Thats the new single off the upcoming 4th album (You & Me) by The Walkmen, out on Gigantic this fall.
I’m excited. They’ve still got that sound I love about their music; chaotic drums, heavy organ, jangling guitars with reverb and a scratchy rasp overtop.
Looking forward to buying The Delta Spirit‘s new record ‘Ode To Sunshine‘ on iTunes, which comes out tomorrow. Can someone get these guys to Canada for some tour dates?? Head to their myspace page to hear some of the new tracks, some remind me of sometime touring partner Cold War Kids and The Walkmen.
They’re hitting the road with CYHSY and Dr. Dog this month and next.
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
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
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
Great debut from this Seattle band. Toss it on for roadtrips and bar-b-ques.
.
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
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
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 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
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.
.
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!
and here is the 2nd disc.
1) All My Life – The Bear Quartet
2) Motivation – The Delta Spirit
3) One More Time – Autovaughn
4) Song For The Fields – Fields
5) Cartoon Music For Super Heroes – Albert Hammond, Jr.
6) Tickets to Crickets – Ferraby Lionheart
7) God Is Going To Get Sick Of Me – Aberdeen City
8) Quiet Place – Working For A Nuclear Free City
9) Flower Gardens – Chad VanGaalen
10) Emma, Get Me A Lemon – The Walkmen
11) When I Am Gone – Sparrow House
12) Blood On The Snow – Horse Feathers
13) Middle Distance Runner – Sea Wolf
14) Heartbeats – Jose Gonzalez
15) Yea Yeah – Matt & Kim
16) Bowie 4 – Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground
17) House Fire – Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltzin
18) Bush – Page France
19) Well Thought Out Twinkles – Silversun Pickups
Hamilton Leithauser‘s neck veins must be tired this morning.
Another stellar performance by the Walkmen in Toronto. They nailed the classics like ‘Rue The Day’, ‘We’ve Been Had’ and ‘The Rat’ while introducing us to a couple new tracks like ‘Don’t Get Me Down (Come On Over Here)’, ‘All Hands And The Cook’, and the first single off A Hundred Miles Off called ‘Louisiana’.
Check out a clip from the video for Louisiana.
It’s rumoured that 2006 will also be a year in which the Walkmen put out a track-by-track cover of Harry Nilsson and John Lennon‘s Pussy Cats. Very interesting. I’d love to hear them cover Subterranean Homesick Blues, I’ve always heard Dylan in their sound.
Here’s a link to some live footage of the band from Factory Features.
And here’s a link to some live tracks from a recent show.
The one track I look forward to the band playing is the title track off the second full-length Bows and Arrows. They didn’t play it last night…..
Here’s Bows and Arrows live on KEXP.
