The Giant Panther

I wonder how many music blog posts are inspired by throwing Itunes on shuffle. I hadn't heard Ugly Casanova in a long time, and when "Parasites" came up today, I decided to write on this album in case it had slipped through the cracks for anybody out there. When it popped up, I was ready for a Modest Mouse tune, then a few seconds later when the fake horn synth line appeared seemingly from a late 90s rap song, I knew it was Ugly Casanova

Ugly Casanova was/is Isaac Brock's (Modest Mouse) side project, along with Tim Rutili (Califone, Red Red Meat), Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession), John Orth (Holopaw), and Brian Deck. You can read the full story here. They only made one album back in 2002, Sharpen Your Teeth, but it was a damn fine one. While it has obvious similarities to Modest Mouse, there are some differences, the major being a lot more synth.

I'd be willing to bet that most indie music fans put Isaac Brock's songwriting up there among the top, and while he does share writing duties with the other members of Ugly Casanova, Sharpen Your Teeth is not without it's pure Isaac Brock moments of zen.

One of my favorite lines from Sharpen Your Teeth is from "Hotcha Girls".. "Smells like autumn, smells like leaves, you don't know that you'll rust and not belong so much and then get left alone. Suck it up, take a ride, take a walk, and don't you know that old folks homes smell so much like my own."

MP3: Ugly Casanova - Hotcha Girls
Ugly Casanova's Website
Buy Sharpen Your Teeth

"So long to the holidays is a 6 minute drone that does a lot with a little. I'm pretty sure the ant from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" adds some vocals at the end.

MP3: Ugly Casanova - So Long To The Holidays
Ugly Casanova's Website
Buy Sharpen Your Teeth

Mason Jennings is back, this time as the first artist signed to Isaac Brock's label, Glacial Pace. This is what I would expect from Mason's first major label release. Definitely more of a produced work than previous albums, featuring much more instrumentation than past albums. I found a documentary while cruising On-Demand a while back called Use Your Van, where Mason talked about writing most songs on his piano, so it's a pleasant surprise to hear much more piano on Bone Clouds. To be honest, you could pretty much stick a mic up to Mason playing an old radiator like an accordion and I'd still love it. I've been listening to Mason Jennings for a long time, seen him live at least three times, and he never disappoints.

There is something very familiar about Mason Jennings, comparisons have been made to Jack Johnson, due to his laid back style and warm vocals. While there are some similarities, there is something much more lurking behind the lazy summer sound. Introspective lyrics that everybody can relate to at some point in their lives, and a deceivingly simple delivery reminiscent of Mr. Zimmerman, it's a privilege to look at life through the eyes of someone as perceptive as Mason Jennings.

Mason's 2004 LP Use Your Voice is one of my all time favorites. While Use Your Voice was more of an exploration inward, Bone Clouds looks outward, towards starting a family, and life-long relationships. The closest track to old Mason on Bone Clouds is "Jackson Square", romping through an acoustic singalong.

Mason Jennings is coming to Avalon in Boston on Sat, Sept 16, definitely a show to check out, get tix here, just make sure you exit by ten so club night isn't delayed. If you don't take my word on Bone Clouds, here's what Isaac had to say: "I just heard some of the new songs Mason is recording in Minnesota for Glacial Pace and am thinking that even if this was the only thing that Glacial Pace released, how I am just so goddamned proud to play a part in the release of this record. I hope that every time a record comes out on Glacial Pace I feel this good about it. " - from top-40 charts.com

MP3: Mason Jennings - Gentlest Hammer
Mason Jennings' Website
Buy Bone Clouds

MP3: Mason Jennings - Jackson Square
Mason Jennings' Website
Buy Bone Clouds

Bonus MP3: Mason Jennings - Southern Cross
Mason Jennings' Website
Buy Use Your Voice

The Acorn hail out of Ottawa, and that's pretty much all I can tell you. I came across their music at GVB one day, and tucked them away in my itunes among 180 GBs worth of music. Sometimes you just aren't paying enough attention when listening to a song for the first time. "Sent (Awake the Kraken)" came up on shuffle today, and I says to myself I says, "Who are these guys?" I'm still wondering that, but enjoying their music nonetheless. If you like Midlake, you'll probably like The Acorn. Good luck finding a place to buy the mp3s, but you can order the albums here.

