*The Rosebuds

I've been in love with The Rosebuds since the moment I've heard them. I can't deny that. I'm also a sucker for good bootlegs. Now, If's it's good and recorded in my kneck of the woods, then that's just like heaven now isn't it. This is just that: The Rosebuds performing live at The Triple Door, courtesy of Seattle's own KEXP.

The Rosebuds - "Hold Hands and Fight"(11.13.05)

The rest of the set can be found here, on So Much Silence.

*The Raconteurs

So here's the Raconteurs. I would be lieing if I said I had heard about them before today. Maybe they're news to you too. The Raconteurs (pronounced....hell, I don't know) consists of Brendan Benson, Jack White, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. According to NME, their album is going to be Detroit's "answer to Nevermind". We'll see about that. Today, the band officially releases their first 7'' in the UK. The same record will be released here in the States on March 7th according, to their site. The 7" includes the tracks "Steady As She Goes" and "Store Bought Bones". Coincidentally enough, my site has 'em both:

The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes"
The Raconteurs - "Store Bought Bones"

*Grammy Predictions

I'm not trying to earn any street cred with this one, so I didn't pick all the cool kid music; i picked who I truly think will win, and gave my reasons.


Record Of The Year
We Belong Together
Mariah Carey

Jon's Reasoning: mariah is not alternative enough to ruffle feathers, plus she's got a respectable, somewhat lengthy career. her "comeback" deserves some recognition, but not enough to earn album of the year."hollaback girl" would get it if it weren't as far out. the polictical commentary on women oppression in certain cultures isn't really surface enough to be appreciated. Runner Up: Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl"

Album Of The Year
Late Registration
Kanye West

Jon's Reasoning: kanye's last album was good enough to win him mass praise, and even a few grammy's, but I really don't think he can be looked over at this point. Choosing Jon Brion to produce his album was pure genius. On top of that, he's been a constant icon in the media, with a very obvious political stance. I think he established himself so well this past year and because this album is, dare i say, one of the best hip-hop albums ever made, it's going to win. Runner Up: U2 - How To Dismantle A Bomb.


Song Of The Year
Devils & Dust
Bruce Springsteen

Jon's Reasoning: sure he's past his prime, he's too old to stay up late enough to be "dancin' in the dark", but this album won a fair amount of praise, and wasn't nominated for album of the year. he deserves some recognition, and this is what he's going to get. Runner Up: John Legend - "Ordinary People"


Best New Artist
John Legend

Jon's Reasoning: it seems like a no brainer to me that this man is way more talented and way more deserving than anyone else nominated. Runner Up: Keane


Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Hollaback Girl
Gwen Stefani

Jon's Reasoning: kelly clarkson was too over the top everywhere. gwen stefani was original as hell. Runner Up: Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone".


Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Jack Johnson

Jon's Reasoning: jack johnson deserves a grammy for his work one way or another. just give it to him for this. Runner Up: Paul McCartney - "Fine Line"


Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Mr. Brightside
The Killers

Jon's Reasoning: the grammy's need to look somewhat hip and in the modern music know. plus, this band deserves a grammy for something. Runner Up: Black Eyed Peas - "Don't Lie"


Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
A Song For You
Herbie Hancock Featuring Christina Aguilera

Jon's Reasoning: old plus new = irresistable to most. christina's got an undeniably great voice. great matchup. Runner Up: Stevie Wonder featuring India. Arie - "A Time To Love"

Best Pop Vocal Album
Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
Gwen Stefani

Jon's Reasoning: Hands down most creative album of the year. fiona's is amazing, but the original version, the better version, was scrapped. gwen's was produced and pieced together by a number of amazing artists and producers. this album was a breath of fresh air on the airwaves and in the music industry. Runner Up: Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
The Painter
Neil Young

Jon's Reasoning: the grammy's wants to acknowledge the fact they appreciate neil is still making music. they'll do this by giving him a grammy. Runner Up: Bruce Springstein - "Devils and Dust"

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
All These Things That I've Done
The Killers

Jon's Reasoning: i won't lie, i'm quite partial to this song. it was the song of the summer. the choir buildup is too good to be unrecognizable at the grammy's. Runner Up: Coldplay - "Speed of Sound"

Best Rock Song
Best Of You
Foo Fighters

Jon's Reasoning: this band deserves a grammy for one thing or another, the grammy's knows this, they'll get it for this. Runner Up: U2 - "City of Blinding Lights"

Best Rock Album
A Bigger Bang
The Rolling Stones

Jon's Reasoning: they'll win because they will. because they apparently have "still got it". Runner Up: Coldplay - "X+Y"


