Friday, November 21, 2008

Delta Spirit's Ode to Sunshine


Delta Spirit's latest release, Ode to Sunshine is one of the most instantly like-able albums I've heard this year. It will most definitely be a late entry into my top albums of the year list. Call it America's answer to the Kaiser Chiefs these guys do straight ahead rock-radio ready, blues-based tunes.

I might lump them in with the folk-revivalist scene with Iron & Wine and Fleet Foxes but think less drowsy. Not all of the songs are, what I would call, sunny but they certainly aren't intricate folk songs either.

They are currently on tour with Nada Surf, which is a great pairing both bands do 3-4 minute rock songs with understandable lyrics. They'll be playing at Emo's outside stage for a mere $15.

I first heard this song on KGSR but didn't realize it was Delta Spirit until I had Ode to Sunshine. If this song isn't on your local, rock radio station...it should be.

Delta Spirit - Trashcan

Video after the jump...


Delta Spirit - Trashcan (Live Acoustic Performance) video via YouTube


Delta Spirit - Motivation video via YouTube


Delta Spirit - Parade (live in Austin) video via YouTube

Oh yeah, and you can also find a Delta Spirit Daytrotter Session, which is streamable or downloadable.

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Nigel Godrich + White Denim?


So half of you are so over White Denim it's ridiculous and the other half of you have no idea who I'm talking about. But, to be honest this post has more to do with Nigel Godrich. He's the super-genius producer behind Radiohead, Beck and many, many others. Well he films a webcast show called From the Basement and he features some Austin Bloggy Limits favorites. Including White Denim, Beck, Architecture in Helsinki, Jamie Lidell, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Jose Gonzalez and many many others. All of the vids are done with HD cameras with Nigel Godrich mixing the live sound to perfection. So I recommend you head on over and scope out all the hot indie rock goodness before it goes mainstream and magically sucks.

Bonus Radiohead vids after the jump...

You may have heard of this band called Radiohead well they did a whole webcast From the Basement most of which is on YouTube and was rebroadcast on VH1 between Celebreality shows.


Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi video via YouTube


Radiohead - House of Cards video via YouTube


Radiohead - Bodysnatchers video via YouTube

The White Stripes actually played From the Basement way back in 2005:


The White Stripes - Little Ghost video via YouTube

PS.

If you want to see Austin's own White Denim From the Basement you'll have to link.

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Future Clouds & Radar New Album + Shows


One of the best things about living in Austin, is getting to hear bands develop their sound. Local act, Future Clouds & Radar have been playing around town for the last year or two and I feel like they are just starting to gain momentum. Their songs are simple pop arrangements with lots of heart and layers. Sort of like Austin's answer to Death Cab for Cutie crossed with some solo John Lennon.

In any case their newest album came out on Election Day, but you can still pick it up in a local retailer, online or on iTunes. It's called, Peoria and to be honest I don't know what it's relationship is to Illinois, but there must be a story in there somewhere. If you want to catch Future Clouds & Radar they are playing for free right now at Waterloo and then tonight at the Mohawk. You can find more dates on their MySpace.

On a side note may I add that it seems like a few Austin bands have been listening to Love's classic Forever Changes. You can definitely hear the influence on Peoria not to mention White Denim's latest release, which features a song called IEIEI, that sounds like it might be a lost Love song.

Video after the jump...



Future Clouds & Radar - Holy Janet Comes on Waves video via YouTube


Future Clouds & Radar - Dr. No video via YouTube


Future Clouds & Radar - Green Mountain Clover (Live) video via YouTube

The sound quality on this video sucks, but I love this song and they are performing at Shady Grove, which is a cool restaurant on Barton Springs Rd.


Future Clouds & Radar - Back Seat Silver Jet Sighter video via YouTube

Ok, so this is one of those fake videos but I want you to hear what Love sounded like so you have a frame of reference.


Love - Alone Again, Or video via YouTube

And here's the White Denim song I referenced, which also sounds like a song by Love:


White Denim - IEIEI video via YouTube




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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Gang Gang Dance New Album + Shows


I feel like I've been a bit out of touch as of late. But even at a cursory glance/listen I can tell you there's a lot of buzz around the latest Gang Gang Dance album. The name of the new LP is Saint Dymphna and it is some of that genre-hopping unclassifiable stuff. The closest musical comparison I could make is probably Animal Collective so be prepared this stuff is from another planet.

There's some crazy skittering electronic noises layered with little-girl vocals and all sorts of textural guitar playing. The record certainly has some 80's pop music influences but it's pretty far from pop music. In any case you can sample a couple of tracks from the new album below.

Gang Gang Dance - Desert Storm
Gang Gang Dance - House Jam (XXXchange Remix)

Also you'll find some tour info and videos after the jump...

GGD will be here in Austin on November 21st and tickets are available today.

For other tour info, check GGD's MySpace


Gang Gang Dance - Retina Riddim Excerpt video via YouTube


Gang Gang Dance - House Jam (Live) video via YouTube

Just 'cause I mentioned them earlier here's a sample of Animal Collective in case you don't know what sort of mayhem they inspire:


Animal Collective - Peacebone video via YouTube

This is somewhat of a reach BUT Panda Bear is one of the 3 members of Animal Collective and I just wanted an excuse to post this song:


Panda Bear - Bros video via YouTube

Just for fun you should try to decipher the lyrics to that Panda Bear song...no cheating!

