LAist

Artist Takes Over Abandoned Telephone Booths with Bee Hives

Zach Behrens — 2009-03-03T10:50:14-08:00

Photo by ...bumblebee via Flickr

CurbedLA first noticed these paper mache bee hives appearing around town in company abandoned public telephone booths. Alas, last Friday, mystery solved. The artist, bumblebee, has a Flickr page and a statement:

Telephone companies have been abandoning their public telephone booths by taking out the phones and leaving the structures beehind. (Probably due to the rise in cell phone users.) I want to reuse these structures as a way of communication with the public once more by replacing that empty space with paper-mache beehives. To me, this symbolizes the irony beehind the question, "where have so many of the bees gone" and the theory that cell phone signals have been misguiding their normal patterns of migration

Link added editorially.

Top 100 Albums of 2007 (50-74)

Joshua Pressman — 2007-12-30T17:41:35-08:00

photo by Matt Craig

50. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights

Sharon Jones has been singing since the 70s and was even a prison guard for a short time. Her live performance is unbelievably tight, inspiring feel-good shimmying all throughout the night. There's been a ton of revivalism of outmoded genres this year and Jones is bringin' back the funk! This record sounds like it came from the mid 60s during the height of the funk era. For all you Ubiquity fans out there, this has your name all over it!

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - "I'm Not Gonna Cry"

51. The Strange Boys - The Strange Boys Will Now Forever Be Known As The Martin Luther Kings

I've been hooked on this band ever since I interviewed Sean Carlson and Keith Morris for pre-FYF. No other, practically, unsigned band caught my attention in such a manner. I went as far as to painstakingly rip each one of their songs from their myspace page, a process that soon became futile as the band realized I was writing about them. I fell in love with their 70s surf-infused, garage-rock at FYF. They absolutely stunned me, leaving me with a void that could only be filled by trekking into another state to see them once more.

The Strange Boys - "This Girl Taught Me A Dance"

52. Holy Fuck - LP

With a name like Holy Fuck, your music better be jaw-dropping and furthermore, blaring. This Toronto-based electro-death group melt my face with chaotic, improvisational instrumentals. "Lovely Allen" is the single most celebratory act on the entire LP. Cataclysmic booms are flushed away with extravagant arrangements and epic drumming.

Holy Fuck - "Lovely Allen"

53. A Band of Bees - Octopus

Recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios, Octopus is a heavily overlooked gem from a heavily overlooked band. The Bees have proven themselves worthy of such esteemed recording surroundings, but they have yet to fully captivate the masses. Octopus is a bumpy, feel-good excursion, reaching into pockets of soul, reggae and blues moreso than ever before.

A Band of Bees - "Listening Man"

54. The National - Boxer

The two unassuming brothers from Cincinnati, Ohio blew my mind with Alligator. Boxer is the perfect soundtrack for utmost delusion. That moment at which you think all is lost. Pitchfork wrote, "It's the rare album that give back whatever you put into it." I couldn't have said it better myself.

The National - "Mistaken For Strangers"

55. Slaraffenland - Private Cinema

Quite a few bands have breached Denmark in recent years and made their way into the states, most notably the high-pitched Mew. Slaraffenland have re-created that comforting Modest Mouse-circa-The Moon And Antarctica sound, only with the slight inclusion of horns and random Jazz elements! Private Cinema's loose-leaf construction gives way to an improvisational-based song-writing process.

Slaraffenland - "Show Me The Way"

56. Band of Horses - Cease To Begin

This album was really difficult for me to digest. I, like many others I know, wanted a raw, no-so-elaborate continuation of Funeral. Well, we didn't exactly get what we wanted, but Cease To Begin is far more compelling than The Shins' Wincing the Night Away. I compare these two albums because they represent similar progressions: Unrefined and respectable to uber-produced and borderline tawdry. I absolutely hate the ostentatious nature of Cease To Begin, but songs like "The General Specific" rekindle my deep-rooted respect for the band.

Band of Horses - "The General Specific"

57. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

Chromeo, otherwise regarded as the only successful alliance between Arab and Jew, have created one of the most danceable record this year. The beat-laden, electro-funk turns a little switch on in the back of my head. That switch is labeled, "Who gives a shit? I'm dancing bitch!" I love you David Macklovitch.

Chromeo - "Fancy Footwork"

58. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

This is a wild psych-pop record that drives home the ideas of utmost psychedelia. Hailing from PA, Black Moth Super Rainbow (woo, that's a mouthful) seem to be suspended in an alternate reality where Vocoder is God. I can't blame them because every now and again I tend to break out my mini-korg just to sing into that wiry, awsome-sounding microphone. Dandelion Gum is an inventive record that shows no signs of restraint. I mean, come on, who in their right mind creates stage names like "Father Hummingbird" and "Tobacco"? By removing themselves from reality completely Black Moth Super Rainbow has created one of their best efforts to date. Think of a more pysch-heavy Air.

Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Sun Lips"

59. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

Andrew Bird is almost too talented and seeing him perform live drives that point home best. No other man could single-handedly recreate an elaborate record full of material live more efficiently than this man. By means of looping whistles, violin arrangements (both staccato and legato), and guitar parts, Bird has successfully captivated my heart once more. He can do no wrong in my book.

Andrew Bird - "Simple X"

60. Taken By Trees - Open Field

Victoria Bergsman is the former lead singer of The Concretes, but you probably know her as, "that chick who sings on Young Folks". Her voice is unmistakable, hauntingly stark, and doleful. Open Field is a spry and poignant debut that, arguably, outdoes the work of her counterparts.

