Feather

Well, August has already befallen us. Seems odd; yet seems to make sense. I can't seem to tackle this inchoate sense of waiting--which I fear August will bring; a wait for something unnamed and not really acutely planned for or in range. Perhaps August is just an aspiration, as I yet remain unsure where the rock may roll.

Backpacking with Jillian went well--albeit it's shortness. Boef. The 4-day trip to the San Juan Mountains was...decent. Really having more and more difficulty being comfortable around my father. Just so reactive. Anyway, climbing Sneffels was a blast. Hats off to 14er #24. Holla. Biggest downside, however was the fucking rain. Spent about 4 days practically soaked. Pwnd par la nature...

I'm stoked:

Mad stoked on heading out to NEW YORK in about a coupla days or something of the like. Gonna see a whole onslaught of Amigos à la Pairs that I haven't seen in well over a year. So here's a shout out to all'o'y'all!

Stoked to get out of the shitty, house I'm currently in with beer cans and dog shit all over the place. Best location I've ever been in, worst housemates I've ever had (well, 3 awful, 1 good).

Stoked to be chillin' well past September.

Stoked on the amazing people in my life (you know who you are).

Stoked that things are getting better (or back to how they were).

Stoked to go to Costa Rica in September.

And, of course: Stoked on some new-ass music I'm about to share with y'all! There's a lot of it here, and it's all good.

Let's get started:

This one I have a hunch my amigo Ted0 will enjoy quite a bit. Not sure if he's totally your groove, but Wax Tailor is a fuckin' master. Check it!
Wax Tailor--The Games you Play

Because I'm _______, all I can seem to want to listen to these days is mostly sans-parole, jazzy...ish, chill stuff with a good beat...or Hip-Hop. If anyone can help me with the name of this category of music, that'd help. So I'll throw out a whole handful...
Pt. 1 of all I can listen to:
Fat Jon - Mira
Nujabes - A Day by Atmosphere Supreme
They loose their minds on this track:
Cinematic Orchestra - Man With The Movie Camera (live)

Pt. 2: Hip-Hop (most of it Jazzed-up):
Blessin' it

Feather

This one I really was digging earlier this week after getting lost in the rain, after dark, no shirt on a run while camping, there you have it:
Highs 2 Lows
This one goes out to that special someone in my life.
(These first couple come from one of my new favorite artists, Nujabes. Who, tragically died in February of this year as I came to learn upon reading more into him after being substantially impressed by his album Metaphorical Music (which is what some of this is off of...) Kinda a bummer when you get really stoked on someone and find out he's recently deceased. Putain.

...and one more:
Blue Scholars - The Inkwell


Also, I meant to throw this one up last time, but didn't. A really beautiful song.
Florence and The Machine - Cosmic Love (Short Club Remix)


Ok...Well, that's about an hour worth of listening. Enjoy!

Be ready for even fresher scratches and beats within the week!

Holy Shit!

It's been about two months since my last update: Lame. Something, perhaps to do with the massive blur of things lately. Just wanting a bit (a lot) of a down shift or slow down, which I have been feeling to the slightest effect of late. A minute to read and read words and signs that have directed me to a here and there (a consequent nowhere).

Still, things have been so unsteady. I feel this spectral beyond that quivers and haunts...like I be swimming in troubled water.

Anyway, running lower on time (gotta wake the kids soon!) than I'd like, so I'll dive right in.

First off: Baths. Really one of the most fascinating fresh new sounds I've heard in ages. There's something so mechanistic, menacing and sorrowful about this song; yet with a certain amplification of affirmation and calm. Check out his new album, Cerulean. It won't let you down...Real Talk.
Baths--Lovely Bloodflow

Next up...These guys recently came out with their first album in....ohhhh....8 years? Blood like LemonadeAnyway, for old times sake, I'm gonna throw up an oldie but a sure-fire goodie.
Morcheeba--Au Dela

And this last one goes out to a very special, eloquent lady in my life. Listen to the words, Love. You'll know who you are...

That's it for now. I'm planning on keeping this here Mezzanine updated on the regular. I've gots lots to share!

