New Music Friday >> 06/06/2008

Words >>

Holy fuck did we have a good time in Japan! Sadly, we didn't really bring back any new music (too much fun, too much running around). That said, we've left you hanging for way too long...

Music >>

Me First & The Gimme Gimme's (myspace) - Country Roads (mp3)

John Denver, redone for a stupider, more tweaked out generation. A perfect homecomming song.

Porlolo (myspace) - There Is No I In Athens (mp3)

This is our favorite find for the week. The lyrical styling is beautifully unexpected and it teases with a naescent brilliance. Reminds us a little of Betty Severt.

Envelopes (myspace) - Party (mp3)

The Pixies meets Bjork, cooling out on a warm Sunday afternoon. Spread out the blanket and have another Old Style!

The French Kicks (myspace) - Abandon (mp3)

Dream poppy honey dripping down your chin and ears. Mmmmmm!

The Whole Enchilada (A convenient .zip of this week's music)

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Raise The Black Flag

Big In Japan >> 05/13/2008

Words >>

Kids, we're off to Japan! We can't promise any new music during our trip, but we'll do our best. Expect an ear canal full of neat stuff when we get back!

Music >>

Tom Waits - Big In Japan >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1555913
Belle And Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1555914
Princeton - Tokyo, Japan >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1555915
Blue Oyster Cult - Godzilla >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1555916

The Whole Enchilada >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1555917

Sayonara,

Raise The Black Flag

New Music Friday >> 05/09/2008

Words >>

Hell of a week! Thanks to everyone (and there were quite a few friends who did) who kicked down new music! It’s what we're all about and we really appreciate it. So much good stuff!!!

Music >>

Editors - An End Has A Start >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548486

We're reminded of that "Don't You Want Me Baby" song by the Human League. It’s a good, weird cut and we're looking forward to writing more about them in the future.

Colin Meloy - California One / Youth And Beauty Brigade > Ask (Live) >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548487
Colin Meloy - Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect > Dreams (Live) >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548488
Colin Meloy - The Engine Driver (Live) >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548489
Colin Meloy - Cupid (Sam Cooke) >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548490

You probably know Colin Meloy from The Decemberists. He recently played at the Fillmore and is currently promoting two live records. The first is a compilation of his own fantastic work, including his Ira Glass-esqe stories and stage banter. The second is a collection of (mostly) Sam Cooke covers and feature several duets with Laura Gibson who is herself beautiful both in voice and presence. The show itself was, by all accounts, stunning and we highly recommend getting both records. Enjoy!

Wolf Parade - The Soldier's Grin >> (Link Removed)
Wolf Parade - The Grey Estates >> (Link Removed)

We're huge fans of Dan Boeckner (both of Wolf Parade and The Handsome Furs). We saw the Furs play at Rickshaw Stop in SF a few months back. It was he and Alexei Perry's honeymoon tour and they fucking rocked. Naturally, when we found out Wolf Parade had just released "At Mount Zoomer" we jumped on it like a hungry pack. It’s excellent and we thought we'd give you a few samples, you, know, to get you licking your chops for more.

Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventi

ons - Suzanne >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548500

We fucking love Hope Sandoval. We drooled over her in Mazzy Star and we're still drooling now.

Gillian Welch - Look At Miss Ohio >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1548501

We couldn't leave you without a lonesome cowgirl song. This is a fav of ours and its sure to stick in your head for days like the "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier..." refrain from the Killer's "All These Things That I've Done". Sing "Yellow Submarine" if you start to go nuts. That usually works as a mental breath mint for us.

The Whole Enchilada (a .zip file of all posts, for easy downloading) >> (Link Removed)

Thanks for listening!

Raise The Black Flag

New Music Friday >> 05/02/2008

Words >>

Its been 20160 seconds since the last New Music Friday. Alot has happened since then:

1. Bear attack (Peanut butter)
2. Planted a black flag at the summit of Mount Whitney (Narcissism)
3. Found Jesus
4. Immediately lost Jesus
5. Found out Jesus was hanging out with another blog
6. Felt rejected.
7. Wrote the great American novel (Smith-Corona)
8. Rescued several track dogs (Mid-race)

Apologies for the missed posts, but you know, we've been busy.