Taken By Trees - "Lost And Found"

61. Akron/Family - Love Is Simple

None of the records Akron/Family ever put out make any sense. The experimental instrumentation entails tribal drums, homemade flutes, odd time signatures, and god only knows what else. The songs are strange, convoluted means of expression. However, seeing them perform live is integral to the elucidation of such epic nonsense. These guys are good-humored, obscenely talented, and totally underrated.

Akron/Family - "Phenomena"

62. The Rosebuds - Night of the Furies

Everyone's favorite boy-girl duo is back in action. Night of the Furies is a short but sweet endeavor that is bound to induce some head bobbing. The Rosebuds have taken a more 80s-driven, electronic path this time around. This disc is chocked full of subdued yet shockingly memorable tunes.

The Rosebuds - "Silence by the Lakeside"

63. Coconut Records - Nighttiming

Overall, Nighttiming is meticulously built upon Jason Schwartzman's pop sensibilities, blatantly derived from the likes of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Despite the pervasive lo-fi vibe strewn throughout the album, I'll remember it as an enticing exemplar of traditional pop-rock, undeniably classic.

via LAist: Jason Schwartzman's glorious reemergence

Coconut Records - "Nighttiming"

64. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass

Aesop's latest release None Shall Pass is ingenious enough to overcome the gratuitous production. I have a special place in my heart for the Blockhead produced tracks. From the nine tracks on Labor Days, the eleven tracks on Float, and the six tracks on None Shall Pass, his production is integral to Aesop's sound. The title track "None Shall Pass" is a juxtaposition of medium-paced thumping with Aesop's glib, almost indistinguishable flow. The song bursts with energy amidst chorus to verse segues. At 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 listen for the sample of pitch-altered women singing in fiery chorus. Hot damn! I can't get enough of this song.

Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass"

65. Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills

The Shout Out Louds' sophomore album is uber-reminiscent of an 80's feel. The syncopated high-hat feel interspersed with poppy piano hooks and sparse string arrangements is tucked neatly behind the unmistakable vocals of Adam Olenius. Olenius' singing approach brings a modern-day Robert Smith to mind. It's plain to see the overwhelming (in a good way) Cure influence on this record. Ultimately, the pop sensibilities of producer Björn Yttling combined with the much more mature writing style of the Shout Out Louds makes for one of the better albums to be released this year.

Shout Out Louds - "South America"

66. Do Make Say Think - You, You're A History In Rust

Do Make Say Think aren't limited to their surroundings. In fact, they tend to make the most of them through inclusion. A hiss, a crackle, a pop--any ambient natural matter is included, which makes this recording entirely unique. The ghostly, orchestral arrangements of vibes, woodwinds relinquish form and collapse into one unearthly dribble.

Do Make Say Think - "Executioner Blues"

67. The Sea and Cake - Everybody

I'm in love with Sam Prekop. Prekop not only a front man and songwriter, but he is a photographer and all-around-man-about-town as well. Chi-town that is. Anyways, The Sea and Cake are back with their seventh album (!!) and things haven't gone awry. They've maintained all their bumbling jazz propensities and every tiny nuance that's formed their idiosyncrasies in the last ten years. Everybody is a rather alluring endeavor in that it strikes the perfect balance between comfort and change.

The Sea and Cake - "Up On Crutches"

68. Brother Reade - Rap Music

"You know they told me that the classics never go out of style, but...they do, they do. And somehow Bobby I never thought that we do too." You'd never stop to think that the spoken-word album opener is a verbatim tip of the hat to "Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull," the opening track on Refused's groundbreaking album The Shape Of Punk To Come. Hip-hop duo Brother Reade are the epitome of savvy. They have single-handedly transformed the way I think about the genre. Rap Music is a mammoth effort, meticulously crafted in a respectable fashion that ensures longevity. Rap Music will never go out of style. Bobby and Jimmy are incredibly clever and, consequently, you've got to bring your "A" game to really "get" it.

Brother Reade - "Like Duh"

69. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

The Arctic Monkeys broke out onto the scene like a bad case of herpes. I'm sorry. I really hated the Arctic Monkeys when they first emerged. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" haunted me in my sleep. It was pretty brutal, but the release of Favourite Worst Nightmare heralded the big switch. I started to understand what it was exactly they were vying for on their debut album. They just managed to bring it all together on their sophomore effort and that cohesion helped usher me into fandom. I guess this really is my Favourite Worst Nightmare. "Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend" is a b-side from the album that will forever remain my favorite Arctic Monkeys tune. Nothing is more indicative of their new, more mature sound. It's a shame it never made the cut.

Arctic Monkeys - "Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend"

70. Le Loup - The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of The Nations' Millennium General Assembly

Le Loup is one of the highlights of my CMJ experience. They're definitely spearheading this year's most progressive music. The combination of programmed beats and banjos recall The Books' spasmodic essence, but this septet creates far more expansive, triumphant jams. This is what makes D.C. so special.

Le Loup - "Le Loup (Fear Not)"

71. Wintersleep - Welcome to the Night Sky

They sound like they're from the UK or France, but they hail from Canada. They put on a tremendous live show that has garnered quotes like, "one of the most popular live shows in Atlantic Canada." You'd think that doesn't matter much because, after all, it is Canada. Well, you're wrong! I tried to go see them at CMJ, tried being the keyword, and failed miserably. The small room was brimming with hipsters. I thought I had mistakenly walked into some other showcase for some other bigger band. That ought to give you some idea of how much clout they have built amongst the fringes of the indie scene and yet you've probably never heard of them. Consider them the REM of the Canadian indie scene.

