Plan B, 9/28/09

I'm back in full this week after last week's technical difficulties (the CD drive on my laptop decided to stop working with me.) Here's the plan for this week's show. Focus albums this week are Silver Starling's self-titled, No Magic by World's Greatest Ghosts, and New Leaves by Owen.

[track - artist (album)]

Something Over Nothing - Silver Starling (Silver Starling)
The Royal Court - World's Greatest Ghosts (No Magic)
Doublespeak - Thrice (Beggars)
You Stole - Brand New (Daisy)
Comin' Home - City and Colour (Sometimes)
Never Been Born - Owen (New Leaves)
Melectric - Ramona Falls (Intuit)
In The Branches - The Builders and the Butchers (Salvation is a Deep Dark Well)
Good Luck - Sondre Lerche (Heartbeat Radio)
Alright - Pilot Speed (Into The West)
No Secret Why - The Coast (Expatriate)
She Walks - Choir of Young Believers (This Is For The White In Your Eyes)
Loudest Speaker - World's Greatest Ghosts (No Magic)
Amnesia and Me - Owen (New Leaves)
Golden and Green - The Builders and the Butchers (Salvation is a Deep Dark Well)
Blind - Silver Starling (Silver Starling)
Daisy - Brand New (Daisy)
The Weight - Thrice (Beggars)
Russia - Ramona Falls (Intuit)
Birds - Emiliana Torrini (Me And Armini)
The Only Child of Aergia - Owen (New Leaves)
Magick Words - World's Greatest Ghosts (No Magic)
Florida Logic - Cougar (Patriot)
This Is Not A Dream - Silver Starling (Silver Starling)
One More Day - Lydia (Illuminate)


EDIT: I'm trying out a slightly different format for my citations this time around. Does this work? Is the album thing really a big deal? (I, for one, think it is, but I'll defer to public opinion on this one.)

...And the Battle Begun 09-28

Artist - Song

Coheed and Cambria - Junesong Provision
Mutemath - Backfire
Polar Bear Club - Take Me to the Tour
RX Bandits - Its Only Another Parsec...
The XX - Crystallized
Muse - United States of Eurasia
Brand New - Sink
Thrice - All the World is Mad
Everytime I Die - For the Record
Polvo - Beggar's Bowl
Ramona Falls - Clover
Sunny Day Real Estate - In Circles
Islands - Switched On
AFI - I'm Trying Very Hard to Be Here
Le Loup - Family
Mew - Introducing Palace Players
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
The Antlers - Kettering
Circa Survive - Travel Hymn
Frank Turner - The Road
Dodos - Fables
The Fall of Troy - Single
Sole and the Skyrider - Children of Privilege
The Sound of Animals Fighting - Act 1: Chasing Suns
The Lawrence Arms - The Devil's Takin' Names
None More Black - Dinner's For Suckers
Underoath - Anyone Can Dig A Hole But It Takes A Real Man to Call It Home

Last Monday in October

This morning and I played a few albums I like

Nina Simone - Jazz as Played in an exclusive side street club
The Shins - Wincing the night away
Mike Doughty - Skittish
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

and then I started playing a Ray Charles record till Democracy Now

Ray Charles - Them that got
Ray Charles - Georgia on my mind
Ray Charles - Unchain my heart
Ray Charles - I'm gonna move to the outskirts of town
Ray Charles - the Danger Zone

That Generic Variety Show 09-24

Victor's picks are in ORANGE. Aileen's picks are in LIGHT BLUE.

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irgolva - Falling Slowly
Colbie Caillat - Midnight Bottle
Thrice - In Exile
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
She & Him - I Was Made For you
Polar Bear Club - Living Saints
Hinder - Lips of an Angel
Circa Survive - Stop the Car
Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Mew - Introducing Palace Players
The Academy Is... - We've Got A Big Mess In Our Hands
Between the Buried and Me - Mirrors
Vienna Teng - Whatever You Want
RX Bandits - Mientras La Veo Sonar
James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover
Sirsy - Leftover Girl
Brand New - At the Bottom
Jason Marz - Curbside Prophet
Dillinger Four - AMERICASPREMIERFAITHBASEDINITATIVE
Solas - Just You
Anthony Green - First Day of Work at the Microscope Store
Saosin - I Keep My Secrets Safe
Kate Bush - Joanni
Muse - Uprising
Maria Talyor - Cartoons and Forever Plans

Weird Noises 9/23

Petr Kotik - Many Many Women (Performed by the S.E.M. Ensemble), Excerpt

Ambient Signal - 9/22/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 4-6pm

Green = In stores today! 9/22!

Br'er - Catch a falling knife (Playing at ground zero this friday! www.gzbasement.net for more info)
Balmorhea - Dream of thaw
Dark Dark Dark - All the things Dosh Remix
Wesafari - Credit
Denali - The Instinct
WHY? - The Blackest purse
Ramona falls - Salt sack
Le Loup - Family
Volcano Choir - Island, IS
Mew - Beach
Monsters of Folk - Dear God (Sincerely, MOF)
Speech Debelle - Searching
Slaraffenland - Meet and greet
Raveonettes - Last dance
Langhorne Slim - I love you but goodbye
Orba Squara - Very very (snow in june)
Vivian Girls - I have no fun
Choir of young believers - Under the moon
itsnotyouitsme - Great day
Bright Eyes - No one would riot for less
Cat Power - Maybe Not
Grizzly Bear - Two weeks
Battles - Atlas
Talkdemonic - Human til born
The Velvet Teen -Gyzmkid

Darling Tuesday - 9/22/2009

Join us on Tuesdays 2-4pm. Listen online at wrpi.org/listen.

Today's playlist:

Rival Consoles - iO - 1985
Islands - Tender Torture
Os Mutantes - O Careca

Simeon Mobile Disco - Cruel Intentions
Dungen - Saat Att Se
Felix Da Housecat - Do we move your world
Health - Die Slow

Air - Redhead Girl
Nadia Ali - Fine Print
Claude VonStroke - Aka aka - Nightingirl

Vivian Girls - Can't Get Over You
Chromeo - I Can't Tell You Why
King Cannibal - Dirt ft. Daddy Freddy

Crystal Castles - Crimewave
Boys Noize - Starter
Sondre Lerche & Regina Spektor - Hell No
New Young Pony Club - Get Lucky
Depeche Mode - Wrong

Mew - The Magic Cars
Boozoo Bajou - Flickers
Royksopp - Royksopp Forever
Justice - Waters of Nazareth
Arnaud Rebotini - 777

Ladytron - Tomorrow (port-royal Remix)

New music reviews: Good time grooves

The Wild - The Wild EP

Looking to extend summer past its September 22nd expiration date? The Wild's debut EP was released over Fourth of July weekend and as such is full of songs ideal for campfires, the beach, and other summery locations. The EP's five tracks are full of harmonica, twangy guitar (both acoustic and electric), and wistful vocals singing about singing along to songs and missing friends and, well, summer. See the theme here? Unfortunately, the final two tracks sort of just plod along and are less interesting than the first three. But hey, considering the EP's available to download for free, you have no excuse not to download the album to see how big of a smile emerges on your face from hearing the first three songs.