Cheers

The Chill post

One last week of classes then a couple of tests the week after and I will finally have this abstraction of freedom and comfort in my palm. It's bittersweet, sitting at the cap of the week where I know not how I am going to find the motivation to pulse forward.

So here's some music that's been keeping me in it lately.

Louise Attaque--Sean Penn, Mitchum. This is another one of my favorite bands, and the album this came off of (here) is really a keeper. They are just calm, beautiful music with very oneric lyrics (for those of you qui comprenent la parole française). I really like how the chorus flows with the zip of the music...


These Guys are good too (Tosca--Boss on the Boat). This is Dorfmeister's second side project. Again. Chill stuff. Good for focus.

Brad Mehldau - Sky Turning Grey (For Elliot Smith) Good sound. 'nuf said.

Dosh--Country Road. I really like what this artist is becoming. His new album, Tommy is really clean with some great tracks. I missed seeing him at the Hi-Dive last week I think due to my being ZOMBIE tired from that school/work thing...Anyway, check his new album, it's got Andrew Bird on a couple of tracks= + + Good.

Crystal Castles--Intimate. OFf of their new album, I like a very small handful of songs. They either: (a) tried to put some noise core mutant with hyperdistorted screamy vocals which just sounds like shit (b) added a lot of randomized sound effects that just distract from the music of (c) just failed to put anything above bland in their new album. Which is a bummer. But this is one of those songs that is not subject to a, be, or see, so I can groove it.

These last two came from Cinematic Orchestra's contribution to this amazing project. One of my favorite bands like most of my other favorite bands. Get dem shitz together and you get a big 'ol banana on my face. Play these guys back to back and if you want a bonus, listen to it while skating around some place, swerving in and out of people....
St. Germain--Rose Rouge
Songstress-- See Line Woman (See Line Woman Vocal)


Yeah, chill some sauce to that....

Maybe I'll do energy post sometime...

Checkered

I've been a bit behind as far as keeping my updates normal lately. The obvious reasons for this need not be stated.

First off, not at all music related, but I'd like to give a super special shout-out to Stone's 2nd Most recent Collaboration ale, the El Camino (un)Real Black Ale. I haphazardly stumbled upon this while browsing Argonaut, bought one, was blown away in my mouth. Well, I headed back to Argonaut 2 days later and cleared them out of all their remaining 15 bottles. Honestly, I have never tasted a beer that delicious and complex since the legendary Westerleven 12, the purportedly "Best Beer in the World".

Anyway, if you can find this, it is more than worth a taste. So try and snatch one up if you can. Otherwise, stay on my good side, assholes!

They also just released their next collaboration ale, Saison du Buff where they get together with some pretty mean brewers.

Anyway, been listening to a handful of stuff around the block, and I plan on throwing some of that at all'o'yall....

Alright, first:
1.) These New Puritians--Attack Music
--> This song sticks in the folds of my gyri like a bur. Kind of electro-art-rocky but it's a really tasty tune and it's off of their new album

2.) The National--Terrible Love. Their new album is probably my favorite out of what they have. It's brilliant, wonderful, uplifting and cheery just like all of their stuff and makes you just want to go out and blindly fall in love. Yeah.

3.) Hocus Pocus--100 Grammes de Peur. Probably my favorite band that's currently active--largely because their new album, 16 Pièces is a knockout. Lyrically and Musically their most driven album.


Bonus: A big shout-out to ConnardTed0Monsieur thank you for this massive destruction that has been the theme to my life the last 10-12 days. For real.

Anything Else?

Damn

Wow, April's almost over, and I've not thrown anything up here all month. That's 3 weeks and that's lame. Guess it's been a busy month. Ha, wait, it's been probably the busiest time in my whole life: full-time job, 22 credit hours, and an internship I'm just choking down.

Anyway, all 'o you haters who were either uninterested or too broke to come to Bonobo with me: you all missed one of the most varied and wonderful shows you'll probably ever see. Tant pis pour vous.

So, in name of that, here's a barrage of a couple of crispy, jazzy tracks (including the title track off of Bonobo's new album). They're long, but good for a chill session. Enjoy.

Jaga Jazzist--Sweedish Take Away
The Cinematic Orchestra--Everyday
Bonobo--Black Sands


Bonus:
Sunday Girl V. Diplo--Four Floors
This song is beautiful, sexy and one of the better tracks I've heard all month. Hope it pleases you.

