Pavement

In the spirit of my arcade fire post, I also want to talk about pavement. Folks often talk about who started this little indy pop genre of tunes, or who contributed the most to the genre etc. I've heard various bands being thrown about, but I can't think of one that helped put indie on the map more than pavement has. They are as lo-fi as it gets, and they just ended a ten year hiatus. Meaning they are going to play concerts this summer, tickets to which are most definitely going to sell out. Go to pitchfork maybe...

listen||pavement. slanted and enchanted. summer babe (winter version).

Funeral

Everyone has a list of bands they want (need) to see live. I remember watching the arcade fire playing at coachella music festival from 2006 or so. These guys know how to truly light up the stage. Coachella is going on right now, and the lineup looks as good as ever. I recently read an article in the chicago tribune rumoring the arcade fire for lollapalooza. Now I don't want to say that if they play it would be the best performance of the weekend (totally would be) but if theses guys are at the top of your list...go.

listen||the arcade fire. funeral. rebellion (lies).

The Dude

As most of us have noticed, Jeff Bridges won best actor of his role in Crazy Heart. Still no lebowski though.

listen||bob dylan. new morning. the man in me.

Grizzly Bear/Man

This guys name is Casey Anderson, and his best friend is a grizzly bear named Brutus. Anderson rescued Brutus as a cub and raised him on his ranch in Montana. Brutus has grown to view Casey as his best buddy, pretty weird. More pictures here.

listen||modest mouse. the lonesome crowded west. teeth like gods shoeshine.

Spring Time

This week was real busy, but real pretty. Hopefully the nice weather sticks around here in Urbana.

listen||pavement. crooked rain, crooked rain. gold soundz.

Izzy

Pauvre pup got sad cause she wasn't in the last post.

listen||phosphorescent. pride. wolves.

Little Animals

Nothings quite as cute as a little animal. Check some out here.

listen||the walkmen. you & me. four provinces.

Dusk at Cubist Castle

The first album by notable lo-fi indy rock band The Olivia Tremor Control, Dusk at Cubist Castle, laid the groundwork for the remarkable stream of music that came from the Elephant 6 Recording Company in the mid to late 90's. Elephant 6 was a Georgia based recording collective of friends who formed bands such as: Neutral Milk Hotel, The Apples in Stereo, Circulatory System, and Of Montreal. Olivia Tremor Control officially disbanded in 2000, yet played a string of concerts in 2005 and 2008. Let's hope they get back together soon.

listen||the olivia tremor control. dusk at cubist castle. opera house.

The High Line

The High Line is a mile and a half long park built on a preexisting elevated train track on the lower west side of Manhattan. Imagine a green roof on the El. Weird. Officially called a "greenway," this sort of park has already been built in France. There's a proposal for one in Chicago. Adds a bit o' fresh air.

listen||blitzen trapper. furr. furr.

The Velvet Underground

No band has been as influential.

listen||the velvet underground. the velvet underground & nico. sunday morning.

Heimo Korth

Im totally thieving this one from Jeff. But it's way too awesome to pass up. Check out the last white man living in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He's from Wisconsin (cheesehead).

listen||beirut. gulag orkestar. postcards from italy.

Animal Collective

So the frakin crazy psychedelic indy pop group Animal Collective will be exhibiting a new piece at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on March 4th. They're working with their visual artist, Danny Perez to "transform the museum into a kinetic, psychedelic environment." Having been to an Animal Collective show, I'm sure this performance called Transverse Temporal Gyrus will be nothing short of spectacular. Oh, and it's most definitely sold out. Thank God for youtube.

listen||animal collective. strawberry jam. winter wonder land.

Silly Squirrels

It's an exceptionally purty day here in Urbana today. Leaving class, I noticed an old man who I've seen before feeding the notoriously silly squirrels we have here. The squirrels prostrate and stand on their hind legs, looking oddly human. Intrigued, I followed this man around as a small band of squirrels in turn followed him, searching for his illusive nuts. Eventually I realized I was on the opposite side of the quad, and most definitely late for class. Worth it? Totally. This one looks silly too.

listen||george harrison. all things must pass. apple scruffs.

Let It Bleed

On my walk to class today, I had the great opportunity to throw on an old favorite.

listen||the rolling stones. let it bleed. gimme shelter.

Inspiration

So this whole idea of blogging is new to me. I was inspired by the blog of a friend of mine, coldsplinters. Jeff's blog is worth reading, mine will be worth laughing at. Check out coldsplinters whenever you get a chance, you just might learn a thing or two.

listen||fleet foxes. sun giant. drops in the river.

Trees

Why climbing trees? Heck I don't know. Some of my friends can easily recall me back in the day, I'd always vote to go outside and climb trees. Not that it means much, but the nostalgia of those days is tough to get over. We'd often break out our swiss army knives and viscously carve our names into the trees...poor fellers. Go climb a tree.

listen||kurt vile. childish prodigy. blackberry song.