Monday 10 August 2009

Okkervil River




















I think one of my last posts before the great quiet period was on the imminent release of the Okkervil River album 'The Stand Ins'. I thought I would just post a quick follow up saying how cool the album is... they just keep getting better and better in my opinion. I went to see them play live in Manchester and they were excellent!

Some of my favourites from the album:

Okkervil River - Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On The Roof Of The Chelsea Hotel, 1979 [via]

Okkervil River - Calling and not calling my ex [via]

Okkervil River - On Tour with Zykos [via]


The Postal Service




















OK... bit of an old one here but it's a good one. 'The Postal Service' was / is a collaboration between Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel. Ben and Jimmy sent music back and forth, between California and Washington, each adding new elements until the record was complete.

The music it pretty electronically based but has a warmth that I wouldn't usually associate with electronic music.

The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

and... a Phil Collins cover!!

The Decemberists




















I think The Decemberists are a bit of an aquired taste... I love them but I do get a but tired of the pirate shanty stuff. I loved 'Crane Wife' and now they have a new album. It's a concept folk prog rock album entitled 'The Hazards of Love' and I think it's their best yet!

The Decemberists - A Bower Scene [via]

The Decemberists - The Queen's Rebuke / The Crossing [via]

Other Lives

I was in the pub last week with two good friends and I was asked why I don't update my blog anymore. I couldn't really answer other than saying I never get the time. I'm still discovering bands that I love but they never find their way on to the blog... what a shame I thought to myself.

Well... I'm back! and a new blog design to mark my resurrection!


















First up... Other Lives a band from Stillwater, Oklahoma with a self-titled debut EP on ATO Records, which I think is a great record. They have an amazing orchestrated sound that incorporates elements of progressive rock, folk and classical music and some great lyrics to boot.

Other Lives - Paper Cities
[via]


Other Lives - Black Tables
[via]