Wintersleep - "Dead Letter & the Infinite Yes"

72. Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss EP

This EP should have been a full length in the first place. Originally released in 2006, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss boasted a meager, but nevertheless wholly satisfying seven songs. Then they proceeded to re-release the EP with a few bonus tracks, augmenting the total number of tracks to ten. I'm not complaining because I can't get enough of front woman Liz Powell's dynamic vocals, which virtually induce trembling at first listen. I could just get down on my hands and knees and worship this woman.

Land of Talk - "Sea Foam"

72. Wooden Shjips - S/T

You have to see this band live in order to understand why they're so goddamn good. That explains how Pitchfork managed to bungle up their attempt at reviewing one of San Francisco greatest Psych bands. Their lo-fi, muddy sound is reminiscent of Spacemen 3 if you swallow enough horse tranquilizers. I know they're capable of much better, but this is one hell of an innovative disc. I suggest you snag the vinyl version, which includes a bonus disc that outdoes the actual album.

Wooden Shjips - "Losin' Time"

73. Dungen - Tio Bitar

This doesn't touch Ta Det Lugnt. It comes nowhere close, but Dungen have done it again. It's as though San Francisco's heyday descended upon Sweden. Swedish psych-rock has never sounded so good and singing along has never been this tedious.

Dungen - "Familj"

74. Blonde Redhead - 23

23 was supposed to thrust these well-regarded New York indie rockers into stardom. We have yet to see any physical manifestations of that notion, but 23 is comparable in magnitude to 2004's Misery Is a Butterfly. Alan Moulder + My Bloody Valentine-tinged guitars + Sonic Youth's noise = Eargasm!

Blonde Redhead - "23"

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Top 100 Albums of 2007 (75-100)

Joshua Pressman — 2007-12-28T22:05:17-08:00

75. The Cave Singers - Invitation Songs

According to Seattleist, guitarist Derek Fudesco makes "sammiches" during the day and strums hypnotic lines by night. The Cave Singers encapsulate all that I love about the Northwest. Invitation Songs is chocked full of cozy, folk-bluegrass-tinged battle songs. "Helen" is built upon one savory guitar line and handful of reverb. Think Mountain Goats meets Will Oldham.

The Cave Singers - "Lena"

76. Busdriver - RoadKillOvercoat

This madman put on one of the most memorable shows I witnessed this year (See: FYF). I've always referred to him as "verging schizophrenia" because of the multi-faceted nature of his live perfomance. He switches back and forth between two microphones, singing into one and spewing nonsensical words into the other. He's the most acerbic MC I listened to this year, but half of the time I can barely distinguish what exactly he's attempting to convey.

Busdriver - "Casting Agents and Cowgirls"

77. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

Whether you think he's a bumbling hippy, who let his own freak folk gimmick get to his head, or a distinctive innovator devising masterful records, one thing is certain: Devendra Banhart is deliberately trying to make his obscure music more accessible to the masses. He's done so on his latest XL released effort by simply making his vocals and his overall tone more digestible. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is a mesmerizing collision of free jazz, 70's rock and roll, Brazilian folk, sock hop, and even motown elements.

via LAist: Devendra Banhart's departure from arcane folk

Devendra Banhart - "Seahorse"

photo by Matt Craig

78. Celebration - The Modern Tribe

Baltimore-based Celebration are best known for sounding a hell of a lot like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and TV On The Radio. So it should come as no surprise that Nick Zinner (of the YYY's) and David Sitek (of TVOTR) helped bring this album into fruition. I'll give it to them though, somehow I don't hate it. Their brand of cabaret punk or prog-punk, whichever jargon you prefer, is steadied by pummeling organs and unconventional, tribal-esque drumming.

Celebration - "Heartbreak"

79. Starfucker - Starfucker EP

You'll be considered either mentally ill or brazen if you put a band who has garnered nothing more than an EP's worth of material on your top 100. I'm hoping for the latter. I have a lot of faith in anyone willing to go by the name of Starfucker. Portland's Josh Hodges made waves when he performed at the 2007 PDX Pop Festival and I've been following him ever since. This debut EP shows room for vast improvement, but the material is so promising that the word improvement carries no meaning. Think Ratatat meets Pinback.

Starfucker - "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second"

80. Division Day - Beartrap Island

Where to begin? There's so much to say about Division Day. They are, without a doubt, one of my favorite local bands. I've seen them more in the past year than I've seen my own family. Well, maybe not, but that should give you some indication as to how important they've become to the LA scene. Front man Rhoner Seignitz's vocals are inimitably saccharine, which could be easily mistaken for whiny. Well, don't be mistaken! Beartrap Island is one of the most memorable efforts from the LA scene since the Silversun Pickups.

Division Day - "Hand To The Sound"

81. El Ten Eleven - Every Direction Is North

El Ten Eleven are probably the most efficient band you've never heard of. The duo churn out some of the most enthralling instrumentals I heard this year. Think Tortoise meets the Mercury Program. Every Direction Is North is a slight departure from their previous 2005 self-titled effort in that experimentation is the premise. "Hot Cakes" is the harbinger of this change. Instead of the usual hammer-off/hammer-on tone, they opt for straightforward, abrasive chords, wailing notes, and disco beats.