Music >>

The Luxury Tax - Nobody Gonna Shoot Me Down >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1535562

Unholy

The Manhattan Love Suicides - Heat And Panic >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1535563

Catchy

Bridges And Power Lines - The Golden Age >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1535564

Triumphant

My Morning Jacket - Evelyn Is Not Real >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1535565

Haunting

A Weather - Spiders, Snakes >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1535566

Pensive

Complete Zip >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1535592

Convenient


Have fun kids!

Raise The Black Flag

Spring Cleaning!

New Music Friday >> 04/11/2008

Words >>

We've been kicking around the importance of maintaining momentum; about how once you get it, its so important to keep it going and not let up until you stabilize it, otherwise you can't build anything and all your work is for nothing.

Music >>

Burbank International - Dial Tone >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1498805

This is one of our favorite Burbanks songs off of their seminal "Burbank Is For Lovers" LP. Basically an entire movie in a single song, it tells the story of a man wishing for some extra bullets and a working phone on the eve of a catastrophic quake and frankly always makes us a little weepy.

The Hold Steady - Your Little Hoodrat Friend >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1498808

Seldom do bar bands elevate to such sublime triumph. Our favorite cut off of their "Separation Sunday" concept album, it elicits dirty little memories of growing up small town midwest and basically just fucking rocks.

Be Your Own Pet - Bicycle, Bicycle - You Are My Bicycle >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1498809

A fixie anthem and perfect for a sunny day in SF. No gears No brakes! All Real! No fake!

The Black Angels - Doves >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1498810

Well crafted shoe-gaze illiciting the glory days of Mazzy Star and Opal. Fucking love it.

Sarah White - Sweetheart >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1498811

A tender ballad to a boyfriend on the edge of not being a boyfriend anymore. Perhaps a little too well crafted but it passed the "raises the hackles on the back of our neck" test.

Bill Moss - Sock It To 'Em Soul Brother >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1498814

Sometimes you gotta get knocked down to get up.

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Raise The Black Flag

New Music Friday >> 04/04/2008

Words >>

Question:

Why is Jack Johnson headlining the Outside Lands, Coachella and Bonnaroo festivals?

Answer:

I have no god damn fucking clue. This fact is merely the tip of what has been an abysmal last two weeks in terms of finding new music. Aside from the fact that this douchebag's music makes me want to tear off my own ears and feed them to my neighbor's cat, it represents a shockingly popular trend in music. I thought we were done with light rock! Didn't we learn our lesson with Dave Matthews and Hootie and the Blowfish? Isn't even a single second of soul-less filler muzaq way way too much? Nope. I Guess not, because Ben Harper is on most of these same lineups and he's just as lame. I completely understand wanting to smoke pounds of pot and impress your girlfriend with your crappy songs. She's going to fuck you anyway and its kind of cute when you try to be all 'artsy'. It stops being cute and becomes my problem when someone hands you a record contract and you start showing up on the same bill as Radiohead and Beck. For fucks-sake!

Music >>

Operation Ivy - Sound System >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1484702

OK. So Operation Ivy isn't new (or even playing anymore) but its probably new to you and they're the perfect antidote to the creeping plague of lite-rock that seems to be so popular lately. Dust off your Doc Martins and get ready to dance....

Zipper - Former Friends >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1484703

Cute. Punk. Catchy. French. Modestly crafted.

Bitmap - Hot Brains >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1484705

This reminds me of a Beck impression of a Monkees song. I like the name too. Suprisingly hi-fi and indy for a name like 'Bitmap'.

Radiohead - The Headmaster Ritual >> http://www.savefile.com/files/1484707

A Radiohead version of the classic Smiths song.

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Raise The Black Flag