MARCH ’12 MIX
So this is a little late, I know. The internet situation for me has been a little all over the place lately – moved to a new spot and we’re working out which net plan would be best!
Anyway, this here is a bit of a mix of my fave tracks of March. It’s a full 20 tracks long and features a fairly decent range of stuff. There’s also some internationals in the mix too!
You can stream and download the thing below. Some tracks up for individual download too!
MAAMF – March ’12 Mix (Right click/Save as)
MAAMF March ’12 Mix Tracklisting
skullsquadron – Tomorrow Morning
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Dream On
Bleeding Knees Club – Who Are You
Tanlines – Green Grass
Kristina Miltiadou – Carousel
Cosmo Black – Blind
Cloud Nothings – Our Plans
Buchanan – Run Faster
Siobhan – Don’t Take Her Heart If You’re Gonna Let Her Down
Beach House – Myth
Catcall – The World Is Ours
Bon Chat, Bon Rat – Dust Proud (featuring Pepepiano)
Miiks Snow – Archipelago
DZ Deathrays – No Sleep
Twinsy – Take Me Home
Super Best Friends – No Logo Is A Joke
Galapagoose – One Who Can’t Move
Chet Faker – Love and Feeling
Lowlakes – Song For Motion
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Miks
St JEROMES LANEWAY FESTIVAL REVIEW
Thanks to FASTERLOUDER for the pic.
ok, so this is nearly a week late sure, but you know what? I got there. Took me ages, but I got there.
Laneway Festival last weekend was killer. The venue is amazingo, and man, that lineup…jeepers. When I reviewed last years, I wrote something along the lines of it being a music bloggers wet dream. Well, this years was more like I actually meant to do it, not any of this of crap, look at the mess I’ve made during my sleep. This years was more like, let’s make more mess and stay awake and do some more.
Ok, so enough of the wank talk.
The first band we saw was The Holidays. We actually missed Buchanan due to the whole floods thing that happened last weekend. Took us a little longer to get to the venue. Pissed off I missed Buchanan, but glad I caught some of The Holidays set. If these guys were to play in a few years time at Laneway, I think their set would be mid afternoon, not one of the openers. No secret about my love for the guys, they’re album of last year made my top 10, and Broken Bones was one of my fave tracks from last year. They’re gonna get heaps big me thinks. Live, they’re really solid. I remember remarking to my mate that they’re heaps tighter than the last time we saw them (supporting Bluejuice early last year). Band on ze rise me thinks.
After Holidays, we caught some of World’s End Press. Same with Holidays, I reckon these guys will be closing a stage in a few years time. But that’s more because they’re stuff suits a bit more of a late night thing. Watching they’re pretty darn stellar disco indie stuff at 1 in the afternoon was kinda strange. But man, they do rock it live. I’d heard things about these boys, and now I know it’s true. Definitely a band that will be up there with Cutters and Juggers as big amazing Aussie bands doing big amazing things os.
World’s End Press – Faithful
From World’s End Press we went a little dark. PVT were good. But I dunno, there seemed to be something lacking from their set. I like them, but to be honest, I only have their last album. They were good, but yeah, something lacking. We left these guys and saw a tiny bit of Jenny and Johnny. These guys were pretty great. Indie guitar pop lovey dovey shit. But it’s good.
Until then, the bands were good, but if I went home at that point, I wouldn’t have been that happy with it all. The bands were all really good, but I didn’t have that moment where you go home thinking man, let’s not ever forget that.
Then we saw Beach House. To say that they were good, well, man. They were in my top three of the day, easily. Maybe 2nd best. Victoria is one of those indie goddess babes that you only think about seeing live. Teen Dream was massive here – made #2 on my albums list. Everything about them was great. I remember thinking ‘man, this is swoons galore’. supes was. Tracks like Zebra and Norway definitely helped the swooning.