El Ten Eleven - "Hot Cakes"

82. The Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur

Jason Swinscoe and his down-tempo, Jazz outfit have put out yet another astounding release. Ma Fleur is not nearly as good as Man With A Movie Camera or Motion for that matter. However, this album captures some of the most intense synergy amongst musicians I have ever heard. Add Patrick Watson, one of my favorite canucks, to the mix and bam, you've got a masterpiece. It's clear that super-groups of this caliber rarely form, let alone survive beyond a couple of albums.

The Cinematic Orchestra - "To Build A Home"

83. Sa-Ra - The Hollywood Recordings

Kanye was too busy this year blowing smoke up our asses to properly promote the albums released by his label, G.O.O.D. Music. Sa-Ra and Consequence put out solid albums, but both failed miserably due to awful promotion. I feel the former received the strong arm moreso than the latter. Sa-Ra spend most of their time in good ole Silverlake. They've proved they can handle the knobs through a variety of vinyl EPs. However, The Hollywood Recordings showcase their ability to craft distinctive Parliament/George Clinton-esque funk jams as well as hot hip-hop tracks.

Sa-Ra - "Hey Love"

84. Mice Parade - S/T

Adam Pierce likes anagrams and I like Adam Pierce. Every record he creates a complete mess of syncopated, overly complicated drum parts and meandering keys. I hold each mess close to my heart because it strikes the perfect balance between order and chaos. Nothing could be more melodically experimental.

Mice Parade - "Sneaky Red"

85. Voxhaul Broadcast - Rotten Apples EP

L.A.'s own Voxhaul Broadcast are something to write home about. Sure, they tend to sound a lot like The Strokes and even the Walkmen. Regardless, we should all be proud to call them our own because their debut Rotten Apples EP is stupendous. I will forever associate "Rotten Apples" with LA, merely because I'll be missing it so much when I move to Brooklyn in '08. This song serves as a microcosm of the rest of the eight song EP. Each meticulously crafted guitar line is an advance and by the time singer-guitarist David Dennis croons his distinctive melodies, you've surrendered your will. While everyone and their mother is quick to regard Vampire Weekend as the "Next Big Thing," they often overlook the more deserving talent in their own backyard.

Voxhaul Broadcast - "Rotten Apples"

86. Alamo Race Track - Black Cat John Brown

At the demise of popular Dutch band Redivider came Alamo Race Track. I've been secretly basking in their sophmore album all year long. "The Northern Territory" is an exercise in sing-song, 90s Brit-rock, but it defies the general sappiness of said genre. Front man Ralph Mulder's voice is perfectly accented, just vaguely enough to distinguish. Alamo Race Track plow through the better parts of dEUS and Sparklehorse as though it's second nature.

Alamo Race Track - "Northern Territory"

87. Chow Chow - Colours & Lines

This could be one of the more important albums I stumbled across this year. Chow Chow, one part New Zealand and two parts Canada, formed in London. They're not only eclectic in terms of origin, but music as well. They incorporate synth-racket into a new wave of dance-rock that is pretty indescribable. "Skeleton With Hair" is a sparkling synth-rock anomaly. No other song on this groundbreaking effort makes as much sense. Front man Lain Smith never got to see the release of his brainchild. He died of a suspected heart-attack earlier this year. Colours & Lines forms a part of a metaphorical obelisk, marking the mass grave of so many wondrous musical souls.

Chow Chow - "Skeleton With Hair"

88. Thes One - Lifestyle Marketing

Chris Portugal is a part of the hip-hop duo People Under the Stairs. He's a mastermind when it comes to production and he's never even used a computer in the creation of his beats. Chris came across an old record filled with commercial jingles by Herb Pilhofer. After having decided these jingles would form the premise of Lifestyle Marketing, Chris met up with Pilhofer and acquired the masters of the originals. He proceeded to compose this brilliant instrumental-only album that bounces relentlessly across your mind for 49 minutes. If you ever liked People Under the Stairs, then you'd surely be taken aback by this impressive amalgam of beats. Thes One is surely one of the most underrated producers of his time.

Thes One - "Northwestern Bell"

89. Bat For Lashes - Gold And Fur

Björk who? When I listen to Bat For Lashes I could care less about whatever it was Björk released this year. Gold And Fur induces reverie. I slip in and out of Khan's dreamy world for the first half of the record, but catch myself drifting at "Prescilla," the catchiest, harp-infused clap-along I've heard since Patrick Wolf. Khan is simply mesmerizing.

Bat For Lashes - "Prescilla"

90. Eulogies - S/T

Peter Walker did the right thing when he decided to ditch the solo career for his band Eulogies. For some reason or another, his solo career didn't interest me, but Eulogies' self-titled 2007 release has proven otherwise. The new album is a striking and addictive indie rock endeavor, the antithesis of Walker's previous Wilco-compared work.

via LAist: A Eulogy for Peter Walker

Eulogies - "Under The Knife"

91. Sandro Perri - Tiny Mirrors

Sandro is a musician/producer hailing from Toronto, Canada. He has released quite a few 12" records on his own homegrown label Audi Sensa under the moniker Polmo Polpo. Through this process Perri has honed his clever little quips, utilizing ambient folk as a means to express such subtle intricacies. "Double Suicide" is a strangely addictive blend of Tropicalia and Jens Lekman. Perri carefully croons layer upon layer of subdued vocals. Tiny Mirrors marks his successful transition from producer extraordinaire to singer/songwriter.