You can download the EP for free from Quote Unquote Records.

Girls - Album

Sporting the retro lo-fi sound that's so popular in 2009, Album by the much talked about San Francisco band Girls succeeds by making songs that would be catchy and powerful with or without member Chet White's production trickery. First track "Lust for Life" is neither a Stooges cover nor about a lust for life (just for romantic companionship, a common theme in the album), but that won't stop you from singing and dancing along to the song. Later, singer Christopher Owens tells a girl named "Laura" that he wants to be "friends forever" despite the fact that she's been "a bitch" and he's been "an ass." Whatever, right? Then the beautiful Beach Boys-esque outro hits and once the song ends, you're left wondering how 4 minutes and 44 seconds passed by so quickly. Other moments, like the percussion in "God Damned" and the lyrics and overall mood of "Hellhole Ratrace" ("And I don't wanna cry my whole life through/I wanna do some laughing too/So c'mon and laugh with me"), serve to keep your ears perked throughout the course of the album. Overall, Album is big, bold, and bashful. Don't get turned off by the hype - make sure to check it out.

Album will be released on September 22nd by True Panther Records. You can stream the whole album on True Panther's website right now.

That Generic Variety Show (09-17)

Aileen's songs are in yellow; Victor's are in black.

"Do You" ~ Portugal. The Man
"The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" ~ Jason Mraz
"Head For the Hills" ~ Saves the Day
"Out Tonight" ~ from Rent
"Feathers" ~ Coheed & Cambria
"The Church of Hot Addiction" ~ Cobra Starship
"Cryptograms" ~ Deerhunter
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" ~ Cyndi Lauper
"There's No Penguins in Alaska" ~ Chiodos
"Every Time You Lie" ~ Demi Lovato
"Sweetness" ~ Jimmy Eat World
"Be Prepared" ~ from The Lion King
"Pacucha Sunrise" ~ Minus the Bear
"Coming to Terms" ~ Carolina Liar
"Bloodmeat" ~ Protest the Hero
"Waiting Up" ~ Remember Maine
"Between the End and Where We Lie" ~ Thrice
"The Waiting" ~ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
"Friends in the Armed Forces" ~ Thursday
"She Is" ~ The Fray
"Backfire" ~ Mutemath
"Holly (Would You Turn Me On?)" ~ All Time Low
"Don't Hate Me" ~ The Get Up Kids
"Unwell" ~ Matchbox Twenty
"Repeater Beater" ~ Mew

Weird Noises 9/16

Charlemagne Palestine - Cataclisma 3
The Cure - Pornography
Lucky Rabbit - performed by Seymour Wright and Ross Lambert
Gyorgy Ligeti - Le Grand Macabre, Act 2
Pere Ubu - Go
This Heat - Health and Efficiency
Jacques Lejeune - D'Une Multitude En Fete
Tandem Electrics - Intaglio

Ambient Signal - 9/15/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 4-6pm

Code.

Pre show- Code in the clouds - Don't go awash

The Octopus Project - Malaria Codes
Four Tet - My angel rocks back and forth
Q and not U - Sleeping the terror code
WHY? - Against me
Bright Eyes - Arc of time
Tiesto - Kaleidoscope (Featuring Jonsi of Sigur Ros)
itsnotyouitsme - Throne built for the past (playing wednesday at RPI at 7:30! Visit arts.rpi.edu for more info!)
Ramona falls - Going once, going twice
Le Loup - Morning song
Slaraffenland - Open your eyes
Mew - Introduction palace player
Yo la tengo - Avalon or someone very similar
Amy Millan - Towers
Windmill - Ellen save our energy
Orba Squara - All the colors (picture perfect)
Alan Singley and the pants machine - Lean in
Vivian girls - Walking alone at night
Port o' brien - Oslo Campfire
Grizzly Bear - While you wait for the others (Playing Sept 25th at Skidmore!)
Annuals - Springtime
Cmaera Obscura - Away with murder
Feist - Let it die
Orenda Fink - Let it die
Halou - Morsecode
I'm from barcelona - Paper planes

Darling Tuesday - 9/15/2009

Hey WRPI listeners,

This is the first post on ilikewrpi for my new show, Darling Tuesday. A grand mixture of electronic, indie, and pop, you can listen in every Tuesday aternoon from 2-4pm. Listen online at wrpi.org/listen or 91.5 FM in the Capitol Region.

Here's the playlist:

Artist - Album - Track
port-royal - dying in time - hva (failed revolutions)
port-royal - dying in time - nights in kiev
Helado Negro - Awe Owe - Venceremos
Arnaud Rebotini - Music Components - The Spirit of Boogie
Grafton Primary - Eon - Telling Lies
Radio Knox Five - Radio Free DC Remixed - The Party Pushers
Radio Knox Five - Radio Free DC Remixed - Sao Funky
Kevin Saunderson - History Elevate - Diva Drive / Agoria
Shantel - Planet Paprika - Citizen of Planet Paprika
Picture Plane - Dark Rift - Solid Gold
Gus Gus - 27/7 - Hateful
Royksopp - Happy Up Here: The Remixes - Holy Fuck Remix
I Fight Dragons - Money
Infected Mushroom - Smashing The Opponent - Smashing The Opponent (J.Viewz Remix)
Mew - No More Stories... - Introducing Palace Players
Scratch Perverts - Beatdown (first 4 tracks)
Paul van Dyke - The Best Of - New York City
Chromeo - DJ KiCKS - Gonna Get Over You by Donna Allen
Hot Chip - Made In The Dark - One Pure Thought
Arnaud Rebotini - Music Components - Horns 0f Innocence

Plan B, 9/14/09

Well, well, well. I've finally decided to join the herd here at ilikewrpi. I'm not sure whether to call it coming around or caving, but however you or I choose to see it, here's this week's playlist. Focus albums for the week are Cougar's Patriot, Choir of Young Believers' This Is For The White In Your Eyes, and Codes In The Clouds' Paper Canyon. I'm feeling especially post-rocky this week.

(Plan B can, of course, be heard Monday evenings from 10pm until midnight.)