Beach House – Norway
After Beach House, things got interesting. The intention was to go an check out Blonde Redhead, but they had swapped spots with Holy Fuck. So we decided to stay at this stage and check out Two Door Cinema Club. I wasn’t that fussed on these guys before Laneway. They can write some amazing pop songs, but they didn’t really do it for me. That, and I was sceptical about them live. Their songs are so quick and tight that I thought they wouldn’t be able to pull it all off. I was mistaken though. After a massive wait (40mins and missing out on Holy Fuck) and seeing the crowd go crazy apeshit, they actually pulled it off damn well. It still lacked something for me though. But that probably says more about my music snobbery than anything else.
Next up was Yeasayer. We were towards the back for these guys, so I think I missed out on the best parts, but tracks like O.N.E., Madder Red and Ambling Alp were all massive, and tight and killer. After those dudes we managed to check out a tiny bit of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, and man, gold pants? Really? I didn’t get these guys at all.
Then it was off to check out Blonde Redhead in their later timeslot. These guys were easily the surprise of the day. I knew they had good songs, but wow. They were tight as hell, had that super loud wall of sound thing going on, and well, then there’s the songs. Pop song perfection these guys are. So glad I was these guys.
Blonde Redhead – Spring And By Summer Fall
And then there was Cutters.
Although their set incorporates a bit of techy stuff (I love tech, but I think I love In Ghost Colours so much that it skews what I hear just a bit), they were solid. They even had a door onstage, which although it was a little wanky, kinda worked. People thought that the only reason they had it on stage was so that they could enter the stage that way (mind you, the door was front and centre). They did enter the door that way, and you could tell that even they thought it was a little funny. But then, man, that door had some magic powers or something. It moved around, they’re were images on it, it was it’s own little light show. It was having a party. And so were we (bad segue anyone?!). I love Cutters and probably will until I die. Anything they do, I love (and I’m sure i’ll love Zonoscope after a few more listens).
Out There On The Ice seems to be nearly everyone’s favourite track of there’s. Don’t even think it’s was released as a single, but they always pull it out live. I loved them. Can’t say it enough.
Cut Copy – Out There On The Ice
All in all, it was pretty darn good. Food didn’t run out also which was a good thing. Bring on next year. The guys always put on a great festival.
The 10 Best Albums of 2010
you want the best? Well i’ll give you the best.
*ahh…when i say ‘the best’, just to clarify, i don’t actually mean ‘the best’…i mean the best.
Ok, so now that’s out of the way (what?!), we can start this best albums of 2010 list.
First off, man, some absolutely killer albums released this year. And me being me, of course there’s a whole heap of different styles that make my list.
This year has been a bit of a strange one for me. Being so heavily involved with uni work, this here thing has taken a small bit of a backseat, especially in the latter half of the year. So, it’s only been in the last two weeks or so that I’ve started to go back through the heaps of albumsI bought and was fortunate enough to be sent over the past year. Of course, there are obvious standouts, albums that stay with you for the whole year. And then there’s albums you only bought a few days ago that are so mind-boggingly good that you just gotta include the thing in this damn list.
So yeah, I started off with a list of about 36. Then I got a list of 29. Then it was down to 15. To dwindle that down to 10 was freaking hard.
But like last year, I at least wanted to give the ones that didn’t make it a mention.
In no particular order, the albums that nearly made it are: Rat vs Possum – Daughter of Sunshine, Parades – Foreign Tapes, Otouto – PIP, PVT – Church With No Magic, Super Melody – Destination Unknown, Shit Robot – From The Cradle To The Rave, Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner, Carl Fox – Chunky Rainbow, Adam Kesher – Challenging Nature, Caribou – Swim, Faux Pas – Noiseworks, Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush To Relax.
The 5 that so nearly made it were: Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers, Miami Horror – Illumination, LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening, Grinderman – Grinderman 2, Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
But yes, let’s get to the good stuff. These are in a tentative order, so don’t take too much notice of it!
10. The Holidays – Post Paradise
There is such a nice summery feel to this album. Having been impressed by The Holidays earlier on this year when they supported Bluejuice, I was hanging out for this album for a while. So glad I ended up getting it. Their sound has changed heaps (you can stream two of their earlier tracks on Hype Machine), and I think the inclusion of the percussion and the more funk/hip-hop influenced beats makes sure that they have their own sound.