Sandro Perri - "Double Suicide"

92. Film School - Hideout

Shoegaze die-hards Film School are back in the game, providing the ideal soundtrack for brooding. I'll be the first to admit that Hideout comes nowhere near surpassing its self-titled precursor. I'm not quite sure anything will. Pitchfork were right in saying that they are suited for an "opening band purgatory". Their live performance captivates you for all but half an hour and then turns your brains into mush. You become deprived of the power of sensation altogether. I've got to hand it to them for pounding out another noise-filled, addictive record.

Film School - "Two Kinds"

93. Thee More Shallows - Book of Bad Breaks

Their sense of songwriting is extremely experimental, to say the least, but this is some of San Francisco's finest! While Book of Bad Breaks is an impressive feat, it's simply not on par with their debut A History of Sport Fishing. I saw them quite a bit this year (at Swerve and FYF), both of which I regard as ear-opening experiences. Front man Dee Kesler pretty much controls the Thee More Shallows world from a small, bright suitcase, propped up on its side and filled with circuitry.

Thee More Shallows - "Night at the knight school"

94. Peter and the Wolf - Ivori Palms

Front man Red Hunter is an inadvertent genius of sorts. Well, he just lets it all hang out and, by default, he is considered such. On "Scarlet and Grey," Red extricates himself from rigidity. He busts out a piano line that sounds exactly like Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me" and I never think to question it. Red lets loose across this incredibly woeful effort.

Peter and the Wolf - "Scarlet and Grey"

95. The Forms - S/T

The Forms exude elements that call to mind the D.C. scene in its heyday. They remind me of the Dismemberment Plan a lot. "Knowledge In Hand" incorporates a calculated and mesmerizing quality that forms the basis for every song on their self-titled album. From shoegaze to drone to math-rock, The Forms seldom stagger to impress.

The Forms - "Knowledge In Hand"

96. Annuals - Frelen Mas EP

97.Foals - S/T Live 12"

Two recordings that simply do not do the artist justice. British dance-rock group the Foals' Live 12" documents the important rudimentary stages of this up-and-coming band, but the recording is simply not testament to the band's potential. I saw them at CMJ a couple of times and I felt as though, "they put Bloc Party to shame". "Hummer" is like your favorite Bloc Party song on amphetamines. Zing!

The Annuals' Frelen Mas EP is constraining in a completely different manner. If anything, their live show proves to be much more expansive than their studio recordings. With Japanese lyrics, two drum sets, and an orchestral backing of odds and ends, "Nah Keseyi" is just the tip of the iceberg. The Annuals have a tremendous creative grasp that is not easily conveyed in studio. Thus, The Foals could benefit from a studio recording whereas the Annuals could benefit from a live recording. I suggest that they pull a switcheroo.

The Foals - "Hummer"

Annuals - "Nah Keseyi"

98. Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love

In May, Becky Stark hit us with the heavily anticipated follow-up to Cavalry of Light EP, but ultimately packed a feeble punch. Imagine Our Love is a laborious exercise in orchestral, vibrato-soaked folk. If there were more songs of merit, let's say of "Open Your Heart" caliber, then this album might not have seemed as much of a disappointment. Regardless, Imagine Our Love is an astounding debut effort. It's the perfect listen for a Sunday morning. You're still bleary-eyed and you're not even sure who you are or why you are here. You must sit silently and accept the necessary lapse to seep into your existence once more.

Lavender Diamond - "Open Your Heart"

99. Grand Ole Party - Humanimals

I first experienced the glory of GOP at a Sea Wolf show earlier this year. They'd been buzzing in San Diego for some time, but I never expected them to knock me off my feet. As observed earlier, a lot of their guitar parts draw upon the brilliance of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac in the late 60s. Front woman Kristin Gundred commands your attention with her vehement vocal style, which I related to Janis Joplin and Karen O. "Roll On Down" brings to mind Fleetwood Mac's "Before The Beginning," the unforgettable, epic closer on Then Play On.

Grand Ole Party - "Roll On Down"

100. The Bird And The Bee - S/T

Front woman Inara George is hot and so is Greg Kurstin's slick production. This powerful duo unabashedly served me a heaping serving of jazzy indie-pop fusion. While some songs, like "Fucking Boyfriend," appear to be intentionally tongue-in-cheek, others, like "My Fair Lady," prove to be excessively dutiful attempts at pioneering. A lot of females caught my eye this year Inara. What I mean to say is...It's just not working out as well as I thought it would.

The Bird And The Bee - "Fucking Girlfriend"

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The Airborne Toxic Event's Top Ten of 2007

Joshua Pressman — 2007-12-22T15:30:39-08:00

I've always been intrigued by other "best of" lists, but this year I decided to take it to a whole new level. I e-mailed a handful of bands that I've seen this past year in order to unearth what exactly captivated them in '07. As music listeners, it is our duty to take a keen interest in our favorite musician's influences. After all, they rocked our little world, might as well see what rocked their little world. Therefore, this is an act of paying it forward to those hardworking, underpaid musicians who truly made a difference within the music scene this year.

The Airborne Toxic Event

Black Kids - Wizard of Ahhs
Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
the Deadly Syndrome - the Ortolan
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall
the White Stripes - Icky Thump
MIA - Kala
Miles Davis - The Complete On the Corner Sessions
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

The Happy Hollows' Top Ten of 2007

Joshua Pressman — 2007-12-21T18:43:26-08:00

The Happy Hollows

Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold
Enon - Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds
Celebration - The Modern Tribe
Tigers Can Bite You - Tigers Can Bite You
Blonde Redhead - 23
Pity Party - The EP
Bark Bark Bark - Haunts
Rademacher - Stunts
Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
Thailand - Motorcade

Photo by: Sterling Andrews

Midlake's Top Ten of 2007

Joshua Pressman — 2007-12-20T17:30:04-08:00

McKenzie Smith of Midlake

feist- the reminder
radiohead- in rainbows
derek webb- the ringing bell
tacks the boy disaster- oh beatrice
dawn landes- fireproof
maria taylor- lynn teeter flower
robert gomez- brand new towns
stephanie dosen- a lily for the spectre
dustin o' hallorhan- piano solos
the dears- gang of losers
the kissaway trail- the kissaway trail
and i'll say bjork's new one, even though i havent really checked it out. she is one of the best modern artists in the world, im sure the album is great!