((Track - Artist - Album))

We Are Water - Health - Get Color
Stay Famous - Cougar - Patriot
Hollow Talk - Choir of Young Believers - This Is For The White In Your Eyes
Armslength - Moving Mountains - Foreword
Flaming Arrow - Jupiter One - Sunshower
Sitting Nearly Invisible Off In The Jagged Distance - Andrew Spink - Speak Away
Easy To Persuade - Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio
Daunte v. Armada - Cougar - Patriot
Don't Go Awash In This Digital Landscape - Codes In The Clouds - Paper Canyon
In Violet - Health - Get Color
Closing In - Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
Why Must It Always Be This Way - Choir of Young Believers - This Is For The White In Your Eyes
Burden - Mute Math - Armistice
The Distance Between Us - Codes In The Clouds - Paper Canyon
Growing - Laredo - Bury For Growth
Technicolor - Nurses - Apple's Acre
Rhinelander - Cougar - Patriot
Beggar's Bowl - Polvo - In Prism
2-1 - Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Wintertime Love - Choir of Young Believers - This Is For The White In Your Eyes
Fractures - Codes In The Clouds - Paper Canyon
The Road - Frank Turner - Poetry Of The Deed

If you've been smitten by the talented man behind the microphone but would rather have your ears bleed and/or be mildly entertained, check out "The Pete and Brian Show" on Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm.

Video from Phantogram show in Saratoga Springs 9/5/09

Phantogram - When I'm Small (Live @ Saratoga) from blair neal on Vimeo.

This is video from one of the sets I did with Saratoga's own Phantogram (formerly "Charlie Everywhere"). This was a street performance they did for The Final Stretch festival, and they were performing in a drive through banking tunnel. I performed improvised video for their 3 sets that night, using custom software and a couple projectors and a lot of screens. A very fun show! Phantogram is going on tour in Europe and other select stops in the US coming up soon.

Hear more at www.myspace.com/phantogram

That Generic Variety Show 09-10. NOW WITH NEW COLORS

Aileen is now PINK!!!!. And Victor is BLUE. YEAH COLORS!!!!!!

Mew - Snow Brigade
The Academy Is... - Everything We Hold
Lemuria - Pants
Steve Perry - I Stand Alone
Saves the Day - Anywhere with You
Don McLean - American Pie
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Celine Dion - Ten Days
Rx Bandits - Only For The Night
From Repo! The Genetic Opera - Genetic Emancipation
Dillinger Four - Gainsville
Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman
Coheed and Cambria - Neverender
Hinder - Better Than Me
AFI - Medicate
Hey Monday - Set Off
Portugal. The Man - People Say
Semisonic - Who's Stopping You?
fun. - Be Calm
The Temptations - My Girl
The Mars Volta - Teflon
Harry Nilsson - Jump Into the Fire
Jimmy Eat World - Hear You Me

Weird Noises 9/9

Alvin Lucier - In Memoriam Jon Higgins (performed by Thomas Ridenour)
Billy Gomberg - Verse
David Tudor - Neural Synthesis
Allen Kaprow - How To Make a Happening
Morton Feldman - For Philip Guston (performed by The S.E.M. Ensemble)

Ambient Signal - 9/8/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 4-6pm

Yeaah, the blog is getting slowly refilled

Wolf Parade - Soldier's Grin
The Strokes - Soma
World's End Girlfriend - Birthday resistance
Why? - Early whitney
Son lux - Do
Alias - Weathering
Slow Six - These rivers between us (live recording at GZ)
Why? - Into the shadows of my embrace
Ramona Falls - Russia
Antlers - Sylvia
Dodos - Fable
Amy Millan - Old perfume
Windmill - Big Boom
Tyondai Braxton - Uffe's woodshop
Cougar - Stay famous
Orba Squara - Trouble with flying
Alan singley and the pants machine - Little by little
Caspian - Mie/La Cerva
Grand archives - Oslo Novelist
Softlightes - The Ballad of Theodore and June
Azeda Booth - Big Fists
Conor oberst and the mystic valley band - White shoes
Bibio - Haikuesque (When she laughs)
The Album leaf - Twenty two fourteen
Bitcrush - Every ghost has it's spectre

...And The Battle Begun 09/07 - NOW WITH FLAVOR

On every Monday from 2PM-4PM

artist - song name

fun. - All the Pretty Girls
The Syncope Threshold - Sunflower Avenue
Saves the Day - In Reviere
Mew - Beach
Portugal. The Man - Lay Me Back Down
Thrice - The Earth Isn't Humming
Daft Punk - Digital Love
RX Bandits - Its Only Another Parsec...
A Perfect Circle - Orestes
Why? - Into The Shadows of My Embrace
Death Cab For Cutie - Title Track
Coheed and Cambria - God Send Conspirator
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Isis Unveiled
Slint - Good Morning Captain
The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
Minus the Bear - Knights
Thrice - Between the End And Where We Lie
The Unicorns - Tuff Ghost
The Get Up Kids - Ten Minutes
The Mars Volta - The Widow
Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts
MGMT - Kids
Between the Buried and Me - Prequel to the Sequel
Junior Senior - Move Your Feet

That Generic Variety Show 09-03

On every Thursday from 4PM-6PM. Aileen's selections are in purple. Victor's selections are in green.

Artist - Song

Saves the Day - Cars & Calories
David Cook - Lie
Tool - Aenema
Hanson - Runaway Run
Weezer - Why Bother?
Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You
Coheed And Cambria - Everything Evil
Demi Lovato - Catch Me
Mew - Rebeaterbeater
Blackmore's Night - Loreley
Mastodon - Colony of Birchmen
From Newsies - Seize the Day
Anthony Green - Babygirl
Tommy and the High Pilots - Bluesy Floozie
Portugal. The Man - Work All Day
Jim Croce - Lover's Cross
Ok Go - A Million Ways
A-Ha - Take on Me
Queen - Killer Queen
Laura Branigan - Gloria
Thrice - Firebreather
Enrique Iglesias - Heroe
Between the Buried and Me - Prequel to the Sequel
Jesse McCarthey - Just So You Know
Hello Seahorse! - OK!...Lobster
Alkaline Trio - Stupid Kid
House of Freaks - 40 Years

Rabble rabble rabble

I know everyone usually gets upset about certain pitchfork reviews. Sometimes they can be right, sometimes they can be way off..its the nature of reviewing. I was particularly upset this week that they gave a 15 year old album the title of Best new music (I know its a Sunny day real estate re-issue and an important album, blah blah blah). Meanwhile, my #1 album of the year contender, Intuit by Ramona Falls, scored a very respectable 8.0 but I suppose doesn't warrant a "best new music" title. It was bad enough a few weeks ago when they were giving the titles to Radiohead re-issues and giving Kid A a 10.0. I still use the site for various music news things, but I'm increasingly disappointed in their reviewing when they seem to be hailed as the be all, end all of indie music knowledge.

I was also going to whine about their top 500 songs of the 2000's but was just linked to this fantastic buddyhead article that does a much better job than I could:
http://www.buddyhead.com/lil-wayne-2000-pitchfork-snorts-a-decade/

Post some of your favorite alternative music review websites!