9. Surf City – Kudos
I heard about these guys on the always good Incoming show on 3RRR here in Melbourne. Surf City are from New Zealand and have got a bit of blog love over the past year. Their album Kudos, is their first release here…and yes! It’s got this quality that seems to be missed by so many of these other bands. Maybe it’s the fact that they have the word ‘surf’ in their title. Or maybe it’s the way it sounds polished without being too polished. It has this clean production that still manages to sound raw and unpolished which I really really dig.
8. Four Tet – There Is Love In You
Ok, so I find it difficult to include an electronic based album in my top 10 list. But when it’s Four Tet, I’m willing to chuck that out the window. This, perhaps like the Holy Fuck album is what I like about good electronic/dance music. It pushes, and it’s innovative. It’s not boring, and it actually makes you want to move – the music has the power, not your brain telling your foot that it’s probably better if you tap along.
7. Holy Fuck – Latin.
Call me an idiot, but I always assumed that Holy Fuck were some metal band. Haha…think I may’ve been a little wrong about that. Found out about these guys through Triple J (again). And man, wow. They are the dance/electronic/live act I think bands should aim to be like. They hit the nail on the head. And man, what an intro…straight into this driving groove and it just goes and goes and goes and takes you someplace.
6. Dan Kelly – Dan Kelly’s Dream.
What a sweet local album. Dan Kelly is such an interesting songwriter, and he writes songs where you HAVE to listen to the lyrics because they paint such a vivid picture. I only knew a little of Kelly’s previous work, and yeah, I guess I liked it. I think the fact that this album also got a fair bit of promotion, from that great underwater themed take 5 with Zan on Triple J, to Dylan Lewis playing him on his show on Nova made me stand up and take some notice. Another reason would be that it’s a fun album, and it feels familiar. It reminds me of Melbourne for some reason, but in a summery way, not like all those wintery dark based Melbourne bands.
Dan Kelly – Hold On, I’m Coming On
5. Efterklang – Magic Chairs
This was easily an early contender for album of the year for me. Knowing absolutely nothing of these guys before this record, maybe I’m going in a little naively, but hey, whatyagonnado?. Opening track Modern Drift is easily one of my faves, and the track Raincoats I think I’ll always remember due to the fact that it always seems to come on when it gets super rainy outside.
4. Midnight Juggernauts – The Crystal Axis
This is definitely one of the most solid local releases of the year, but like the Juggers first record, it seemed to have flown under the radar a little bit. They still got a fair bit of play and interview time, but I dunno, I suppose I expected more for an album that I know quite a few people were anticipating. I did an album review of this back in May and I described it as ‘warm’…whilst the Axis is still dark in it’s sound, it has this warm quality to it. It’s also a hell of a lot more percussive. There are little woodblock kinda grooves working their way right through the disc, which is all kinds of cool.
Midnight Juggernauts – Cannibal Freeway
3. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
This was one of the first albums I got this year…and I’m definitely pleased I did. To me, this album seemed to nearly reach the level of hype that Phoenix’s record did last year. And definitely in Australia. O.N.E. was an absolute monster of a song. But to me, I think it was that first single Ambling Alp. Perhaps one of the greatest pop songs of the year? The album moves you, and not in some wanky corny way. I mean, it actually moves you. It takes you from one place to another and I’m definitely happy to be taken (ok, that did end up sounding a little wanky right?!)
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
This, with the Yeasayer record was probably one of the most hyped albums of the year. And well, it made my top 10 list didn’t it?! I remember calling this pop perfection, and it really kinda is. It has these beautiful tracks right throughout. It’s one of those albums where it forces you to relax, and I love that. These guys are playing at Laneway next year and I reckon they’re going to be awesome!
1. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
I don’t know how many lists will have this as number one…and i predict it will only make it into a few lists at that. For me, it is the opening track Floating Vibes. There’s something about that opening guitar that reels me in and keeps me there for the whole disc. To me, this thing sounds fresh, and it works as an album. This year has been full of different kinds of music for me, or at least stuff that I wouldn’t listen to all that much. I think this record is testament to that.
play me some of that new shit
ok. so this isn’t a post about some new stuff I got sent. This is a post about some of the new stuff I’ve bought. Yes, that’s right. Even us bloggers go out and buy music. I’ve bought some new stuff and some old stuff. Being a blogger, you sort of feel as though you should have the top 10 albums in the Hype Machine 2009 Zeitgeist. Or maybe that’s just me. MAAMF is still relatively new (although, i’m not sure if ‘new’ really exists in the music blogosphere), so I feel as though it still has a while to go until it can call it successful or anything). Anyway, I ramble. Onto my recent music additions.
What I bought was pretty diverse. Here’s a run down:
- First up was the Recordings Of The Middle East EP. The Middle East made the MAAMF top 10 and they’re kinda a pretty awesome band. If you’re in Australia too, they’re playing Laneway Festival over the next few weeks. Expect some big things from these guys in 2010.
- Next up. Dirty Projectors – Bittie Orca. I’m still in two minds about The Dirty Projectors. This rated pretty highly in some bloggers top 10’s…and I think I can see why. Still not sure though. It’s good in the sense that it throws normal pop song writing rules out the window on the most part…but I think it rambles in some parts. You listen to some parts and wonder why they’ve done that thinking it wasn’t really necessary. Still in two minds though…so you never know. Next week I could love it.
- Third. The FBi Live Feed album. FBi is a community radio station up in Sydney. I try and always listen to them when I’m up there. And their FBi’s Before Cast podcast is always worth a listen. The disc is 18 live tracks from bands from right across the world, all recorded in Sydney venues. There are a few standout tracks on the disc…but I think the recording of Melbourne boys My Disco and their track (get ready for an insanely long track title!) “You Came To Me Like A Cancer Lain Dormant Until It Blossomed Like A Rose” is the best. Check it down below.
- Fourth up. You Am I – Hi Fi Way. How could I be a lover of Aussie rock and not have this album I hear you ask? I know, pretty poor form on my behalf. But I have it now. And now I completely understand the appeal of You Am I. They just write great pop music. Tim Rogers is a small bit of a genius. One of the best tracks off the album, imo, would definitely have to be Cathy’s Clown. Get it at ze bottom.
- Fifth up. (I bought a shit load I know.) Grand Salvo – Soil Creatures. I didn’t know much about Grand Salvo at all. His real name is Paddy Mann and he’s from Melbourne. He has this knack of keeping his songs really simple. And I like that a lot. Great Sunday afternoon music.
- Sixth. I’m going to be honest with you. The only thing I knew of Four Tet was his amazing remix of Sia’s Breath Me. His brand newy “There Is Love In You” is that kinda experimental dancy soundscape kinda stuff you want playing in your headphones all day. Accompanies any situation.
- Seventh. (Nearly there). Beach House – Teen Dream. Once again, the only Beach House I have ever heard is the track Norway. The album is pop perfection. Love it. I tend to take what Zan from Triple J has as gospel, and she loves this band…so I think I might too. Check out one of my faves off the album Zebra, below.
- Finally! (YESSSSSS!!! Got there. At fucking last. My wallet is hurting btw). The Crayon Fields – All The Pleasures Of The World. These guys had a hell of a lot of hype about them in Melbourne town over the past year. Indie pop perfection some were saying. I accidently saw Geoffrey O’Connor from The Crayon Fields as a support for a dude from the States called Dent May a few days ago. Dent May, imo, is a pretentious college kid who writes some very catchy songs on the ol’ ukulele. But he straddles that line between comedy act and insightful indie pop kid and I’m not sure if he pulls it off. The Crayon Fields and another local Melbourne band Milk Teddy were just that bit better I reckon. The Crayon Fields have a great understanding of pop music and can write some beautiful songs. The album is gentle pop that makes you proud to live in Melbourne! Awww. Check out their track Graceless just below.
Wow. well that’s it. Mini essay. All good music though. Don’t think I’ll be buying anything new for a while…
My Disco – You Came To Me Like A Cancer Lain Dormant Until It Blossomed Like A Rose
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K. That’ll do the ramble for now
MAAMF: an australian music blog 