CMJ Day Five: A Recapitulation

Joshua Pressman — 2007-10-23T10:00:00-08:00

As one blogger so delicately phrased it, "CMJ goes out with a whimper". There wasn't a whole lot I wanted to see on Day Five of CMJ. So I rested my weary bones, wandered around Williamsburg, and caught a couple of shows. One highlight was Ha Ha Tonka's performance at Union Pool in Williamsburg at a homey, jam-packed venue. I believe there was a BBQ going on as well. Williamsburg was lovely, flourishing with so many creative, friendly spirits. It's beautiful in its own way and I absolutely fell in love with the place.

Another highlight was seeing Santogold at the Fader Party. Think MIA meets Gwen Stefani. According to her myspace, people like Michael Jackson and Libyan ruler Moammar Qaddafi like her music. It sounds like brilliant marketing ploy to me. She opened for the sold out Björk show at Madison Square Garden two or three weeks prior. She has incredible hype, but I'm not quite sure the music snobs will buy into it. The room was packed when she started her set and as her beat-heavy backing seemed a bit lacking, the crowd started to thin out. Santi asked the crowd, "Is the background music loud enough?" What she was really asking was: "Why aren't you guys feeling this?" Try selling it to the masses not the snobs.

After four twelve hour days of music marathon-ing, who in their right mind would subject themselves to Justice's highly demanded dance party in midtown or Band of Horses' sold out show at Bowery? Instead of going to see big acts on the last day of CMJ, I spent the day reflecting and compiling a list of my top ten best shows.

10. Cut Off Your Hands at the Indaba Music Loft on Day One

I arrived just in time for a very short set by Auckland natives Cut Off Your Hands. They played for nearly fifteen minutes, but they brought the rock. The lead singer put his all into what was, presumably, his first CMJ show of the week. He was on the ground at times singing with his all and he concluded their set with a brazen act: climbing the pipe on the ceiling like a monkey. I'll never forget the elation this single moment brought me on my first day of my first CMJ experience.

Cut Off Your Hands - "Still Fond"

9. Health at the Fader Sideshow on Day Two

As we were waiting for them to take stage I joked with the guy next to me, who had asked what they sounded like, "They're enormously loud and noisy, but we're used to that sort of thing in LA". The band took stage with a zen-like chant, every member singing in unrefined chorale, and dove head first into a clamor of music. Normally, I'm not into this type of scene, but there is something entirely mesmerizing and, consequently, endearing about their innovative approach. They nearly ripped everyone's face off with their blistering experimental rock. It was a high-energy, constant flux of screaming and singing. My first Health experience was eye-opening, to say the least.

Health - "Crimewave"

8. Papercuts at Cake Shop on Day Four

I ran back over to the Cake Shop to catch San Francisco's Papercuts. I've been a big fan of their second release Can't Go Back ever since Grizzly Bear toured with them. Their lo-fi murmurs are reminiscent of the mid 60s. Front man Jason Quever's voice is so saccharine I almost can't bear it. They ran through a set that included my favorite song "John Brown", which sounds like it belongs in San Francisco circa fall of '68. Their music contains simple, ghostly qualities that bring to mind Simon and Garfunkel. The small underground venue was brimming with appreciative folk. Papercuts were quite well-received.

Papercuts - "John Brown"

7. The Octopus Project at Highline Ballroom on Day Three

As I arrived at the Highline Ballroom, The Octopus Project was playing. Catching a part of their set was pure ecstasy for me. I have always wanted to see their experimental, electronically driven pop play out live. They used all sorts of crazy instruments including a Moog I have never come across. The machine transformed front woman Yvonne Lambert's vocals into oscillating goodness. People were really into them, which surprised me because they hail from Austin and I didn't expect their reach to extend this far. There must be something said about their in-between banter. I wished they had abstained. Band member Toto Miranda spewed happy-go-douche-y (yes, I just coined this term) nothings to the audience between songs and I just wanted to hurt myself for having to endure it.

The Octopus Project - "I Saw the Bright Shinies"

6. The Most Serene Republic at Bowery Ballroom on Day One

Aside from Bon Iver, I was most excited to see The Most Serene Republic perform. I first discovered their unique sound from their remix of Stars' "Ageless Beauty". Generally, you can't entirely distinguish an artist's sound from their remix of someone else's work. However, The Most Serene Republic defy that as well as many other musical norms. They were some of the most amazing musicians I have ever watched. Their songs contain some of the busiest drum and bass work I have heard in quite some time. I had always noted this while listening to their music, but watching it play out before my eyes was stupefying.