Weird Noises 9/2/09

First playlist of the semester:

Stephen Vitiello - Light Readings
Horaflora - A Win, Din, Thud Or...
Disband - Rebel
Tom Johnson - Abundant Numbers
Gruppo di Imrovazzione Nuova Consonanza - Eflot, Percussion per Tutti
Beat Furrer - Fama (Scenes IV & V), performed by Klangforum Wien
Billy Gomberg - Into
John Cage - Cheap Imitation III (performed by Paul Zukofsky

Ambient Signal - 9/1/09 - New Month, New Time!

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 4-6pm

New time and you know what that means...

Yes..my graphic displays the wrong times again, but that's ok..it can stay like that..I think i was on wednesdays 6-8 last yearand didn't change it

So weird being on the air this early. Plus this blog is a little lonelier this fall because of so little DJ's on it, but hopefully participation will pick up.

Pre-Show - Tyondai Braxton - Platinum Rows

Son lux - Raise (Playing at Mass Moca this friday at 8pm! Going to be great!)
Denali - Gunner
Camera Obscura - Tears for affairs
Cat power - Metal heart
Doves - Winter Hill
Morcheeba - Ten Men (Request)
Feist - Sea lion Woman
Sigur Ros - Festival
Ramona Falls - Clover - SEE MY VIDEO HERE
The Antlers - Kettering
Amy Millan - Bruised Ghosts
Choir of young believers - Under the moon
Darlings - Eviction party
Dodos - Longform
Alan Singley and the pants machine - Le Rain
Phantogram - When I'm Small (Playing in Saratoga this saturday at Final Stretch festival! Free show!)
Inner Banks - Pyramids
Mew - Repeater beater
Health - Die slow
Balmorhea - Attesa
Brand New - The boy who blocked his own shot
Bright Eyes - Tourist Trap
Grizzly Bear - Knife
Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second
Why? - The Vowels pt. 2
The Velvet Teen - Building a whale

...And The Battle Begun 08/31

Hey hey everybody out there. This is my the first And The Battle Begun for the semester. So I will be on Mondays at 2PM-4PM. Today I'm on a bit longer because Capitol Report won't be playing afterward. Here is the playlist for the show:

Artist - Title

Rx Bandits - ...And the Battle Begun
The Get Up Kids - Holiday
Mew - Introducing Palace Players
Jimmy Eat World - Lucky Denver Mint
Circa Survive - Stop the Car
Weezer - El Scorcho
The Mars Volta - Teflon
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Piebald - King of the Road
Pavement - Gold Soundz
Coheed and Cambria - Time Consumer
Saves the Day - At Your Funeral
Dillinger Four - Noble Stabbings
Animal Collective - My Girls
Pixies - Trompe le Monde
Coheed and Cambria - The Velourium Camper III: Al the Killer
The Ergs! - Introducing Morrissey
Between the Buried and Me - Informal Gluttony
Mastodon - The Czar
Built to Spill - Car
Explosions in the Sky - First Breath After Coma
Aha - Take on Me
Sunny Day Real Estate - Song About An Angel
The Dismemberment Plan - A Life of Possibilities
Silversun Pickups - Common Reactor
Jawbreaker - Bivouac
None More Black - Oh, There's Legwork
Moving Mountains - Foreward
The Fall Of Troy - The Hol[ ]ly Tape
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Another Morning Stoner
The Appleseed Cast - Hanging Marionette
Saosin - It's Far Better to Learn
The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Heraldic Beak of Manufacturer's Medallion

Ambient Signal - 8/25/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Come back summer..you just started feeling like summer! 80 and sunny today

Menomena - Cough, Coughing
The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
Battles - Tras
Desaparecidos - Greater Omaha
Cursive - A Gentleman Caller
Sunset Rubdown - The taming of the hands that came back to life
Explosions in the sky - First breath after coma
Ramona Falls - I say Fever (see my Ramona Falls music video below!)
Antlers - Wake
Fanfarlo - I'm a pilot
Nurses - Caterpillar playground
Choir of Young Beleivers - These rituals of mine
Bronzed Chorus - Hiding in the woods
Reigning Sound - If I can't come back
Anna Ternheim - Damaged ones
Inner Banks - Lemon Tree
Darlings - TV
Still life still - Neon Blue
Dodos - Fables
Royalchord - Mighty minor
Land of Talk - Death by fire
Sigur Ros - Inni mer syngur vitleysingur
Dosh - Everybody Cheer up song
Maria Taylor - A Good start
Mirah - While we have the sun
Ambulette - Save it
Emily haines and the soft skeleton - Doctor Blind
Amy Millan - Skinny boy

Ramona Falls - Music video - Clover fan video

Hey all,

I am premiering my fan music video for Ramona Falls' song: Clover. Unfortunately the sideways-ness prevented it from becoming much more than a fan video. Oh well, hope you enjoy! Other versions are available on my vimeo page, including the ever so exciting "turn your head or monitor sideways" version and the "easy to watch, but super small" version. And definitely check out Ramona Falls debut "Intuit" available now from barsuk!

Ramona Falls - Clover (9:16 edition) from blair neal on Vimeo.

WG Hours - Monday August 24th

Ray Charles
Album: Love and Peace
Songs: You 20th Century Fox
Take off that dress
She Knows
Riding Thumb
We had it all
No Achievement Showing
A peace that we never before could enjoy
Is There anyone out there
Give the Poor man a break

Curtis Mayfield
Album: Never Say You Can't Survive (Side 1)
Songs: Show Me Love
Just Want to be with you
When We're Alone
Never Say you can't survive

Sly and the Family Stone
Album: Small Talk (side 1)
Songs: Small Talk
Say You will
Time for Livin'
Can't Strain my brain

Curtis Mayfield
Album: Never Say You Can't Survive (Side 2)
Songs: I'm gonna win your love
All night Long
When you used to be Mine
Sparkle

Sly and the Family Stone
Album: Small Talk (side 2)
Songs: Loose Booty
Holdin' On
Wishful Thinkin'
Better thee than me
Livin' while I'm livin'
This is Love

the Allman Brothers Band
Album: Idlewild South
Songs: Revival
Don't Keep me Wonderin'
Midnight Rider
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
Hoochie Coochie Man
Please Call Home
Leave My Blues at Home

Bob Marley and the Wailers
Album: Natty Dread
Songs:
Lively Up Yourself
No Woman, No Cry
Them Belly Full (But we hungry)
Rebel Music
So Jah Seh
Natty Dread
Bend Down Low