Their 2005 EP Blankets is excellent, a little more acoustic than their LP The Pink Ghosts, which has a few instrumentals as well. Download two more tunes on their myspace page, and grab a free live set at The Acorn's old website.

MP3: The Acorn - Sent (Awake The Kraken)
The Acorn's MySpace
Buy Blankets

MP3: The Acorn - Plates & Saucers
Buy Blankets

MP3: The Acorn - Evidence
Buy The Pink Ghosts <- Temporarily Sold Out??

Ok, I know this is supposed to be a music blog, but I just found the best clip of all time. If you grew up in the Boston area in the 80s, you know exactly what I'm talking about, the PSA for school lunches, Chow Daddy!

I'm a bit late posting on this album, because I was too busy not having a blog when it was released. Denmark's Figurines have been compared to Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, so I'm not going to do that. Although the vocals do sound very similar. "Skeletons" does at time have it's Built to Spill moments, but it's the organic non-rockers like "Ghost Town" and "Back In The Day" that impress me the most on this album. This is a tough album to sample based on a few tracks. Figurines really are an indie sponge, soaking up influences from a great number of different bands, and he really does happen to sound just like Isaac Brock. OK, I'm not comparing them to Modest Mouse anymore.

The album opens unconventionally with "Race You" (video below is the actual take from the album), a beautiful piano ballad full of longing and anger: "Don't call if you need a friend", that certainly doesn't set the tone of the album, but I'm glad it's not tucked in the middle of the album, where songs like this tend to get lost. Putting it first almost says "Hey sizzlechest, listen to this song and pay attention."

The second track, "The Wonder" is probably how the album was slated to start, but somebody snuck "Race You" in at the last minute. It's a pretty standard pop- rock tune, not the most impressive track on the album

As "Skeleton" progresses, you start to realize this isn't just a "Sounds like Modest Mouse and can write a catchy song" band. Other early highlights are "Silver Ponds"and "Rivalry".
The ninth track"Ghost Town", is Figurines take on "Love the one your with", and has hints of an Uncle Tupelo banjo sing along.

MP3: Figurines - Ghost Town

If my favorite song on this album isn't "Race You", it's probably "Back In The Day", a hollow Western accompanied by an acoustic guitar and cymbal. Sometimes less is more, and this song highlights lead singer Christian Hjelm's talent writing melodys.

Definitely one of 2006's early best, and cool cover art to boot. Grab two more tracks from Figurines website here.

Figurines Website
Buy Skeleton

Video: Figurines - "Race You"

Since I just added a nifty tourfilter button in my sidebar that will post all my favorite upcoming shows in the Boston area, (thanks Chris!), I'm going to feature a few bands that are coming to Beantown this summer.

I've finally recovered from my 4th of July vacation. Ten burgers, a few firework close-calls, and a good number of missed spots with the sun screen later, I'm ready to tell you about Aloha. They've been around for a a few years, each album in my opinion getting better and better. Their excellent latest release, "Some Echoes", doesn't have quite as many vibraphone breakdowns as some of their older stuff, but adds some nice organ layers. It's also the closest thing to love songs I've heard from them, where the past releases, "Sugar" and "Here Comes Everyone" were a little more on the serious side. Definitely pick this album up. Aloha is playing TT The Bears in Cambridge, MA on August 24. Get tix here.

MP3: Aloha - Your Eyes

MP3: Aloha - Between the Walls
Aloha's Myspace Page
Buy "Some Echoes"

"Let Your Head Hang Low" was the first Aloha tune I heard, I remember thinking how different this was than anything else I was listening to:

Bonus MP3: Aloha - Let Your Head Hang Low
Buy "Sugar"

It's casual Friday at work today, but I think I dressed a little too casual, as my shirt was on inside-out. Still better than my fly down, but not by much. I thought that girl at Dunkin' Donuts was just admiring my ruggish good looks. Here's some Friday music to start your long weekend.