The Most Serene Republic - "Present of Future End"

5. Yeasayer at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Day Two

By this point I'm completely beat, but I trek on to Williamsburg via the L train to the Music Hall to catch Yeasayer. I'm a huge fan of their forthcoming debut All Hour Cymbals. Front man Chris Keating's compulsive, schizophrenic presence is exactly what I envisioned it to be from listening to his album. He kept readjusting the mic stand as though it were in the wrong place and once he finally decided it was, he gave off an expression of complacency. Keating provided some much needed comic relief. As the set came to a close, he checked his cellphone, joking about how he got a text message from his mother: "She usually comes to our shows. Momma are you up there?" He looked upwards and jokingly exclaimed, "No, not tonight. Momma's dead!" Yeasayer plowed through a set comprised of tunes from their debut All Hour Cymbals, including my favorites "Sunrise", "Wait For Summer", and "2080".

Yeasayer - "2080"

4. MGMT at the Fader Sideshow on Day Two

I swung by the Fader Party again to catch MGMT, one of my favorite artists at the moment. Things were in full effect over there. The space was packed with people and we were all dancing along, doing feel-good two steps to MGMT's throwback tunes. It was clear how much clout these Brooklyn natives have in this neck of the woods. People continued to flow from the downstairs VIP artist's room in order to see what the commotion was all about. Everyone was digging their tightly executed set, which included crowd pleasers like the funky "Electric Feel" and the Bowie-esque "Weekend Wars".

MGMT - "Electric Feel"

3. Bon Iver at Bowery Ballroom on Day One

The three-pieced Bon Iver took stage and proved to us what the hype was all about. Their debut album For Emma, Forever Ago isn't even out yet and everyone from Pitchfork to LAist absolutely loves it (I never thought I'd put those two websites in the same sentence). Front man Justin Vernon wore his heart on his sleeve: "I can't believe people are actually here to see us play before a bunch of real bands". Bon Iver's debut was not intended to be unearthed and thus the resoundingly positive reviews are probably a bit overwhelming for him.
Through their short set, I felt as though I finally understood the premise of Bon Iver's debut: a lonely act of utmost sincerity. "Our record is coming out in the first quarter, as they say". Vernon was witty and tremendously entertaining. His pristine, powerful voice soared over their minimal execution. They jammed through "Flume", "Creature Fear", the title track "For Emma", my personal favorite "Skinny Love", and they encouraged a crowd sing-along to help recreate "The Wolves (Act I And II)". After hearing the raspy, silver-plated guitar lines of "Skinny Love", I think I can die a happy man.

Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"

2. Foals at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Day Two

British dance-rock group Foals took stage on time, but didn't start due to a series of unfortunate technical difficulties. I suppose they wanted their second US performance to be perfect. Who can blame them? People started to get antsy and even began to yell, "Play already!" The keyboardist sensed our anxiousness and replied with humor, "We're really comfortable with our equipment. Really. We've done this loads of times." After a long wait, they decided to play because they couldn't solve their amp-related woes. Despite this dallying, Foals destroyed us. People were flailing about as though they were having seizures, making it nearly impossible to snap shots of the band. The crowd was way into their performance, even pleading for a few more songs as their set concluded. They ran through a substantial set of mostly new tunes that put Bloc Party to shame. Seriously. They put on one of the most energetic, unforgettable shows I've seen thus far at CMJ. If you ever get the chance to see them, you ought to do yourself the favor of experiencing their addictive dance bliss.

Foals - "Mathletics"

1. New Young Pony Club at Studio B on Day Three

I hopped in a cab to Brooklyn in order to catch my favorite Brit-dance group New Young Pony Club at Studio B. They rarely make it out to the states and I had been anticipating their Modular People showcase for quite some time. Studio B is in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and that translates to the middle of nowhere. Yet this single club manages to draw the biggest dance mainstays in the scene. Whenever Justice or Mstrkrft come through town they're more than likely hitting up this place. I walk in and New Young Pony Club is rocking out. This place was hopping like a club in Manhattan, except this was in a desolate, industrial area of Brooklyn. People were getting down and dirty, throwing their hands in the air like they just didn't care. It was pretty astonishing and unforgettable.

Lead singer Tahita Bulmer led NYPC through a set of hopping tunes from their latest Fantastic Playroom. She was graceful, at times nearly falling out of her low-cut dress, as well as compelling. Bulmer kept prodding the New Yorkers to get into it, "Come on NY! I know you guys can do better than that!" Songs like "Ice Cream", "Get Lucky", and "The Bomb" were all extremely well-received. The culmination of the entire performance was their cover of Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam". The room was hopping and it started to smell like rancid puke, a familiar club smell, towards the close of their set. However, people wanted more of their lively antics after they left stage. So New Young Pony Club came out and granted us a meager yet fulfilling encore.

New Young Pony Club - "Ice Cream"

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Editor's Picks - The Best of the Week of LAist

Tony Pierce — 2007-08-18T15:20:00-08:00

Here are some of my favorite LAist stories from this week:

Anti reviews a cd that was sent to him, he gives it a "Good", but someone from the band writes in to complain that it wasn't a good enough

Peggy Archer showed us that Malibu is finding that whoring out their best beachfront homes to corporations isn't all they hoped it would be

Charles Bukowski is my favorite writer, so I liked this birthday tribute by Mialka

Even though I was never crazy about Jack Kerouac I was happy that Carrie, Lindsay and Raymi did a three post special on the 50th birthday of On The Road

Frisco dissed LA restaurants so Elise went to Frisco, ate, came home and posted the first two parts of her three-part review of all of the places that she ate at

We had three sweet Neighborhood Projects this week: Kemp gave us Baldwin Hills and told us about an all you can eat buffet that I will now make my new home, Ryan Young told us about Chinatown in such detail that I now know who has the best selling basketball jersey in China, and Deanna delivered the Miracle Mile in such a pleasant way that now I wanna meet Ruben the elevator man

A super fancy new coffee shop opened up in Silver Lake and Food Editor Lindsay was all up in their frothy designs

Zach grossed me out with this lovable tale of a father and son breaking the law by kayaking down the LA River

There were fires burning in the cheap seats and teargas being sprayed on the kids and the photographers at the Rage Against the Machine / Cypress Hill / Wu Tang Clan / Public Enemy show and we had Joey Maloney in front of the front row taking amazing photos and Tim The Hammer fighting it out with the madding crowds - team coverage at its best, bitches.