The Derek Trucks Band - Sweet Inspiration
the Avett Brothers - You Swept me away

Ambient Signal - 8/18/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Radiohead - These are my twisted words
Bright Eyes - Neely O' hara (live)
Brand New - At the bottom
Nico Muhly - A Hudson Cycle
Rachel's - Systems/Layers
Amiina - Asinn
Cut Copy - Out there on the ice
Sigur Ros - Gobbledigook
Ramona Falls - Melectric *Read my review of this album! a few posts below!*
The Antlers - Sylvia
Fanfarlo - The walls are coming down
Health - Nice girls
Bronzed Chorus - Underpass sunrise
Reigning Sound - Call me
Nurses - Apples Acres
Choir of young believers - Hollow Talk
Anna Ternheim - What have I done
Postmarks - My lucky charm
Blitzen Trapper - Black river killer
Nocturnes - Trojan
The Notwist - One with the freaks
13 & God - Soft atlas
Volcano Choir - Island, IS
Margot and the Nuclear so and so's - As tall as cliffs
The Airwaves - Keys
Octopus Project - The Adjustor

Monday Morning

Kokolo - Trouble Come, Trouble Go
Novalima - Tumbala (De La Remix)
Vieux Farka Toure - Ana (Captain Planet)

Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet - Peux Pas me refuser
Hugh Masekela - Don't go lose it baby
Spoon - well it's alright
Apples in Stereo - Energy
Elbow - Snooks (Progress Report)
Vieux Farka Toure - Dounia (Cheb i Sabbah's Africa Unite Remix)
Albert Hammond Jr. - Gfc
Lykke Li - I'm good I'm gone
Beck - Lost Cause

Owl City - Fireflies
the National - So far around the bend
Bobby Bare Jr. - I'll be around
the Avett brothers - the weight of lies
Portugal the Man - Work all day
Kokolo - Heaven

somewhere around here I played Camera Obscura - the sweetest thing

the Avett Brothers - Shame
Bobbt Bare Jr. - the Heart Bionic
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career

Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet - Gitane Cajun I
Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet - La femme qui Jouait aux cartes
Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet - La fleche d'armour

Beres Hammond - House is not a home
Derrick Lara - Don't know who to trust
Portugal the Man - People Say

Ambient Signal ~ 8/11/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Summer is ending too quickly..it was about 83 and sunny today..hott

Annuals - Confessor
The New Year - Seven days and seven nights (Request)
The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Falcon - Birds and mice
Faunts - Feel. Love. Thinking. Of.
Stars - Sleep Tonight
DNTEL - Roll On
Morning Recordings - We loved the city years
Neko Case - Star Witness
Never - Searching and chasing
The Antlers - Shiva
Nurses - Man at arms
Wye oak - Talking about money
Royal chord - Midnight lines
Cymbals eat guitars - What dogs see
Mount eerie - The hidden stone
Reigning sound - Brake it
Timber timbre - Demon host
Postmarks - No one said this would be easy
Black Mold - Toxic lake
These united states - I want you to keep everything
Generationals - Nobody could change
Nico Muhly - Clear Music
My brightest diamond - To pluto's moon (son lux remix)
M83 - Don't save us from the flames
Amiina - Tvisturinn
Balmorhea - Rememberence

Show with Kim

Today my friend Kim was on the show and played some songs

The Rooftop Singers - Walk right in
Parliament Funkadelic - Tear the Roof off the Sucker
South - Paint the Silence
Madeleine Peyroux - You're Gonna be lonesome when you go

Burnin Spear - Mek we dweet
Stevie Wonder - Skeletons
Xaiver Naidoo - Bevor du Gehst
Adele - Cold Shoulder

North Mississippi Allstars - Eyes
Tracy Chapman - Mountains O'Things
Johnnie Taylor - Disco Lady
Sondre Lechre - Sleep on Needles

Elbow - Forget Myself
Mae - Cover Me
Otis Redding - Satisfaction
Peter Starsedt - Where do you go to (My Lovely)
Blackalicious - Egosonic War Drums
Ivete Sangalo - Nao Precisa Mudar

Doves - Pounding
School of Language - Disappointment '99
John Butler Trio - Daniella

Portugal the Man - People Say
My morning jacket - Christmas Curtain
Rooney - When did your heart go missing
the Beatles - I will
Iron and Wine - Belated Promise Ring

Modest Mouse: New Video + EP Release

New Video directed by Heath Ledger.

Check out http://www.wearethemasses.com/ for more information on the video.
20263

Ambient Signal - 8/4/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Sunny and hottt.. 83

The Velvet Teen - No one gets the best of me
Hot Gurl party - Orchestral Finale
Animal Collective - For reverend green
Denali - Surface
The Swords project - City life
Enigmatic String Quartet - There There (radiohead cover)
Explosions in the sky - Greet Death
Nurses - Technicolor
Royalchord - The good times
Postmarks - Gone
Most serene republic - Don't hold back, feel a little longer
Cymbals eat guitars - Indiana
Black mold - Metal spider webs
YACHT - Ring the bell
Patrick Wolf - Hard times
Pissed jeans - False jessi pt. 2
Kasabian - Underdog
Wye oak - For prayer
The Octopus Project - Exploding Snowhorse
Port O'brien - I woke up today
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Anathallo - Cafetorium
The Books - An owl with knees
Sigur Ros - Staralfur
Balmorhea - Harm and Boon

Bobby Bare Jr. vs Daniel Johnston

Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks
The Shins - Red Rabbits
Spoon - the way we get by

The Pogues - Young Ned of the Hill
Bobby Bare Jr. - the Heart Bionic
Camera Obscura - Tears for Affairs
Daniel Johnston - Story of an artist

The Pogues - Love you 'til the end
Bobby Bare Jr. - Things I didn't say
Daniel Johnston - Don't Let the sun go down on your grievance
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Indiana
Bobby Bare jr. - your adorable beast
Albert Hammond Jr. - victory at monterey
Bobby Bare Jr. - Strange Bird
Ra Ra Riot - Can you tell
Bobby Bare Jr. - My Valentine
Nicole Atkins - Together we are both alone

Phantogram - Running from the cops
Animal Collective - Did you see the words
Daniel Johnston - The sun shines down on me
Burning Spear - Wickedness

Bobby Bare - Paul
Bobby Bare - Tequila Sheila
Jessica Lea Mayfield - For Today
Camera Obscura - the sweetest thing
the Pogues - the sunnyside of the street
The Shins - Kissing the Lipless
Bobby Bare Jr. - I'll be around
She & Him - Got Me
Bobby Bare Jr. - Visit me in music city

Daniel Johnston - True Love will find you in the end

July 27th show

Novalima - Concheperla
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet - Overture
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet - A fuller wine
Sars Flannery - Let the Love songs guide you

Santana - Oye Como Va
Novalima - Liberta
David E Sugar - Radioactivity
Santana - Jingo
Roy Budd- Love is a four letter word

Trevor Giuliani - Wasting your town
Trevor Giuliani - Settled Bounds
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Noel La Pierre - Havana

My brightest diamond - golden star
my morning jacket - evil urges
Noel LaPierre - Feels so good
Novalima - Se Me Van

