Snowden

Indie Music Filter: Volume 2

I love making mix cds. or playlists.

I made one over the holidays as my ‘best of ’06’ double disc. My cd burner worked more hours than Rudolf did near the end of december, pumping out 50 copies (100 discs total). I’m going to skip a little bit of the work this time.

I’ve made a new mix of music I’ve been listening to over the last little while. You’ll hear some Voxtrot, Snowden, Cloud Cult, David Vandervelde, and a bunch others. The main goal in mind? To get you listening to these amazing artists.

Download Volume 2 here. *Its a big file (77Mgs) so it will take some time to download.

**One thing I should mention, all the tracks on this disc fall into a couple different categories. They either agreed to post their mp3 on my site, or their music has been made available on the net by a part of their team (homepage, myspace page, label page, publicity company, etc.). If you’d like off the disc, send me an e-mail.

Chris’s Top 10 Albums of 2006

It was really hard putting these in order….

They are just going to be in alphabetical order. As well, I’m sure there were many great records put out this year that I never got a chance to hear. These ones below are the ones that inspired me the most.

(Not going to put in a lot of words, just a couple thoughts that come to mind.)

Adem - Love and other planets Adem – Love And Other Planets

A great follow up to 2004’s Homesongs. A record with the right amount of quirk, a memorable and distinctive voice and a mosiac of instrumentation.

Annuals - Be He Me Annuals – Be He Me

The album is totally there, lives up to the bluzz. Tracks like Brother entice you at the start and knock your head off at the climax. Complete Or Completing is the best nu-waltz I’ve heard and tracks like Sway hide at the end, slowly growing on you as you start to wear down the disc. Great example of songwriting by a bunch of kids from North Carolina.

Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time Band Of Horses – Everything All The Time
Great debut from this Seattle band. Toss it on for roadtrips and bar-b-ques.

Chad VanGaalen

Chad VanGaalen – Skelliconnection

Maybe the true definition of DIY? Along with writing and recording the songs, Chad makes his own instruments and does all the artwork himself. Interesting record. Look for Flower Gardens, best stuttering song since My Generation.

Eagle*Seagull - Eagle*Seagull Eagle*Seagull – Eagle*Seagull

Another great debut. Get past the obvious Robert Smith sound of the lead singers voice and dig deeper. Phenominal live band.

Land Of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss

Land Of Talk – Applause Cheer Boo Hiss

Seven songs from a great ‘chemical trio’ from Montreal. Lizzie’s amazing voice is captivating. This EP is another great start, also keeping Montreal on the map as the best place to discover the next biggest thing.

Midlake - Trials of the Van Occupanther Midlake– Trials of Van Occupanther

‘AM Radio Gets A Modern Sheen‘. That quote has really stuck with me as the best way to describe this band. Think beautiful harmonies backed by 70’s influence folk-pop. If Roscoe doesn’t get you, try Young Bride. If neither work, try peanut butter.

Silversun Pickups – Carnavas

Many thought this was the second coming of the Smashing Pumpkins. I see a driven LA band, connected to the scene, capable of moving people with this record.

Snowden - Anti-Anti Snowden – Anti Anti

Winner of the sneak award, as in this one barely snuck in to my top 10. I’m fascinated with how great the tone sounds on this record. Take a listen to ‘Like Bullets‘, awesome video.

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The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off The Walkmen – A Hundred Miles Off

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’d be able to guess that these guys would make my top 10. A grittier sounding record, still with tons of reverb and organs. And its a grower, Lousianna didn’t get me the same way The Rat did the first time I heard it. Go see this band.

Click on this image below to stream music from my top 10.

Also, a quick thanks to everyone that has been reading my rants here. And a happy holidays!

Best Songs Of The Year – Disc 1

I made a two disc mix CD to give out over the holidays. It was a little tough, as I originally had 60 or so songs in contention before I started whittling. But I got down to 34. I’m actually surprised at the low amount of Canadian content….. but these were the songs that stayed in my head the longest. Enjoy.

**by the way, if you know me and think you’ll see me in the next little while, ask me for one of these discs, I’ll probably have a couple on me.

Indie Music Filter 2006 Volume 1 – Disc 1

1) Brother – Annuals

2) Hospital Beds – Cold War Kids

3) Launch Yourself – Adem

4) The Funeral – Band Of Horses

5) In Context – Field Music

6) Young Bride (CWL Remix) –Midlake/Cassettes Won’t Listen

7) Click Click Click Click – Bishop Allen

8) So Far We Are – The French Kicks

9) Your Eyes Are Liars – SOUNDteam

10) Wolf Like Me – TV on the Radio

11) Photograph – Eagle*Seagull

12) Anti-Anti – Snowden

13) Paul Cries – Think About Life

14) Pate Filo – Malajube

15) Whoo! Alright – Yeah… Uh Huh – The Rapture

SXSW Report : Day 4

Music in Haiku.

Sliversun Pickups
Played me great music in the rain
Kissing Families

You, Jason Collett
sang well to distracted ears
I was listening

Six Decoder Rings
Again impressed me with
Lush music and film

Jose Gonzalez
Must now love bouncy balls and
Bravia TVs.

Jade Tree found Snowden
I loved Anti Anti live
Sound guy sucked at sound.

We Are Scientists
Kept fans singing and dancing
Here’s The Great Escape

When I first heard the intro ‘Victim Card’ by Snowden, I thought it sounded like a darker version of the Kids In The Hall Intro.

Four-piece band from Atlanta, Georgia led by Jordan Jeffares. Impressive list of opening gigs for bands like the Arcade Fire, Clap Your Hands et al…., and the late Unicorns.

I like Chin Up for riding the subway, Anti Anti for brisk walks and struts.