Not sure what it is exactly about “Golden Baby” that wins me over, but I love this song by the French pop act Cœur de Pirate.
Hearing Fred for the first time this morning via the great indie-pop song and video above. They’re apparently from Ireland, but I don’t know much beyond that. Too bad they’re not down here playing SXSW so I could catch a glimpse of them live. Anxious to hear more.
Sharon Van Etten, with “Leonard” from her most wonderful album, Tramp. One of the many performers I hope to catch at SXSW next week.
It’s apparently Attractive English Blonde Singers night here at the Bacon Review. Here’s Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny singing “Atlas.” You can hear her whole album via stream for a short while over here, or you can simply buy the album like I just did.
Laura Marling, singing “All My Rage”. Did she dye her hair or something? I could swear this is not the Laura Marling I’ve seen before.
Still, good song, kookie video.
The Shins, with “Clapping Butter” = HI-larious.
Bon Iver’s “Towers,” the most traditional video yet from 2011’s self-titled album.
“Bon Iver at AIR Studios,” in which Justin Vernon and Sean Carey, armed with only two grand pianos, sing five songs, mostly in glorious falsetto. It’s long, but it’s worth it.
I recommend putting it on but then moving it to the background. For whatever reason, the douche factor is pretty high on this video if you watch it, but the beauty of the music is undeniable. Well worth listening to.
The setlist:
- Hinnom, TX
- Wash.
- I Can’t Make You Love Me
- Babys
- Beth/Rest
There’s something infectious about James Mercer’s voice that makes me like the Shins despite my best efforts not to. Here they are, performing “Simple Song” from their new album Port of Morrow, which will be out on March 20.
This video by Mirel Wagner, whom I discovered today via a tweet by my friend Chris, is going to haunt me all day. Especially since her CD isn’t available in the US until March 27.
“There will definitely be another Blur album.”
I wasn’t planning on liking J. Tillman’s new band Father John Misty but then you throw in Aubrey Plaza and suddenly things change.
I may be tired of the entire roots Americana movement, but the Head and the Heart still impress on a near-daily basis.
iTunes Match = royalty checks for musicians →
I had no idea the $25 I paid for iTunes Match turns into royalty payments to the musicians I listen to through iTunes Match. From Jeff Price:
A person has a song on her computer hard drive. She clicks on the song and plays it. No one is getting paid. The same person pays iTunes $25 for iTunes Match. She now clicks on the same song and plays it through her iMatch service. Copyright holders get paid.
Very cool.
/via Daring Fireball
How does OK Go continue to outdo themselves? Seriously. They’ve come a long way since dancing in their back yard in 2005, but every video since that first one has been captivating.
And every one of them puts a HUGE smile on my face.
Bill Callahan covering Leonard Cohen’s “So Long Marianne” for Mojo Magazine.
My absolute favorite Leonard Cohen song, Smog-style.
The Magnetic Fields have a new album coming out on March 6 called Love at the Bottom of the Sea. “Andrew In Drag” is the first video to be released from it.
And in case you’re sitting at work not working, you should know that this video has nudity in it.
/via NPR
You may remember Perfume Genius from such countdowns as the 2010 Bacon Musical Calendar.
This video, for “Hood,” from his new album, Put Your Back N 2 It, (out February 21 on Matador) doesn’t do anything to make him more likable by the mainstream — but that’s pretty much his shtick and I’m ok with that. The music is some of the most emotionally wrought stuff you can put in your ear holes.
Here’s a promising song from Hospitality, a nice little indie-rock trio. “Friends Of Friends” is the first video from their upcoming self-titled debut album, out on Tuesday, January 31.
“Comeback Kid,” Sleigh Bells’ first video from their soon-to-be-released 2nd album Reign of Terror shows that the band is definitely not changing much. This is a good thing.