Santana - Black Magic Woman
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - be easy
Jackie Wilson - (Your Love keeps lifting me) Higher and Higher
My morning Jacket - Off the record
Esperanza Spalding - Samba em Preludio
Nina Simone - In the Morning

Nina Simone - No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed
Jointpop - the irony of it all
My Brightest Diamond - We were sparkling
Nina Simone - Here Comes the Sun
My Morning Jacket - It beats for you
Beck - Gamma Ray
Spoon - I turn my camera on
Novalima - Coba Guarango

Sars Flannery - High School Fairy Tale

Review: Ramona Falls - intuit - due out August 18th on Barsuk

No one wants summer to be over, but it would almost be worth it to push the clock forward just a little faster just so everyone had a chance to hear Ramona Falls debut LP 'Intuit' a little sooner (Due out August 18th on Barsuk). Ramona Falls is the moniker used by Brent Knopf, one of the three frontmen (it's safe to say they're all frontmen) of Portland's very own Menomena. These guys seem to be overflowing with musical ideas, as this is the second solo project to split off of Menomena, while the band continues to put out new material at the same time. Ramona Falls is a slightly different beast than bandmate Danny Seim's project Lackthereof. Both have characteristics that come out in Menomena, but Ramona falls sounds more like if Menomena collaborated with Arcade Fire, or some other sort of orchestral pop group..but don't let my simplified description mislead you.

I got to see Ramona Falls as a solo guitar act last fall at CMJ and its astonishing how much Brent has been able to flesh out the songs on this album. When I heard about this project a month or two again, I was intrigued but not overly excited, recalling not being completely bowled over by his performance. No doubt some of the amazing guests he called on to help him realize his vision helped catapult this release into the running for my favorite album of the year. Barsuk's website says that 35 different friends appear on the album (including members from two of my favorite Portland acts: Talkdemonic and the Helio Sequence..I swear there must be something in the water over there).

The songs on Intuit inhabit icy landscapes, hilly valleys, and grandiose cathedrals, without ever feeling distant or losing their emotional intimacy. After being treated to a sneak preview listen of record (it hasn't leaked yet, thank god), the thing that sets it apart from Menomena's sometimes frenetic, almost claustrophobic arrangements is Ramona Falls' sense of atmosphere, or just gigantic space. For some, creating music space means adding reverb, but Ramona Falls creates space with its instrumental textures and elaborate compositions. It's space also does not mean that it feels sparse at all. Every song is delightfully full, especially the the beautiful chorus jaunt "Bellyfulla" containing "more happiness than a body can hold." Melancholy is no stranger on Intuit either. The particularly sorrowful album closer "Diamond Shovel" strips down to a single guitar and Brent's voice and its wonderfully subtle vibrato.

The hairpin turns one comes to expect from listening to Menomena albums are also present here. "Russia" and my personal favorite on the album (so far), "Clover" are great examples of songs that will do complete 180's several times over the course of a song. The drop of the mechanized drum beat and time signature switcharoo in "Russia" is a great example of an unexpected "Oh shit! No he didn't!" moment. Brent's surprisingly distinctive piano playing is also a big crossover for Menomena fans. I know i have mentioned Menomena a lot in this review, but rest assured, Ramona Falls is able to stand on its own as a truly unique and separate entity.

Once again, intuit drops August 18th from Barsuk, and I hope this review has been able to entice a few of you to check it out. The catchy opener "Melectric" and "Salt Sack" are available to listen to on Ramona Falls myspace..enjoy!

Ambient Signal - 7/21/09 - Rainy extended show

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Raining most of the day..64 degrees..when is summer coming..this is like a record for rainy tuesdays

The Antlers - Kettering (thanks Tim!)
Bright eyes - Padriac my prince
Annuals - The Tape
Death cab for cutie - Tiny Vessels
Son lux - War
Erik Satie - Trois Gymnopedies 2 (Orchestral)
Sigur Ros - Untitled 7
Grizzly Bear - While you wait for the others
YACHT - Psychic City (Voodoo city)
Most serene republic - four humours
Phantogram - Mouthful of diamonds
Magnolia electric co. - shiloh
Bowerbirds - Chimes
Tiny Vipers - Eyes like ours
Wilco - Wilco (song) ((...are you serious??)
Trevor Giuliani -Van Singing
Cymbals eat guitars - Cold Spring
Gregory pepper - we were dinosaurs
Portugal. The man - lovers in love
Clark - Rainbow voodoo
Megafaun - kaufman's ballad
Rock plaza central - handsome men
Summer cats - hey you
We were promised jetpacks - it's thunder and lighting
Tiny masters of today - Skeletons
Dirty projectors - stillness is the move
Foreign born - blood oranges
Bibio - Fire ants
Ohbijou - Black ice
Camera obscura - Let's get out of this country
Orenda fink - Miracle worker
Neva Dinova - It's worse when you're young
Menomena - The Pelican
13 & God - Men of station
Patients - Mind ur manners
A northern chorus - Rememberence day
The Album leaf - Fear of flying
Balmorhea - Settler

p.s. we just cracked 20,000 hits..i think I may have been the 20,000th, haha

Monday Morning Situation

Vieux Farka Toure - Ma HIne Cocore (Yossi Fine's 3rd Bass Remix)

Bob Marley and the Wailers - So Much Trouble in the world
Bob Marley and the wailers - Zimbabwe
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Top Rankin'
Bobby Melody - Jah Bring I Joy in the Morning

Desmond Dekker - Music Like Dirt
Desmond Dekker - Licking stick
Desmond Dekker - Unity

Althea and Donna - Uptown Top Rankin
Vieux Farka Toure - Wosoubour
the Derek Trucks Band - Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni
Soukous Stars - Tita

Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires - Tiney Winey
Krosfyah - Pump me up.
Burnin' Flames - Swingin Engine

Dennis Brown - Love has found its way
Antibalas - Gabe's New Joint
JC Lodge and Prince Mohammed - Someone loves you honey/One time daughter

Sunset Rubdown - Silver Moons
M. Ward - Radio Campaign
stevie wonder - If it's magic
Sly and the Family stone - I want to take you higher
the Decemberists - July, Juiy!
UB40 - Higher Ground
Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart
Vieux Farka Toure - Sangare

New Music Review: The Antlers - Hospice

Already hailed as the best album of 2009 so far by NPR, Hospice by The Antlers attempts to secure its place in the canon of epic indie rock albums (Funeral, The Moon & Antarctica, et al.). The lyrics, which read like a novel rather than poetry or a series of disjointed phrases, tell a story from the perspective of a man losing a lover (current or ex, it's unclear) to cancer at a hospital ward and detail the memories and feelings that ensue. Discussing his past relationship with his loved one, from abortion ("When we get home we're bigger strangers than we've ever been before/You sit in front of snowy television, suitcase on the floor," from "Bear") to rushing into a lifelong commitment ("Two silver rings on our fingers in a hurry," from "Two"), it's obvious that the narrator has been through a lot of turmoil with this dying woman even without taking her cancer into consideration. Indeed, Antlers songwriter Peter Silberman does a great job of getting the listener invested in the story; throughout the album, the listener feels the narrator's (and, in some cases, his loved one's) pain.