You may, may, may find that you're alright

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Monday, November 3, 2008

ABL = MIA


Austin Bloggy Limits is headed to Maine for a week. It is not a fun trip, but rather a trip for a funeral. Thus, you will not see any new posts for about a week. Unless I can somehow find a way to use the internet whilst there. But, somehow, I don't really see that happening.

Video after the jump...



Band of Horses - The Funeral via YouTube


Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You video via YouTube


Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day video via YouTube

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Monday, October 27, 2008

Old Arcade Fire Videos


Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) video via YouTube

More info and videos after the jump...

Whilst perusing videos for the Decemberists yesterday I stumbled across all of these old Arcade Fire videos. The one above the break was filmed in Maine on Mt Desert Island, a place I have spent a lot of time. The video was filmed on a VERY small budget using help from the students at the College of the Atlantic. The band played a free show for the students of this VERY small school as a thank you. Mind you, all of this took place before Arcade Fire popped off, before the release of Funeral. Crazy how far they went in such a short period of time.

This is a video for the opening track from Funeral. This is the song that made me fall in love with Arcade Fire even if the lyrics are still pretty confusing.


Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels) video via YouTube

It seems like more than half of the songs from Funeral received a video treatment:


Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) video via YouTube

This clip is two of my favorite songs from Arcade Fire's most recent release, Neon Bible taken from a performance for BBC radio 2:


Arcade Fire - Intervention & (Anti-Christ Television Blues) video via YouTube

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Sunday, October 26, 2008

the Decemberists in Georgetown, TX?


I was surprised to hear that the Decemberists will be nearby soon. It's not so surprising that they will be in town, it's that they are going to be in Georgetown. For those of you outside of Austin, Georgetown is an upscale little town Northeast of Austin but 20--30 minutes. The Decemberists are actually playing at Southwestern University, which is located in Georgetown. Tickets have been on sale to the public since October 7th but the actual show is happening this Thursday, the 30th.

I heard the newest single from the Decemberists on the radio tonight, it's called Valerie Plame and it will appear on their upcoming album called Always the Bridesmaid Vol:1. All I can really tell you about the new song is it is pretty somber and you can check it out on the band's MySpace.

If you're, somehow, unfamiliar with the Decemberists I've collected a sort of greatest hits video collection after the jump.


These aren't necessarily in any sort of order but this first video is a 10-minute mini-movie. Check it out:


the Decemberists - O Valencia! video via YouTube


the Decemberists - 16 Military Wives video via YouTube

This is one of my favorite songs by the Decemberists and it was hard to find a video that captures it well. I consider this music for a winter day:


the Decemberists - Engine Driver video via YouTube

Can I just say there are a LOT of crappy homemade Decemberists videos on YouTube including like a thousand crappy cover versions with people on acoustic guitars. I thought this crappy homemade video, at least, fit the Decemberists general visual aesthetics:


the Decemberists - the Sporting Life video via YouTube

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Cold War Kids Tonight


You have two chances to catch the Cold War Kids here in Austin tonight. First they'll be playing an in-store at Waterloo Records around 5p. Then, sometime before last-call for alcohol, you can catch the Cold War Kids at Emo's.

I feel like they are one of those bands that either inspires confusion or passionate obsession. If you google them you will get about 50/50 lovers and haters. They have a nice jangly indie rock sound with Decemberist-esque lyricism. Their new album is out now on Downtown Records and it's called Loyalty to Loyalty.

Album widget and video after the jump...



Cold War Kids - Album Sampler widget


Cold War Kids - Something Is Not Right With Me - video via YouTube


Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds video via YouTube

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

White Denim Album + Show


Austin locals, White Denim have finally released a full-length LP here in the U.S. Currently it is only available online but it should be in stores next Tuesday. In celebration of the release of Exposion, White Denim will be playing a show at the Club DeVille this Wednesday night. Tickets for the show will only set you back $9 and country-fried blues-rockers, the Heartless Bastards will also be there.

You can still download/stream a few White Denim tracks from RCRD LBL

Video after the jump...


Heartless Bastards - All This Time video via YouTube


White Denim - Migration Wind video via YouTube


White Denim - Live @ Sister Ray in London video via YouTube

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Sunday, October 12, 2008

Cardinals Tomorrow


Just a friendly reminder that Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are at the Paramount Theater here in Austin, TX tomorrow night. If you don't have your tickets, then you're probably not getting in. Sorry but that's just the way it is. Of course you can always try selling your soul in exchange for a scalped one from craigslist. Or, you can try my favorite trick, which is to just show up and get a ticket on the street. In case you didn't know, those people with signs saying they are looking for tickets...they have tickets but you're going to pay extra. Unless, of course, you wait for the band to take stage at which point those scalped tickets get a lot cheaper.

I have heard mixed reviews from my New England friends, that Ryan Adams has been hitting the bottle, playing short sets and generally being a dick on stage. But as you should know by now when he's on, he's ON! For me, I just can't make it tomorrow night but lucky for us almost all of his shows appear online at the archive.

Find some media after the jump...


I'm not going to go crazy with media because I've posted a lot of media to promote this show already. But how can you not love this song? I'll tell you how, you're a soulless bastard! Grow a heart.


Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Come Pick Me Up video via YouTube

In perusing Ryan Adams blog it looks like Adams & Co. are already in our fair city. What are you doing eating at Waffle House when we have so many awesome local eateries. Come on Ry Ry head to Kerbey Lane already. And dude you can't find ANYTHING vegetarian in Austin!?!?! Are you effing kidding me?

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