Letting the Tall Poppy Shine

So my good friend Rachelle passed on to me a two disc collection of Australian indie musicians. She compiled some of Australia's finest and I'd like to share a sampling of my favorites. And as always if you find something you like, click on the link and buy their stuff.

Youth Group had some success recently as they opened up for Death Cab for Cutie on the first leg of their Plans tour. They are from Sydney and in July of 2006 they released Casino Twilight Dogs on Ivy League Records. I had some knowledge of Youthgroup's music, but didn't understand how stellar their stuff is. They have a nice rockin sound. Nothing too strange and a really easy listen. Check out these two tracks.

Youth Group--Shadowland

Youth Group--Catching and Killing

Goyte (pronounced goit) was next up and by far these two songs were my favorite songs from the Australia comp. His music is simply stunning. He has that quality in his music where it's almost uncomfortable to listen too. Think early Bright Eyes with an electronic edge. Both of these tracks are highly recommended! You will be hearing more from Goyte when I get the new record. You can order it here.

Goyte--Hearts a Mess

Goyte--Thanks for Your Time


Carly and Paul provided nice change of pace during the 2 disc compilation. Carly and Paul do not have a record out nor do they even have a webpage to view. They simply have a couple of stunning songs. This track is called Without Me. Clearly they have quite the influence of Tori Amos. And for those of you who really know me, know about my addiction to Tori. RD has even gone to a few shows with me in the past. Back to Carly and Paul. While this rough mix was recorded in one day, this teacher and milkman (its true) duo provide one of the smoothest melodies I have heard in a while. The piano mixed with an acoustic guitar is always a nice combination and Carly and Paul do a fantastic job with this track.

Carly and Paul--Without Me

And Finally is the spirit of Australia, I just need to post this cover of Ben Lee doing Modest Mouse's Float On. I blatantly stole this cover from I Guess I'm Floating from one his Thursday and Covers posts. So check out his site cause he's got some outstanding stuff over there.

Ben Lee--Float On

And on a COMPLETELY SEPARATE note, if you are not listening to the Shifted Sound Podcast yet, you better recognize. Shelby has turned me on to some really great bands lately and has played many a Two Mirrors favorite over time. So go to ITunes and download the podcasts. Also, while you are dowloading the podcast or these great Australian tracks, go over to Shifted Sound and vote for him at podcast alley. I want to see Shifted Sound in the top ten. Just follow the simple directions. Go do it, I promise it doesn't take long.

Check out (sm)all ages and Oh No! Oh My!

So I RD and me are guest blogging over at (sm)all ages while Clea is away. Along with slew of other guest bloggers. I put the first guest post up over there tonight. Read it here. You may be wondering what the hell RD is going to post at site for kids (Cash reserve your teddy bear jokes if at all possible) but you'll see what he's got.

Anyway. I got some stuff you should be listening too. I think one of things I should make clear about my role in this site is that very rarely I am going to bring you a band that no one has ever heard of. In fact if you read often enough, you'll know that in the blog world, I am usually one of the last to know about a band. Having said that, maybe my role here is to remind you of a band that just blew up on the blogs and then faded away. With blogs wanting to give you the next big thing first, sometimes the old big thing (which was REALLY good) gets pushed aside. Anyway Oh No! Oh My! have a self released record that you can buy at insound and it's really good. Here is sampling of tracks from that record. Like I said these songs have floated around the blogs for a while but you may have forgotten how great they are. Listen especially to The Backseat. It's one of my current favorites.

Oh No! Oh My!--The Backseat

Oh No! Oh My!--Walk in the Park

Oh No! Oh My!--Skip the Foreplay

My mom is cooler than your mom

So the story goes something like this...

We have Friday night family night every week at my folks house. My brother and his wife (who are expecting), my family of four, and my mom and dad get together every Friday for dinner. Madness ensues as we laugh and enjoy life. Anyway, last week mom says check out this band I heard on NPR. I obliged thinking what could she possibly have heard that I hadn't heard yet. My arrogance backfired as she turned me on to the Silversun Pickups. Somehow in my endless search for good music these guys went unnoticed. Not that others hadn't blogged about them, but I just didn't pay attention. I am really digging this track right now. The melody is just amazing and it has this great 90's indie rock feel. I have placed an order for their new album which can be purchased here...

Purchase Carnavas from Silversun Pickups from Insound

Go buy it.

And take a listen here...

MP3 Silversun Pickups--Three Seed

And they are on tour right now with Viva Voce. Check them out if they come near you...

