It snuck up fast, but 2007 is 50 percent over with. Crazy huh? As I love making lists, here are a few of my favorite records of 2007 (so far) in no real order. Each with accompanying mp3's!
Its been ages since ive posted something local and the upcoming Romantica record has given me the perfect opportunity to do so. While interning at 2024 Records last summer, I was introduced to Ben Kyle and his band Romantica. Their new record is mostly an homage to American country and folk music. Ben's classic dusty vocals and soft guitar strumming compliment his songwriting perfectly. If you like Wilco, Iron and Wine, or Ryan Adams, these guys are for you.
"Retarded anti-pop music made by twomusical idiot savants from Texas with a cheap computer" is how Austin duo "Best Fwends" describe themselves. It is a little more complicated than that, but that about sums it up. While a genre is not easy to pin onto their sound, its a little hip-hop, a pinch of electro, a dash of guitar rock and a whole lot of fun. Their latest record "Alphabetically Arranged" spans 29 tracks with the longest song clocking in at 2:41. I promise "Skate or Live" is one of those tracks you wont be able to stop listening to. Take a listen and let these guys blip and whir themselves into your summer.
Yep. Ive already blogged about her, but yesterday Left of Center played this song off her debut full length (which is my most anticipated album of the summer, maybe the year) and I decided to post about it. St. Vincent is simply the real deal. The record drops on July 10th, dont forget.
Admitidly I was late to the Grizzly Bear train, their latest album "Yellow House" is fantastic, but we arent talking about them today. However, Ed from Grizzly Bear keeps a pretty solid blog. In this blog a few weeks back he posted an MP3 from "Magic Arm" who are based out of the U.K. Its described as "Psyche-Folk" which is something that I have never heard of, but the description is dead on. "Outdoor Games" is something special, it starts quiet but sonically builds wonderfully. For fans of Grizzly Bear or Beach House.
Four years ago my cousin plopped a record in my lap that introduced me to one of the most consistant bands of the last decade. That record was "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and that band is Wilco. While I usually try to stick to up and coming stuff here at the fort, I can't resist today. "Sky Blue Sky," the latest offering from Tweedy and company comes out today and I am in love with it. Its Wilco's most straight ahead, no frills record in quite some time. Every song was tracked live and there are almost no overdubs. Tweedy's songwriting is as clear headed as ever and he is on top of his game here. Enjoy.
Im tempted to turn fortcosmo into a dance/electro exclusive blog. Its pretty much all I have been listening to. I wont go that far though, I hereby promise more updates this summer as well as a good mix of genres. But for now: dance music. Hot Chip's 2006 release "The Warning" has given them the newfound status of being the darlings of indie dance, on the latest edtion of the DJ Kicks series, Hot Chip droped this unrelased gem on us. Its classic Hot Chip in every way.