However, sometimes the music comes off as too epic for its own sake, most likely in an effort to match the grand scope of the story. While "Prologue" is, predictably, an instrumental introduction, following track "Kettering" also feels like an introduction, resulting in nearly seven minutes of studio trickery and guitar feedback that do little to heighten the anticipation before the album really takes off with "Sylvia." Other songs also have similar moments that just go on too long for no real reason; "Atrophy" and "Wake" have extended instrumental sections consisting of the aforementioned feedback and trickery that bloat the song lengths to nearly eight and nine minutes respectively. Thanks to these moments, the album largely comes off as too slow and meandering; the best moments are when the band picks up the pace a bit such as in "Bear" and "Two," which not so coincidentally are the songs that have been garnering The Antlers the most praise in the press. Clearly, The Antlers put a lot of thought and heart into Hospice, which is always great to see. However, getting rid of some of their overly bombastic tendencies could eventually elevate them from 'good' to 'great' status.

While independently released earlier this year, Hospice will be rereleased by Frenchkiss Records on August 18th. Stream some songs from the album here. The Antlers will be playing their closest area show on July 25th at Iron Horse in Northampton, MA, opening for Frightened Rabbit.

Ambient Signal - 7/14/09 - A Normal sized show..

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Just cloudy today..no rain before I got here..70 degrees..also just a paltry 2 hour show today

Stars of track and field - Centuries
The Notwist - Good lies
Alias - Death Watch
Ester Drang - I don't want to live (In a world of infinite keys)
Department of eagles - In Ear Park
Brooke Waggoner - Hush if you must
Squarepusher - Tetra-sync
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Most Serene Republic - The old forever new things
Bibio - Sugarette
Magnolia Electric Co. - Map of the falling sky
Bowerbirds - This day
Ohbijou - Cannon march
Trevor Giuliani - Wasting your town
Gregory pepper - must be true
Portugal. The man - People say
Falcao and monashee - Parasocial
Phantogram - Bloody Palms
Mirah - Generosity
Balmorhea - En Route
Riceboy Sleeps - All the big trees
The Album leaf - Over the pond
Benoit Piolard - Together and down
The Get up kids - Walking on a wire
Gregory Alan Isakov - The Stable Song

2nd Monday in July

Albert Collins - When a Guitar Plays the blues
Albert Collins - But I was cool
the Budos Band - Ride or Die
Stevie Wonder - Love's in Need of Love today

the Avett Brothers - Shame
Stevie Wonder - Knocks me off my feet
Jointpop - Monday Morning Love Situation
Esperanza Spalding - Ponta de Areia

Jackie Wilson - That's Why (I love you so)
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
Jackie Wilson - (You were made for) all my love

Junior Mervin - Cool out son
Cornell Campbell - Boxing Around
Marcia Aitken - I'm still in love with you
Nina Simone - to love somebody
Esperanza Spalding - I know you know

Stevie Wonder - Pastime Paradise
Stevie Wonder - Summer Soft
Stevie Wonder - Ordinary Pain

Andy Narell & Relator - Hold onto your man
Andy Narell & Relator - Peddlars
Andy Narell & Relator - Bottle and Spoon
Sly and the Family Stone - Everybody is a star
the Black Keys - I got mine

Sly and the Family Stone - M'Lady
Jackie Wilson - (Your Love keeps lifting me) higher
Toots and the Maytals - Freedom Train
Soukous Stars - Sinovela
Toots and the Maytals - Reggae Got Soul
Toots and the Maytals - I got dreams to remember

Desmond Dekker - Music Like Dirt

Ambient Signal - 7/7/09 - pre 20,000 hits!

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Another rainy/stormy day..59 degrees

Another extended show too.. 6-9pm..playing tons of new music again...this blog almost has 20,000 hits! Should be there by sometime next week I think..yeaaah

Azeda Booth - In Red
Explosions in the sky - So long lonesome
Beniot Pioulard - Triggering back
Japancakes - When you sleep
Faunts - Place i've found
Radical face - Sleepwalking
God is an astronaut - Fragile
Battles - SZ2
Grizzly Bear - Southern point
Sunset Rubdown - Paper lace
Dirty projectors - Useful chamber

7pm or so
Bibio - Lover's carvings
Phantogram - Bloody palms
Phenomenal handclap band - I been born again
The Mars Volta - Teflon
Starlight mints - Zoomba
Most serene republic - Catharsis boo
Gregory pepper - drop the plot

7:30
Falcao and monashee - Teleportation
Ohbijou - Wildfires
Bowerbirds - Beneath your tree
Deertick - easy
Rock plaza central - oh i can
Dirty mittens - the dock

8pm
Moby - mistake
Bjork - Wanderlust
God help the girl - Act of the apostle
Ceu - Monadi
St. Vincent - Actor out of work
Magic wands - black magic
Summer cats - lets go
Rubies - Too bright
Jon Brion - Little person
Clare and the reasons - Alphabet City
Land of talk - Some are lakes
Falcon - The Sandfighter
Margot and the nuclear so and so's - Skeleton key (I didn't actually play this last week)
The Velvet teen - Prize fighter
Department of eagles - No one does it like you

New music review: Discovery - LP

LP, the first album from Discovery, may initially seem like experimental electronica from members of Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend, but it soon becomes obvious that the songs on LP share an odd similarity to songs on your local hip-hop and top 40 radio stations. Seems weird at first, but it sort of makes sense; both bands are known for their poppy, melodic tendencies, and with Discovery these tendencies are fully embraced. Songs like "Orange Shirt" and "Osaka Loop Line" would not seem out of place at a club, with huge synth lines, exaggerated beats on each quarter note, and lyrics like "And me, I got a crush," which ranks up there with "Shawty, you a ten" and "Kiss me through the phone" on the cheese scale.

There are, of course, some great, stranger moments that keep the listener on their toes, notably the tempo changes of "So Insane," the fuzzed out cover of "I Want You Back", and various mentions of going to the disco and/or discotheque as opposed the club. However, there are some problems with the album as well. The front half is much stronger than the back, and guests Angel Deradoorian of Dirty Projectors and Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend are, for the most part, wasted (the former sings the line "I Want to Be Your Boyfriend," chopped up in various ways, over and over, and the latter's voice is so obscured it's nearly undifferentiable from main Discovery singer Wes Miles). Despite these shortcomings, the album is certainly interesting and, at times, ridiculously fun. Use it to jump start your next party or shock anti-top 40 radio proponents.

The album comes out July 7th courtesy of XL Recordings. You can currently stream it all on Discovery's website.