Best Alternative Music Album
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes

Jon's Reasoning: too creative to look over. this group deserves to be recognized in some form. because of this, they'll get a grammy. Runner Up: Beck - Guero


Best Rap Solo Performance
Gold Digger
Kanye West
Jon's Reasoning: this song was huge but not "good" enough to earn song of the year. it'll get this because it in fact did not win song of the year. Runner Up: Common - "Testify"

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
The Corner
Common Featuring The Last Poets

Jon's Reasoning: we all know common deserves a grammy for something on this album. just listen to it. this album's good. Runner Up: The Game featuring 50 Cent - Hate It or Love it"


Best Rap Song
Lose Control
Missy Elliott

Jon's Reasoning: seems like the obvious choice. most talented/creative of all the artists nominated. 50 cent is good, but not that song. Runner Up: 50 Cent - "Candy Shop"

Best Rap Album
(i can't choose)

Be
Common

or

Late Registration
Kanye West

Jon's Reasoning: it's possible kanye will not get album of the year. in that case, he'll hands down get this award. if he does win album of the year, it is still possible he could land this. I also believe Common's album is extremely worthy of this award as well. Runner Up: _____


Best Short Form Music Video
Feel Good Inc.
Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul

Jon's Reasoning: cool computer aided animation. enough said. Runner Up: Missy Elliott - Lose Control


Best Long Form Music Video
No Direction Home
Bob Dylan

Jon's Reasoning: Dylan + Scorsese = instant winner. Runner Up: Brian Wilson presents Smile

*Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams is, hands down, my most favorite musician. As a result I've accumulated hours of albums, demos, bootlegs, alternate versions, etc. Today I came across (on Come Pick Me Up), what is atleast to me, an amazing find. It's a live acoustic version of "Come Pick Me Up". You're probably asking yourself "What's so great about that?". Well, turns out this live track was recorded the day he had written it. As a result the lyrics are much different, but in a good way. The reason this song means so much to me is because of all his songs, it's the one that got me hooked, got me really into him. He adds commentary throughout the track, such as in the beginning when he says, " I wrote this today, it probably sucks". Perhaps it may not mean as much to you as it does to me, but regardless, I hope you like it.

Ryan Adams - "Come Pick Me Up (Live)

*Just an FYI to All Readers

I've been getting some flack for "hotlinking" my mp3's from other people's sites/archives, so slowly but surely i will reupload all the mp3's available on my site and put them all on archives of my own. At this moment in time, I have no cash (starving student) so I can't pay for a $30 ezarchive account (which I would love) at this time. As a result I'm hitting up the free sites until I have the money. If you'd like you can message me on myspace. Thanks!
-jon

*Elliott Smith
Today I came across some an amazing Elliott Smith fansite.The site being Trash Treasury, which contains a decent number of easily downloadable bootlegs spanning the length of Smith's career. I suggest listening to a little bit from every year. It's really interesting/eery/sad/exciting to hear how his performances change.






a few tracks off my favorite of the bootlegs:
Between the Bars (07/04/00)
Everything Means Nothing To Me(07/04/00)
Junk Bond Trader(07/04/00)

get the entire bootleg here

*Don't Tell Sophie/Tex

A few nights ago I came across a band Don't Tell Sophie, who played with an aquaintance's band Tex, who I was originally there to see. I decided to stay after Tex's set and see what they sounded like, and I was extremely pleased with their performance, their sound, they're style. Then again, I expect no less from a smaller Western Washington band, more specifically a "Kitsap Band". I urge you all to check out both bands, and while you're at it, check out that Kitsap site. I have always been amazed at what a lot of those bands can pump out. I'll be sure to make more "local band" posts in the future. I was unable to find any downloadable MP3's from either of the bands so just check them out on their myspace's. Unfortunately, in my opinion atleast, the music featured on DTS myspace doesn't do their live show justice.