MP3: Midlake - Head Home
Midlake's Website
Buy "Trials Of Van Occupanther" (Presale - Out On July 25)

In all of my years of posting (3/365ths), have I ever implored you to buy an album? Well I'm imploring now. So far, this is my favorite album of 2006, and I'm guessing on Jan 1st of 2007 it still will be. Original songwriting, Crosby-esque harmony, rich instrumentation. I'm trying to avoid slapping a decade label on every song I post, but this definitely brings back a 1970s feel (think Seals and Crofts but less facial hair.) "Bring me a day full of honest work, and a roof that never leaks, I'll be satisfied." Buy this album.

MP3: Beirut - Scenic World
Beirut's Website
Buy "Gulag Orkestar"

I missed Beirut at the Lily Pad last weekend, but Ryspace.com has a set from June 17 at Soundfix. Beirut's website says they are playing again in Boston on August 26th, but no word on where yet. Brooklyn Vegan has a great interview with Zach. This album has it all: 20 year old Zach Condon's vibrato, uke, trumpet, accordian, an old casio keyboard playing its heart out.

MP3: The Long Winters - Pushover
The Long Winters Website
Buy "Putting the Days to Bed" - July 25

Ok, so I've posted on two albums you can't have until July 25th. I've only heard a few songs from "Putting the Days to Bed", but I'm looking forward to this album. I had to put something upbeat in here. More tunes to download here.

Have a good fourth, and if you're partaking in any pyrotechnics, make sure you're in a nice, open space, with plenty of room to get the hell out of the way if something goes wrong (the 18th hole for example).

I've spent two days trying to think of what to post first, and I've got nothing. Here's what I've been listening to this morning, there's a little bit of 80s in all of us..

MP3: Hot Chip - No Fit State

Hot Chip's Website
Buy "The Warning"

Hot Chip immediately reminds me of the Beta Band, which should be considered high praise. And no, not just because they are English and use electronic instruments. A good number of these songs have that same familiar drone progression that brings me back to my favorite Beta Band tunes. Why did they break up? I even hear a little Duran Duran in here somewhere. That's not to say this album doesn't have it's own sound. There is lot going on, and "The Warning" offers a good variety of tracks, some that belong in a club, and some on your headphones when you can really pay attention. Bobblehead, this definitely belongs on your invisible IPod!

MP3: Office - Q&A

Office Website
Buy "Q&A" From Itunes

If you saw my playcount on this tune, you would puke on your keyboard. Solid, upbeat album, front to back. Is there a Magical Mystery breakdown in the middle? How do I explain this track? I don't, you have to listen to it, over and over.

MP3: Zero 7 - Futures (w/ Jose Gonzalez)

Zero 7 Website
Buy "The Garden"

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for anything Jose Gonzalez. But that's another post for another day. The appearance of Jose on several tracks on "The Garden" is what initially attracted me to this album. After a further listen, it's a good album to put on during dinner, but tends to lose my attention. A little Euro-popish, but enjoyable. P.S. that's not your music player skipping 2 and a half minutes in, it's just being "artsy".

MP3: The Knife - Heartbeats

The Knife Website
Buy "Deep Cuts" from Itunes

Ok, a Jose Gonzalez post inevitably leads me to mention one of my favorite songs recently, "Heartbeats". I initially heard Jose's version, which lead me to the original, by Swedish electronic indie band, The Knife, which lead me to their excellent album "Deep Cuts". I love the simplicity in the lyrics of "Heartbeats", and Karin Dreijer Andersson is as ballsy a vocalist as Cyndi Lauper (I told you there's a little bit of 80s in all of us.)

Bonus: Hot Chip's "And I Was A Boy From School Video