Vampire Weekend-2nd Album

The wait is over. Two full years (minus a few songs here and there) and Vampire Weekend have finally confirmed the release date for their second album. If you weren't satisfied by Discovery (which was the side project/ collab between members of Vampire Weekend & Ra Ra Riot) you're in luck. January 12th 2010 is the official date, so brace yourself, this should be great. Stay tuned to their website for previews.

Contra Track Listing:

01 Horchata
02 White Sky
03 Holiday
04 California English
05 Taxi Cab
06 Run
07 Cousins
08 Giving Up the Gun
09 Diplomat's Son
10 I Think Ur a Contra

Vampire Weekend Canadian Dates:

10-06 Montreal, Quebec - Le National
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern (good luck getting hold of these ones and if you do, you are one lucky fello)

-She

Julian Casablancas is back

How I do still wish for a new Strokes album, I am openly thrilled to hear frontman Julian Casablancas new solo project. Julian dropped the official release date today for his new solo project's debut album "Phrazes for the Young". Oh how I cannot wait for October 20th, 2009 to come.

Check out his website for some sweet preview videos and updates: Official Website

-She

The Return of Scarlett Johansson

She's back! Despite all the hate about her "simple" vocal style and lack of true talent on her last debut album (produced by Dave Setik of TV on the Radio), I will openly admit to enjoying it. I still catch myself every now and then hitting play on the track Falling Down amongst others.

She's giving it another go and this time its a collaboration with Pete Yorn entitled "Break-Up" which was based off Serge Gainsbourg's duets with Brigitte Bardot. Here's the first single, its a catchy little number...



Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson Myspace

Grizzly Bear

Thanks to a former co-worker, I was reintroduced to the glorious sounds of Grizzly Bear, this summer. The numerous Saturday morning open shifts spent listening to the bands latest album Veckatimest, made the process quite pleasurable. This album is a front to back listen. You press play on track one and it quite honestly all fits and sounds wonderful, track after track. I was fully convinced that this band was a british indie rock group however it appears they reign from the heart of Brooklyn, New York.

Here is the official video for the single "Two Weeks" followed by a video featuring footage from Albert Lamorisse's "La Ballon Rouge" (The Red Balloon) accompanied by the same track by Grizzly Bear.







and thanks to my friend scott for showing me this goody. A fan did this video for Two Weeks and I just so happen to think it's gnarly...

Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew on Vimeo.

-She

Bon Iver Raw Goods

This guy never fails to make my little heart melt. Geez Louise

Black Cab Session with Bon Iver

Black Cab Sessions - Bon Iver from Aaron Landry on Vimeo.

For Emma A'capella


Flume Acoustic


-She

Current Fav Jam: Miike Snow- Animal

I think I have a new love affair with Miike Snow. My friend Mitch told me about them months ago but I somehow overlooked their solid sound until another friend introduced the Fred Falke mix of Animal. The original video is definitely a must see:

Miike Snow- Animal



Miike Snow- Animal (Fred Falke Remix)



-She

Something new for Bon Iver

As we all know and love Justin Vernon as the soothing folk mastermind behind Bon Iver, I am excited to say he has finally released some new stuff. Different, but new. On a pre warning note, this album is a bit more experimental for his usual sound. The first single "Island, IS" is solid and definitely reflects some of his early work and sound but the rest of the album (which has leaked) is a bit different. I haven't listened to it enough to give a solid review on it however I think you should check it out for yourself. He's a phenomenal musician and one of my favourite of the past year.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/volcanochoir

-She

We're Back!

Thank god for new computers. The world of music is so much easier with a fully functioning laptop. It has inspired me to continue and fully indulge in my music addiction. This summer I got the opportunity to work for a WONDERFUL music licensing, production and design company. Not only was I given the role to search and find new artists, I got the chance to give opinions on up and comers and then send out email blasts on the teams artist of the week, choice to all of our cliental. On a daily basis I was thrown artist after artists and needless to say... fell in love with many newbies in which I will soon be blogging about and catching up on.

Get ready, let the blogging begin....

-She

La Roux

I have fallen in love with this band. Not sure if it is a happily ever after kind of love, or a one-night stand kind of love, but it's pretty good at the moment. A two-person group from England, La Roux have extremely catchy electronic songs, the best of which is "Bulletproof" which I have loved since I heard/saw it on "The Wedge" Check them out!

-&Him

Best of 2009 mid-year

So, its a little late for mid-year, but i've been busy. I'm sure the order will change, but here is a rough idea of stuff I have liked so far this year.

1. Handsome Furs – Face Control
2. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
3. Patrick Wolf – The Bachelor
4. Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care
5. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
6. Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms
7. Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!
9. A.C. Newman – Get Guilty
10. Fever Ray – Fever Ray
11. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
12. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
13. Peter Bjorn And John – Living Thing
14. Metric – Fantasies
15. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
16. Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer
17. Gliss – Devotion Implosion
18. The Boxer Rebellion – Union

So yeah, Handsome Furs, can't seem to get enough of 'em, or find anything I like better. Liked Animal Collective, didn't see it as the masterpiece alot of people did though. Junior Boys and Phoenix did not disappoint at all. A.C. Newman surprised me by how much I liked it. I was a little disappointed by Fever Ray and Patrick Watson, but they were still better than most.

Anyways, I seem have a problem of liking a few songs and never getting around to listen to the rest. So some of these rankings are low because i only know a few songs. For example, I haven't really explored Swoon or Fantasies fully, so they could rise up potentially. Also, on first listen, I didn't like Living Thing by PB&J at first, but i've found it to be quite enjoyable. Not as good as Writer's Block however. Lost Channels by Great Lake Swimmers is a very pretty folk record and good for just relaxing and drifting off. Well, that's it for now, Until my final list of 2009 is done, which I'm sure will barely resemble this one. And I'm sure people who read this will completely disagree with me. But that's okay.

-&Him