Cheers.

Couldn't pass it up

I'm really looking forward to seeing what else Jónsi (most recognizable face fromcreates. His new album, Go is due out April 15th, or you can stream it direct from NPR (which I am doing right now). Regardless, this is a really beautiful track:
Jónsi--Time to Pretend (MGMT cover)

And, again, I can't but help but love the shit out of this one. Whoever the woman is in this makes it spring from decent to great!
Lil Shorty--Too $hort

Lots'o'listening!

Haze

Bleck. 14 Overnights in a row; 3 more to go. It'll all be well worth it about 12 days from now with my next paycheck.

Anyway, been barreling through bullshit with school and my internship, but here are some tunes that have cheered me up lately and I hope they'll have a similar effect on all'o'y'all!

This one is for Meghan (who probably won't read this...)
Edward Sharpe and ....--Home (RAC Remix)

And, probably my favorite track of of Bonobo's new album (which I would probably give a 11/20, sadly. The second half pulls it together)
Bonobo--Black Sands

And This song just Shreds. It goes out to an amigo of mine who might just be cooler than it.
Tunng - Hustle (Bloc Party Remix)


More comin' later on in the week, so don't be a stranger!

Shift Shift Shift

New Mexico was rad. A pretty epic drive down there including fog, blizzard and an eerie kind of catharsis upon arriving in Albuquerque. Perhaps most importantly was just getting my arse and eyes away from Denver for a chunk of time with my Beloved....

Ha!

Anyway, got some good stuff to comin' at you...

First off, Broken Bells . A collaboration between James Mercer of the Shins + The great Danger Mouse = most excellent. Anyway, never really being a super big of a fan of the Shins, this duo, however makes for a fascinating sound. Without further adoo:
Broken Bells-Sailing to Nowhere

New stuff by Rocky. Yeah.
Rocky Votolato, Red River


I'm just going to leave it at that for now...More to come soon!

A little bit of breathing room...finally

The quarter is finally over. Those last two weeks were really taking a toll on my body. I don't think I've ever felt a stress so corporal than the one that's been battle-axing through me. Anyway, I'm going to be bouncing out to the (hopefully) sunny domain of Santa Fe in a coupla hours, which I'm looking forward to. As well as longer days, with the arbitrary changing of the clocks. I guess spring is here? We'll see.

Regardless, here are a coupla tunes that are a little around the board but it's all new stuff I've been listening to this week and thought I'd share a little speck with you.

1.)Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Mockingbird.
--> Pretty folky, but sometimes this is the stuff that drives me. Really good sound and vibe coming from these guys.

2.) I might get some haters for this, but I like her stuff. She's got a cool story and is a part of the Doomtree Hip-Hop collective. Anyway, check it!
Dessa, Matches to Paper Dolls

3.) I don't know why, but I love the hell out of this song. Maybe you can tell me?
CatDiesel, k-os

And a Bonus. Just for fun. Hysterical but with a good sound.


Well, that't it for now. I'm a bit rushed, so excuse the lack of detail. Look for more later on in the week!

MARC(h)!

Let me start by saying that I fucking Love this month! Yay. Although it's a little bit like half-dead duck starting up at the musty gray sky outside, the devil of February is now away from us. Horray for temporally-defined superstitions!

Here's one that's fun and blood-cloting! (it's at leas the first)
Attack of the Postmodern Baboons!

This one is just clean and all over good. Another one of those bands that if you don't listen to them, well..... you should probably just get better:
Four Tet-Glue of the World

You may have heard mention of one of my new up and coming music brilliancies, Mr. Son Lux. (I threw one of his tracks up a coupla weeks ago...but you didn't read that anyway...). Well, he threw out a new EP a little minute ago and it slaughters daughters. This guy dices and slices songs you love and gives them an entire new spin. Anyway, without further ado, this one is Epic:
Son Lux-Weapons V

Oh yeah, aaaannnnddd, these guys are pretty good, I think some of you will like 'em:
Toro y Moi-Blessa

Markéd intentions

I also want these shoes. Cooler than me or you.