New contributer D.R. Smith told us about the West LA Car Bomb Mystery

Editors all over LA always ask me about our commentors. I love our readers, however our commentors really make me scratch my head. Case in point. Anti wrote a piece defending Carson Daly and that was met with unusual silence, but when he dissed Jimmy Fallon he was called a variety of names. Oy vey.

My favorite story that I posted was the Six Man Volleyball Tournament because I had never even heard of it until my "friend" called me the day after it happened to tell me how great it was and I was all, um, don't you know I run a web site dedicated to telling stories like the one you're telling me - you had a camera - WHERE ARE MY PICTURES? and my friend apologized, so i scoured flickr and begged flickr user Jeff Homer for permission to use about 28 of his 288 pictures of the event. Unfortunately Jeff is some sort of world traveler because it took him weeks to get back to me. But he was super nice and said, no prob, and we posted them that night and in less than 24 hours it was on the front page of Digg.

So yeah, if you go somewhere cool, please dont tell me about it unless you also took a gazillion pictures and you will be willing to share a few dozen with your boy.

middle photo of a home in Baldwin Hills by Kemp Powers for LAist, top and bottom photos by Jeff Homer, used with permission

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How Do YOU Rank the Best of '07?

Andy Sternberg — 2007-07-24T15:30:44-08:00

The Downtown News is out with its annual Best of list. In the spirit of the awesome map that appears each week in the Downtown News, we're mapping the DTNews Editors' "Best of" picks. Play along by clicking on any placemarker below and adding your rating/photos/comments.

10 Best CDs of the First Half of the Year

Tony Pierce — 2007-07-06T16:46:00-08:00

The assignment was simple - of all the great music that gets sent to us, I had to pick the top ten new cds whose street dates were between January 1, 2007 - June 15, 2007.

Despite the fact that so many good records have come out in that time the selections were surprisingly easy to come about.

10. Datarock
Datarock Datarock
Nettwerk Music
Released in the US: June 12, 2007

Datarock - "Bulldozer"

They're goofy, they're creative, they're fun. They made it to the list.

the rest of the list after the jump...

9. Mika
Life In Cartoon Motion
Universal / Motown
March 27, 2007

Mika - "Love Today"

So what if he sounds exactly like Freddie Mercury. Is that a bad thing?

8. LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver
DFA Records
March 20, 2007

LCD Soundsystem - "North American"

Even though we know they're probably laughing at us as they count their money, we love it. We're in.

7. Various Artists
KCRW Sounds Eclectic: Covers Project
Hear Music
March 13, 2007

The Magic Numbers - "Crazy in Love"

KCRW used their muscle to get a variety of great artists from Robert Plant to the Flaming Lips to agree to let them release 15 tracks of music originally recorded at the Santa Monica College station. Of course we're using a video of a song recorded in England. To be eclectic.

6. David Holmes
Music from the film, Oceans 13
Warner Bros. / WEA
June 5, 2007

Make it the soundtrack for your weekend, if not your life.

5. Wilco
Sky Blue Sky
Nonesuch

Jeff Tweedy - "The Thanks I Get"

Wilco - "What Light"

Jeff Tweedy is like Eric Clapton, in that if you didn't know who either guy was, you'd look at them and say, whatevs, and walk right past em. But then they plug in, and start singing and magic just happens. Tweedy is a fountain of subtlety and it doesn't even bother us that he sold his first single to VW because we saw him not have any money for McDonalds in I Am Trying to Break Your Heart and it broke our heart.

4. Kanye West
Can't Tell Me Nothin Mixtape
Bootleg
May 27, 2007

Kanye West - "Can't Tell Me Nothin"

From what we understand Mixtape is an extended cd sampler given out for free to get people excited about the upcoming release of Graduation. The 25 tracks, many of which are full cuts from the cd or other projects Kanye is working on, are awesome and made us remember that bro is the real deal. Download it free here.

3. Arcade Fire
Neon Bible
Merge
March 6, 2007

Arcade Fire - "Neon Bible & Wake Up"

The best punk band in Montreal has an accordion player and a string section. "My Body is a Cage" could be the best song of the first half of the year.

2. Dinosaur Jr.
Beyond
Fat Possum
May 1, 2007

J. Mascis is singlehandedly bringing lead guitar back. OK, maybe doublehandedly. Either way, this album rocks harder than anything else that came out this year - which isn't hard to do - and anything that came out last year. It's a throwback to a better time, when every song had a solo, and every band had a shredder. Some really great songs in here too. Thanks for getting the band back together, J.

1. Sea Wolf
Get to the River Before It Runs Low
Dangerbird Records
May 8, 2007

Sea Wolf - "You're a Wolf"

Like a fine wine, Sea Wolf is simple and unassuming. Then when you least expect it, you're knocked out by it. Longing, dark lyrics mixed with moody music that somehow keeps you tapping your feet, strangely. The album could very easily be haunted, in which case we'd understand how it cast its spell over us so quickly and completely.

Photo of Datarock by Wathana Lim

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