NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Phoenix

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MY TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2010, so far...

I know it's been a long time since i've gushed or ranted... so here is a nifty little list of what's been playing on handstamp's headphones over the last 6 months.

1. STARS - THE FIVE GHOSTS
I have been highly criticized for having a very short memory when it comes to making these types of lists by putting newer releases higher than they should be ranked. As such, I present to you, The Five Ghosts which was 'officially' released not more than a week ago. The Five Ghosts is Stars' first full length since the 2007 album, 'In Our Bedroom After The War' which happens to be my one of my all time favorite albums. To say that this album has a lot to live up to is a major understatement. The first five times I listened to this album, my initial reaction was that it's NOT 'In Our Bedroom..' which is OK. This album might not be Stars' best work, but it's still an incredibly beautiful album that is angelic and haunting, sad and dancy. And for now, I can't stop listening to it. So the next six months will determine whether this album has the staying power that I'm claiming it does.


2. SPOON - TRANSFERENECE
When it comes to music and Britt Daniels, there are few people that would challenge claims of his extraordinary talent. Spoon has steadily released very solid albums over the last decade-plus. I ranked their 2001 release 'Girls Can Tell' at #36 in my Top 50 albums of the decade, and this is my favorite Spoon album since. As much as the band pushes the envelope with their sound, it maintains its pop/rock accessibility.

3. FREE ENERGY - STUCK ON NOTHING
If you are going to start the first measure of the first track of your first album with a cow bell you better have the chops to back it up... and free energy does. No doubt about it, 'Free Energy' is pure rock-pop... in fact, the 3rd track on the album is titled 'Bang Pop' which is a great description for the style of music.... complete with oohs, and ahhh's, and Na Na Na's..

4. HARLEM - HIPPIES
This is what happens when you cross The Beatles with Nirvana. Pure Awesome.

5. MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS - THE FAMILY JEWELS
I'm calling this the album of the Summer. The question is will this Brit-pop singer rise and fall from the spotlight like other recent female brit pop and rock stars? The album will certainly appeal to indie crowd, and it's got massive pop power (think Regina Spektor + Lady Gaga) that could catapult her into widespread radio play before you know it.

6. BROKEN BELLS - BROKEN BELLS.

7. SURFER BLOOD - ASTRO COAST

8. TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - TOURIST HISTORY

9. THE GOLDEN FILTER - VOLUSPA

10. MENOMENA - MINES


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Harvey’s Kitchen: Amelia’s Mechanics - Part 2

I have been watching this series distributed by my company, blip.tv. It consistently interviews great bands that I would never have heard of otherwise.

Harvey’s Kitchen: Amelia’s Mechanics - Part 2 - (see Part 1 here) - Molly McGinn and Molly Miller after completing their first album “North, South” with Kasey Horton and produced by Jim Avett, are now beginning the process of recording their second album with 3 time grammy award winner Steven Heller and Laurelyn Dossett at Echo Studios. This is a bit of departure from the usual Kitchen episode. The song was recorded live next to our dirty dishes but Carolyn and I also ventured out to a few venues to capture a little live footage to complement the performance. This particular song will be appearing on their as yet untitled new album. If their introduction is anything to go by, this band is definitely going places.
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Harvey’s Kitchen brings you music, art, and all manner of things both in the kitchen and outside of it.
This is a really fantastic series. Some of the best sounding/looking live performances I’ve seen on the video web. If you’re a fan of Folk/ Bluegrass / Alt. Country music you need to check this out and browse the entire series of episodes here.

The Coachella Effect

The next two weeks are absolutely nutty with shows in San Francisco.



Click the image for a larger view.

Not in this image is The Dead Weather on 4/15 and 4/16 at the Fillmore, Thom Yorke @ the Fox, and Phoenix who is playing the Catalyst in Santa Cruz on 4/17

PS22 Chorus "LISZTOMANIA" Phoenix

I want to adopt each and every one of these children.

First Concert(s) of 2010 - Double Header!

I had the special privilege of catching my former co-worker's band, The Matinees, yesterday at El Rio in San Francisco. Jaime was my office manager at The ONION and was there with us from the beginning! I love their sound. Look out for them in San Francisco!

I then zipped off to see The Builders and The Butchers who never ever disappoint! Check out the video here.



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Top Albums of the Decade (2000-2009)

1. Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
3. Franz Ferdinand - S/T (2004)
4. The Killers - Hot Fuss (2004)
5. Daft Punk - Discovery (2001)
6. Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War (2007)
7. Portugal The Man - Church Mouth (2007)
8. White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001)
9. The Strokes - Is this It? (2000)
10. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it Int the People (2002)
11. Hot Chip - The Warning (2006)
12. Blonde Redhead - 23 (2007)
13. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now Youngster (2008)
14. Portishead - Third (2008)
15. Ratatat - Classics (2006)
16. Metric - Fantasies (2009)
17. Beirut - Gulag Orchestar (2006)
18. Beck - Guero (2005)
19. Postal Service - Give Up (2003)
20. Jamie Lidell - Jim (2008)
21. Vampire Weekend (2008)
22. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (2006)
23. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (2005)
24. Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005)
25. The Go! Team - Thunder Lightening Strike (2005)
26. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (2006)
27. The Helio Sequence - Keep your Eyes Ahead (2008)
28. LCD Soundstystem - Sound of Silver (2007)
29. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (2006)
30. Kings of Leon - Aha Heartbreak Shake (2004)
31. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of this Country (2006)
32. Tegan & Sara - The Con (2007)
33. Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica (2000)
34. The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're gone? (2003)
35. Black Mountain - In the Future (2008)
36. Spoon - Girls Can Tell (2001)
37. Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On (2008)
38. Heartless Bastards - The Mountian (2009)
39. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods(2005)
40. Rodrigo y Gabriela - ST (2006)
41. The Kills - Midnight Boom (2008)
42. Gogol Bordello - Gypsy Punk: Underdog World Strike (2005)
43. Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die (2005)
44. Tilly and the Wall - Bottoms of Barrels (2006)
45. Maps - We Can Create (2007)
46. King Khan & The Shrines - The Supreme Genius of..(2008)
47. Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards (2006)
48. Fugazi - The Argument (2001)
49. The Sounds - Dying to Say this To You (2006)
50. My Morning Jacket - Z (2005)


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