*Mark Kozelek/Modest Mouse/Hate Mail

You may (or may not) have heard about Mark Kozelek's newest album Tiny Cities, a "reworking" of 11 Modest Mouse tunes. At first listen, it's a cute idea. After a few more, one may question "What the hell was this guy thinking?". Now to emotionally deal with the fact that this album was officially released is one thing, but to run into an article praising the album is another. His name: Wallace Baine. At 12 in the morning I questioned one thing: which is more important, getting some rest or letting this guy have it? My answer is as follows (I'm embarrassed. I didn't proofread this before I sent it):

Dear Mr. Baine,
I recently read your article regarding Mark Kozelek, and was slightly appalled at the idea you would consider him a "master song interpreter". I've listened to Kozelek for a number of years from Red House Painters, to Sun Kil Moon, to his "solo" albums. I'll admit, the reworkings of AC/DC songs into folkesque tunes were a nice surprise, but even those got old once the novelty wore off. That's all this album is, novelty. Everyone I know loved Tiny Cities the first time they heard it. Why? Because it seemed like a neat idea. Then slowly but surely, after a few more listens, they were all sick of the slaughtering that took place. Slowly picked chords over monotonously sung lyrics will do that to a song: kill it. If you really think about it, any musician could do this. Figure out new chords to a song and sing it a little differently. I do it. For fun. As a novelty. This album grows more and more embarrassing at every listen. Maybe it's the fact I've grown up in Issaquah, Washington...home of who else? Modest Mouse. A band who has been admired by my entire family, and has been connected with even on a personal level. To hear Issac Brock's beautifully original pieces thrown carelessly around is an atrocity. Besides the idea of these (mis)interpretations, you seem to be amazed at the idea he tried to pull of their songs as his own, to see a reaction. Not a very gutsy move. He knew if he just went in saying, "here, I made another cover album" they'd be turning him around and sending him out the door. Sure it's neat that he loves Modest Mouse. Sure he can be influenced by them. No one has to stop that. At least try and use that influence as fuel, not as means of counterfeiting. I'm thoroughly disappointed with Kozelek's attempt. This "album" hardly deserves mediocre praise, but to call him a master interpreter is just plain blasphemous. Put that album back on and hit repeat. You'll hate it too.
Thanks,
-Jon


I'll be sure to post his response (if any) as soon as possible. I'll admit it was sort of a dick move commenting on what someone likes and thinks, but seriously folks, in my opinion this album is awful. I know there are some die hard Kozelek fans out there, and I'm sure I'll get some crap over this, but this album truly does not do any of the original versions justice.

Let me include a quote off Pitchfork Media to hammer my opinion down:

"These tracks are botched experiments that can't even function as interesting failures."

read the rest of pitchfork's (3.0 rated) review here.


Brock's Beauty:
Modest Mouse - "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes"

Mark's Misinterpretation:
Sun Kil Moon - "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes"

*Colin Meloy
I love running into bootlegs recorded in my hometown, so I was thrilled to find this acoustic session with Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) recorded at Seattle's own KEXP radio.

it's in .zip form:
Colin Meloy Live at KEXP Studios

Also, new Shirley Collins Covers:
Colin Meloy - "Turpin Hero"
Colin Meloy - "I Drew My Ship"

*Beck/Nick Drake

I came across some more Nick Drake covers courtesy of Beck. His version of Nick Drake's Pink Moon can be found in an earlier post (check the archives). I have yet to find out where these covers are coming from and when/where they're "officially" going to be released.

Beck - "Which Will"
Beck - "Parasite"

*Bosque Brown

So, I was browsing Gorilla vs. Bear and came across this golden voiced gem. Her name, Mara Lee Miller. The band, Bosque Brown (pronounced Boss-ski). She was originally discovered by Damien Jurado after a home recording of hers was given to him by her husband Ryan. Her first official release entitled Bosque Brown Plays Mara Lee Miller was recorded and released in 2005. David Bazan and TW Walsh (Pedro The Lion) are responsible for it's final mastering. Her latest album Cerro Verde is due out sometime this spring ( Burnt Toast Vinyl Records). Just an FYI, She'll also be playing this year's SXSW festival in Austin, TX in March. And oh yeah, for all you myspacers, she's got one of those too. Last but certainly not least, Gorilla vs. Bear has graced the internet with an entire bootleg of one of her more recent show (I was not involved in the recording/uploading of this show):

1) Silver and Gold
2) Fine Lines
3) Went Walking
4) Still Afraid
5) A House
6) Texas
7) Isreal
8) Red Roses
9) Hwy 377
10) No. 6
11) That Door
12) Fire Fight

*Elliott Smith Covers.

I'll make this short. There's a compilation coming out entitled "To: Elliott, From: Portland" featuring, you guessed it, a number of Portland-area bands, singing your favorite Smith tunes.

The Thermals - "Ballad of the Big Nothing"
The Helio Sequence - "Satellite"
Dolorean - "The Biggest Lie"
Crosstide - "Angeles"

this is all I could scrounge up for now. I'll keep looking, and keep you posted.

