day: David Bazan - Cold Beer and Cigarettes

Bazan has an eerie and endearing voice that resonates through all of his painfully honest music. This is my favorite song from the "Fewer Moving Part's EP" which was released on Barsuk Records, what seems like 2 years ago now. Oh yeah...did I mention he's playing in my living room on Feb. 28? Check out a great performance of this song on the Seattle installment of the Burn to Shine series. This You Tube video is sort of annoying, as apparently everyone in the audience is 12, and giggles continuously after the "Trying to focus his high hopes on a vagina or two" line in the song.

Song of the Day: The Flying Burrito Brothers - Lazy Day

This is the kind of music I've been really into the last few months. Country music of the 60's and 70's that took the formula presented to them by their forefathers and reinvented it with the psychedelic, jammy, bluesy and straight up rock of a new era of music. It really is just music that makes you smile and and want to stomp your feet and clap your hands. It's all a product of the resounding genius of the legendary Gram Parsons (although he isn't in this clip, even though he wrote the song and originally sang it), who along with the Flying Burrito Brothers was also a member of The Byrds, and had a pretty kick ass solo career. Long live the country rock of the 60's and 70's, cause god knows its better than anything that gets passed off as country music today. See also: The Allman Brothers Band, The Band, James Gang and Townes Van Zandt, and more recently Seattle's own The Moondoggies.

Song of the Day: Blitzen Trapper - Furr

This song completely made the album for me. This is exactly the direction I loved to see the band venture further into after the already amazing "Wild Mountain Nation." It really has the makings of a classic, one of Portland's finest.