September 28, The Rickshaw / San Francisco, CA
September 29, Howie & Sons / Visalia, CA
September 30, The Echo / Los Angeles, CA
October 1, Modified / Phoenix, AZ
October 3, Emo's / Austin, TX
October 4, Opolis / Norman, OK
October 5, Randy Bacon Gallery / Springfield, MO
October 6, Jackpot / Lawrence, KS
October 7, Courtyard Cafe / Champaign, IL
October 8, Southgate House / Newport, KY
October 10, Iota / Washington, DC
October 11, Mercury Lounge / New York, NY
October 12, Mercury Lounge / New York, NY
October 13, Johnny Brenda's / Philadelphia, PA
October 14, Boston University / Boston, MA
October 15, Middle East / Boston, MA
October 16, Bug Jar / Rochester, NY
October 17, Lee's Place / Toronto, ONT
October 18, Lime Spider / Akron, OH
October 19, Little Brothers / Columbus, OH
October 20, Empty Bottle / Chicago, IL
October 21, The M-Shop / Ames, IA
October 22, Mojo's / Columbia, MO
October 24, The Hi Dive / Denver, CO
October 26, Neurolux / Boise, ID
October 27, The Crocodile / Seattle, WA
October 28, The Doug Fir / Portland, OR

Now It's Overhead

I know I know I should have gone to the show. I can't tell you guys how many times I have said those words to RD. I always seem to miss the really good shows. Now I have seen my share of amazing ones too, but life sometimes gets in the way. (It's a life that I wouldn't trade for the world by the way).

Anyway Now It's Overhead have been a band that I have listened to for quite some time now. Yet, for some reason they have never made it to that level of "the next greatest thing" (or something like that). Well this new record may just change that. I am really enjoying thier new album Dark Light Daybreak. I think the following two tracks are two of their finest. I think you should be listening too.

Now It's Overhead--Night Vision

Now It's Overhead--Nothing in Our Way

Take two

So why is it that bands sometimes take a older song of theirs and remake it later on? I have struggled with this idea for quite some time. Before going any further, it is important to note that one of my favorite performers is quite guilty of this, yet he is the one of the few who is successful with the idea (Bright Eyes--When the Curious Girl Realizes She is Under Glass and When the Curious Girl Realizes She is Under Glass again; Feb. 15h and Happy Birthday to Me (Feb. 15th). Plus/Minus and Death Cab for Cutie are two other bands who have done this also to their music. For whatever reason sometimes it doesn't turn out as well as the listener would like. Below are two recent examples of songs that I absolutely loved, and then the artist rerecorded it and I don't enjoy it quite as much. Both versions of these two tracks are good, but the original is so much better. Take a listen and tell me what you think

The Dears--There Goes my Outfit (demo from Beneath the Surface Volume 2--A Bella Union Sampler)

The Dears--There Goes my Outfit (from the recent release Gang of Losers)

AND

The Long Winters--ultimatum (from the ultimatum EP)

The Long Winters--ultimatum (from their recent release Putting the Days to Bed)

For the record The Dears new album is super and so is The Long Winters. Check them out.

Song Whores--September ZC

Song of the Month (now re-titled Song Whores)

Band: The Golden Dogs

Song: Never Meant Any Harm

Album: Big Eye Little Eye

Time: 2 minutes, 56 seconds

So my song of the month comes from The Golden Dogs. I must first give a shout out to Shifted Sound for turning me onto these Canadian musicians. They are making some really catchy and refreshing music. And Dave from the band was kind enough to send some info about the song over to the two mirrors for my song of the month. He also sent a full copy of the lyrics, which I'll be happy to post if anyone would like. Anyways here is my full review.

The song begins with a drum machine to provide the overall feel for the song. The recording process for Dave usually begins with an 8 track recorder and he uses a drum machine to “guide to get the main feel of the song” After which he “then replaces them with real drums on the actual recordings.” However, Dave enjoyed the “Kraftwork” feel of the song so he left the drum machine in the beginning of the song. However, “real drums get introduced in the break down after the bridge and eventually turns into a rock song for the last verse/chorus.” One of the defining aspects of this song is how it changes from a electronic type introduction into a rock type song in the middle. The song has such a nice feel to it and this change truly adds to the intensity of this song. Dave informed me that this change was intentional and he likes, “how the cold, staccato techno parts eventually turn into a very stripped down rock song.”

The lyrics of this track are especially amazing. Dave told me he feels like the song is, “about going head first into your dreams and realizing that you've pulled other people's lives into your dreams. Then dealing with the fact that it's a very risky thing to do and feeling the responsibility of it all.” In the opening verse he sings, “thought I wanted more, looked around, just to see what would happen.” I think we all know that feeling in our dreams where we explore a little too far, and then you do feel that sense of guilt in the morning. It’s such a crazy thing. Because we all know that it was simply a dream, yet we get that feeling of guilt when we wake up. And Dave giftedly captures that feeling in his lyrics. Finally, Dave did mention that there are a “few hidden meanings that I won't tell you about.” Spoken like a true artist. We all get to have some fun with the rest.