*Miranda July
Today I came across an exciting find, Miranda July's blog. If you are unaware of who Miranda July is, she is a very talented writer, director, and musician, and is responsible for the 2005 release Me and You and Everyone We Know, winner of the Best First Film and Camera D'Or awards at the Cannes Film Festival (watch trailer). You can purchase her music, as well as her short films here, and purchase MYEWK here.

*Death Cab For Cutie

A few days ago I found out there was a bonus track for Plans, but assumed it was just "Jealousy Rides With Me" which was featured on the Soul Meets Body single. Soon after, I found out I wrong, and in fact the song was "Talking Like Turnstiles". I had read about the song months back in an article/interview featured in Paste Magazine, but placed it in the back of my head once I saw it didn't make it to Plans. Since finding out the song was recorded and floating around, I've been on a madman search to find it. According to the band, a video for Turnstiles will be featured on their site, along with videos for every song featured on Plans. Together the videos will make up the project entitled Directions which will be sold on DVD sometime this coming spring.

Death Cab For Cutie - "Talking Like Turnstiles"
Death Cab For Cutie - "Lightness (Demo Version)"

*Ben Gibbard/Death Cab For Cutie

I'm going to be completely honest, I ran into an article on Stereogum entitled something along the lines of Win a Date with Ben Gibbard and of course I had to apply with a message of why I should win this heterosexual date. Then I read the entire article once I sent the message and realized if I did in fact win, I had to pick up the ticket, in New York, the day of the concert. This would mean I would somehow have to buy a cheap ticket to NY and find somewhere to stay. For these reasons, I kind of hope I don't win anymore. But come on, look who it is, Ben Gibbard, and look who I am, his biggest fan, hands down, no joke. All I needed to read was the title and I was sold. Oh well. On another note, Death Cab has announced they will be releasing a video for every song on their new album Plans via their website sometime this month (read the article).

Death Cab tracks for your pleasure:
Death Cab For Cutie - "Bad Reputation" (iTunes Exclusive)
Death Cab For Cutie - "Crooked Teeth" (Plans)

*Top 50 Music Videos of the Year

DoCopenhagen has compiled an amazing list of their Top 50 music videos of the year, all of which you can watch. Well worth your time.
go here

*Jose Gonzalez/The Knife

I fell in love with Jose Gonzalez's 2005 release Veneer without the knowledge that one of the better tracks on there was in fact a cover. The song: "Heartbeats" The original band: The Knife. Both versions are a damn good listen. The Knife's upbeat copy sounds as though it deserves to be sandwiched in between Madonna and Cindy Lauper on a Best of the 80's: Pop Hits compilation. Gonzalez's is stripped down, acoustic, and down to earth. I'm still indecisive as to which version I like better.

The Knife - "Heartbeats"
Jose Gonzalez - "Heartbeats"

*Elliott Smith

I came across this a few months back, but it's too good to keep to myself. It's a group of unreleased Elliott Smith songs entitled Basement II Demos. They lack the instrumental layer his last three albums contained, but that's because they weren't exactly expanded on. These are the raw flesh and bones of Elliott Smith. This is probably what From a Basement on the Hill originally sounded like before Jon Brion, among others, took a crack at it.
click here for the full album

Here's a few (of my favorite) tracks off Basement II Demos:
Elliott Smith - "Angel in the Snow"
Elliott Smith - "New Disaster"

*Favorite Tracks of 2005

Antony and the Johnsons - Fistful of Love
Bloc Party - "Helicopter"
Bright Eyes - "Easy/Lucky/Free" / "First Day of My Life"
Broken Social Scene - "Ibi Dreams of Pavement"
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"
Death Cab For Cutie - "Summer Skin"
Decemberists - "The Sporting Life"
Devendra Banhart - "Long Haired Child"
Feist - "Mushaboom"
Imogen Heap - "Hide and Seek"
LCD Soundsystem - "Daft Punk is Playing at My House"
Matt Pond PA - "Halloween"
My Morning Jacket - "Wordless Chorus"
Rosebuds - "Hold Hands and Fight"
Sleater-Kinney - "Modern Girl" / "Let's Call It Love"
Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On"
Stars - "Your Ex-Lover is Dead"
Sufjan Stevens - "John Wayne Gacy Jr" / "Casimir Pulaski Day" / "Chicago" / "Come On Feel The Illinoise"
Tom Vek - "C-C (You Set the Fire in Me)"
White Stripes - "Walking With A Ghost"
Wolf Parade - "You Are a Runner, and I Am My Father's Son" / "Disco Sheets"
Youth Group - "Shadowland"