Author Archives: Ryan

The Tallest Man On Earth’s “1904″

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

No longer in his blue period. (Brian Valdizno/treeswingers)

The last time we saw Kristian Matsson, the mind behind The Tallest Man On Earth was strumming somberly, filling the creaking frame of the Fillmore with downbeat tunes from then-recent EP, Sometimes The Blues Is A Passing Bird.

Two years removed from then, the blues in Matsson’s life seemed to have flown away. If new song “1904″ is any indication, the Swedish Bob Dylan throwback has taken a turn for warmer climes and happier times. The first track taste from up-coming June release, There’s No Leaving Now, despite being about death, is much fuller and up-beat than past releases, without sacrificing the acoustic qualities of traditional TMOE. It’s not exactly Phoenix’s calling-card hit aged three years, but it certainly is a joy–an open-armed return for one talented songwriter.

There’s No Leaving Now is out on Dead Oceans Records on June 12.

The Tallest Man On Earth- 1904 (download)

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Twin Shadow’s “Five Seconds”

Posted on May 1, 2012 | 2 Comments

I <3 the 80s. (Photo courtesy of brandondorf.tumblr.com)

Despite the moniker, Twin Shadow doesn’t like being in the shadows for very long. Less than two years after releasing full debut Forget, George Lewis Jr., the man behind the Brooklyn-based 80s revival project, is back with Confess set to be released on 4AD in July.

If Forget could have been the throwback soundtrack to Emilio Estevez’ life circa The Breakfast Club, we can expect Confess to be the Kevin Bacon counterpart if the Baconator lost his way to the taping of Footloose and ran shirtless through the set of Flashdance. Our first preview, “Five Seconds” is uninhibited with Lewis Jr. loosening up from his reserved approach to their first album to unleash choral yells and that delicious electric guitar that had been somewhat muted on his debut. Stealing a few lessons from Michael Sembello’s “Maniac,” the lead singer builds off a catchy chorus: “Five seconds in your heart/Straight to the heart/I can’t get to your heart” before jamming away for 4 minutes deserved of air punches and athletic tape.

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Aesop Rock’s “Zero Dark Thirty”

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

The last time we saw Ian Bavitz, aka Aesop Rock, he was tearing apart a giant dinosaur piñata on-stage in San Francisco backed by Kimya Dawson and big Rob Sonic. That was over a year ago when the New York transplant (now living in San Francisco) was at a career inflection point, promoting his collaboration work instead of the vicious solo efforts that made him infamous on Def Jux.

Five years since his last album, None Shall Pass, Aesop Rock is back, this time with Skelethon. There’s a new label (Rhymesayers) and a few new faces (notably, Dawson). But, the core remains the same. On “Zero Dark Thirty,” Bavitz it at his breathless best, flowing over a scratchy alien beat while rhyming words that have no business fitting together (see: “plunging necklines” and “hungry enzymes”). With little room for a chorus, Aesop Rock–so familiar to sharing the spotlight over the last half decade–is back to being the one and only focus. About time.

Skelethon is out on Rhymesayers on July 10.

Aesop Rock- Zero Dark Thirty (download)

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Grey Television’s “HLF TME”

Posted on April 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

The other day, I was engaged in a deep conversation with Charlie and few German friends regarding the best arists that have come out Europe’s biggest country. For the two of us, our contributions to the conversation were painfully miniscule, conveying a typical American ignorance. Our list? Kraftwerk, Rammstein and that girl behind “99 Luftballoons”(Also, did you know that Lou Bega is German?).

Was it ignorance? Barring “Mambo No. 5″ and Bach, Germany has been frightfully bare of musical contributions given its sizable populous. It’s the opposite of the Scandinavia and things that are created in Deutschland tend to stay there.

Grey Television is hoping to break that mold.

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Sad Baby Wolf Cover Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Everything Is”

Posted on April 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

As James Russell Mercer continues to dismantle The Shins, its becoming harder and harder to recognize the band. Now the only original member left, Mercer, also of Broken Bells, has ruled with an iron fist, single-handedly changing the direction of The Shins–no more familiar faces, no more Sub Pop.

Alas, members change and bands move on. On another stint together, ex-Shinners Marty Crandall and Neal Langford have paired together to form Sad Baby Wolf. Their latest release (they put out their debut single last September) is a cover of “Everything Is” originally by Neutral Milk Hotel, whose lead man Jeff Mangum coincidently also went solo. The fuzzed-out cover of NMH’s first single has us scrambling for our ripped jeans and proves that there is life after leaving “New Slang” and JRM behind.

Sad Baby Wolf- Everything Is (Neutral Milk Hotel) (download)

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