So, download and listen to the absolute brilliance of The Golden Dogs. And by the way, as always, if you like this track, go buy it here.

The Golden Dogs--Never Meant Any Harm

Some things I'd like to share

First off, thanks for all the love and support for my award. It has just been an insane couple of days and I have a strange feeling this year is going to be just as wild. I am truly honored and humbled by the whole experience. Okay enough of that and onto the good stuff....

1. The illustrious Clea has posted my monthly guest post over at (sm)all ages. If you guys are reading her site yet, you gotta check it out.

2. The first contest from the two mirrors is over, and even though he did not follow instructions, Cash won the Arizona EP. Congrats Cash--hope you continue to enjoy their music. And the good news is he runs an amazing record store here in Jacksonville. You should be shopping there.

3. Arizona has landed a huge gig with the Whigs at the Mercury Lounge in New York. They are asking for your/our support. If you live in New York or know anyone who lives in New York, get them to that show. They really feel like this is a turning point for their band. Read the whole thing here.

4. My song of the month (soon to be re-titled) will be up by mid week. It's a good one, I've got some great stuff to share and I promise to keep it a little shorter.

5. Im off to Orlando for the weekend. You can believe my ass will be at Park Ave. cds for some new tunes.

And now for reading all of that, a song that I think is absolutely brilliant.

The Lovely Feathers--The Only Appalachian

I-Dee-Clair-War

In honor of our first ever contest, RD and me (I know grammatically that should be I but me sounds so much better) played a little game of IPOD war. IPOD war is free, fun, and legal in most countries. You play the game just like the card game War. You put your IPOD on shuffle and the first song that comes up battles your friend’s first song. A long discussion follows about which song is better and winner is crowned. So we played five rounds (actually six—see below) to determine who was the winner in the first game of IPOD war here at the two mirrors. Hint: the winner was Sunday. Here is how the game went. Oh yeah you can download each song if you don’t know them and leave your comments about how we were wrong.

Sunday (ZC)

Versus

Broken POS (RD)

Round 1

The National Anthem (live) Radiohead, I Might Be Wrong

Versus

Happily Divided Sebadoh, Bubble and Scrape

Decision: Sebadoh takes down Radiohead because it was the live (and in our opinion sub par to the original) version of The National Anthem. Plus we are on a Sebadoh kick right now.

Round 2
Luna Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream

Versus

Jed Others Poem Grandaddy, The Sophtware Slump

Decision: Smashing Pumpkins in a landslide victory. One of the greatest songs of the 90’s from one of the best albums of the 90’s.

Round 3:

The Prophet (live) Sunny Day Real Estate, Live

Versus

Skip Divided Thom Yorke, The Eraser

Decision: The Prophet takes down Thom’s solo effort. RD described this song as the low one. And he was right. The Prophet is not the greatest Sunny Day song but this live version is outstanding.

Round 4:

Fix Up, Look Sharp Dizzee Rascal, Boy in Da Corner

Versus

In Particular Blonde Redhead, Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons

Decision: Blonde Redhead wins as Dizzee Rascal falls short. The Dizzee song is great yet Blonde Redheads sound beats out Dizzee’s crazy vocals.

Round 5:

The Tourist Radiohead, OK Computer

Versus

Man, Wife, the Latter Desaparacidos, Read Music/ Speak Spanish

Decision: Okay, we were tied 2-2 coming into this fifth round. We both agree that The Tourist is probably a better song, but being that it was the fifth and final round we wanted a clear winner. So onto round 6.

Round 6:

I Was Meant for the Stage Decemberists, Her Majesty The Decemberists

Versus

Title and Registration (demo) Death Cab for Cutie, B-sides

Decision: The Decemberists pounce all over Death Cab. This is probably one of the Decemberists’ best tracks. It is so grand and the lyrics are simply stellar. We had our clear winner.

SUNDAY. (3-2)

Song of the Month - r.d.

I've been accused of being a "song whore*" in the past, but Brother is seriously one of the best songs I've ever heard. The Annuals are from Raleigh/Chapel Hill, NC and are set to release an Album on Ace Fu Records on October 17th and an EP on Terpsikhore Inc. (which I can find absolutely no info on).

Easily my song of the month - most likely my song of the year

MP3 The Annuals - Brother

rd

* song whore - A person who says "This is the greatest song I've ever heard" everytime they hear a new song they like.