Why not come in an hour early

6.08am

Iron and Wine - Communion Cups & Someone's Coat
Iron and Wine - Belated Promise Ring
Iron and Wine - God Made the Automobile
Portland Cello Project - The Lamb
Portland Cello Project (feat. Thao) - Beat (Health, Life and Fire)
Portland Cello Project (feat. Justin Power) - Cut the Rope
Iron and Wine - Homeward, These Shoes

6.30am
Iron and Wine - Love Vigilantes
Iron and Wine - Sinning Hands
Mike Doughty - The Only Answer
Mike Doughty - The Pink Life
Mike Doughty - Real Love/It's Only Life
Andy Narell & Relator - Gavaskar
Andy Narell & Relator - Love in the Cemetary
Andy Narell & Relator - Food Prices

7.02am
Andy Narell & Relator - Pan in Harmony
Nicole Atkins - Brooklyn's on Fire

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Talkin' Blues
the Avett Brothers - November Blue
the Black Keys - Same Old thing
the Avett Brothers - Jenny and the Summer Day

7.31am

Portland Cello Project (Featuring Thao) - Violet
the Avett Brothers - Pretty Girl From Matthews
Amon Tobin - at the end of the day
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes

Phantogram - Mouthful of Diamonds
She and Him - Black Hole
Sly & the Family Stone - Everyday People
M. Ward - Big Boat

7.58am

Sly & the Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime
Andy Narell & Relator - Bottle and Spoon
Animal Collective - Bluish
Sly & the Family Stone - Sing a Simple song

Menahan Street Band - Montego Sunset
Sergio Mendes - Fanfarra (Despidida)
Stevie Wonder - Another Star
David E Sugar - Radioactivity

Sly & the Family Stone - Dance to the Music
M. Ward - Here Comes the Sun Again
M. Ward - Radio Campaign
Sergio Mendes - Magano
the Decemberists - July, July!

the Temptations - think for yourself

Future of the Left - Travels With Myself and Another

The aggressive, militant Future of the Left pull punch after punch on their second full-length, Travels With Myself and Another. The band creates songs that are simultaneously ruthless (let Future of the Left soundtrack your next Shark Week) and melodic. These two elements merge especially well in opener "Arming Eritrea" and first single "The Hope that House Built," the former with its unforgettable bridge and the latter with its slow, stomping rhythm section and surprisingly singalongable (© Tim Gilman 2009) lyrics. Other tracks, like "I Am Civil Service" and "Land Of My Formers," place Kelson Mathias' bass playing at the forefront, which reinforces the band's cutthroat nature and provides relief from contemporary indie rock's plethora of guitar-focused bands. Turn this one up really, really loud and enjoy.

Video: The Hope that House Built

Ambient Signal - 6/30/09 - Extended show again

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Rainy and 64 degrees

3 hours is a long time to fill..not one of my best rainy day playlists, but it'll do

Anathallo - Noni's field
Annuals - Wake
DNTEL - Last Songs
Bon Iver - Lump Sum
Midlake - It covers the hillsides (alt)
Feist - How my heart behaves
Sigur Ros - Svefn G Englar
Grizzly Bear - Ready Able
Phantogram - When I'm small
Dirty projectors - Temecula Sunrise
Starfucker - boy toy
Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart
Most serene republic - Bubble reputation
Moby - Pale horses
Phenomenal Handclap Band - Testimony
Bibio - S'vive
Beniot Pioulard - Idyll
Mars Volta - Since we've been wrong
Portland Cello project - Travel
Regina Spektor -Eet
Bowerbirds - Northern Lights
Tiny Vipers - Outside
Alexa Woodward - Mary
Those darlins - Red light love (didn't mean to play this again)
Deastro - River of life
Animal Collective - Summertime clothes
Cass McCombs - Dreams come true girl
Deer tick - Straight into a storm
Ohbijou - Make it gold
Styrofoam - Couches in alleys
M83 - Addicted to self mutlilation
Mum - Green grass of tunnel
Steve Reich - Section IX of Music for 18 musicians (Rare live performance as Mass Moca July 25th!! Visit massmoca.org for details)
Hammock - Winter Light
Denali - Hold your breath
Margot and the nuclear so and so's - Skeleton Key
Son Lux - Wither (Playing at mass moca on friday September 4th!!..Son lux made my #1 album of 2008)

Last show in June (Walter Goldberg Hours)

Manu Chao - La Vida Tombola
Andres Calamaro - Maradona
Juan Subira - Clasico dia

Sui Generis - Instituciones
Andres Calamaro - Alta Suciedad
Maldita Vecindad - Un Poco de Sangre

Miguel Cantilo - Marcha de la Bronca
Bersuit Vergarabat - La Argentinidad Al Palo

Extincion - 16 Malditas
Panteon Rococo - Tengo Miedo
Fabiana Cantilo - Cancion de Alicia en el Pais
Fito Paez - Habana

Boikot - Hasta siempre
Charly Garcia - Inconciente colectivo
Los Pericos - Sin Cadenas
Manu Chao - Desaparecido

Kapanga - Indultados
La Tona - Tanto que no sabes
Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota - Vencedores Vencidos
Seru Giran - Los Sobrevivientes

Leon Gieco - La Memoria
Gondwana - 11 de Septiembre
Karamelo Santo - La Picadura
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - El Matador

Planeta Panamericana - Los perseguidos
Bohemia Suburbana - Aqui te voy
Alux Nahual - Conquista
Leon Gieco - Cinco siglos igual

Fito Paez - Yo Vengo a ofrecer mi corazon
Fito Paez - Waltz for Marguie

Friday Morning

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Bone Thugs N Harmony - Crossroads

E.L.O. - Mr . Blue Sky
Michael Jackson - Hold Me
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes

Prince - Rasberry Beret
the Decemberists - the Soldiering Life

Prodigy - Breathe
TV on the Radio - Golden Age

R. Kelly - I believe I can fly
Sly & the family stone - if you want me to stay

Rancid - I wanna riot
Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine
Toots & the Maytals - Reggae Got soul
Nicole Atkins - Together we are both alone

Blur - Song 2
the Black Keys - When the lights go out
Sirsy - Revolution
Sirsy - Sorry Me

Ace of Base- All That She Wants
Rush- Limelight
the Avett Brothers - Murder in the City
the Avett Brothers - If it's the beaches
Aretha Franklin - Think
My Girl- The Taj Motel Trio

Reviewing Pitchfork: So Many Dynamos "The Loud Wars"

What am I reading? In this new series, I'll be analyzing music reviews from the highly influential website Pitchfork. The majority of Pitchfork reviews are at times slightly esoteric and ridiculous, but they're unfortunately taken as gospel by some due to Pitchfork's stature in the online music news realm, sometimes even elevating the profile of mediocre acts and lowering the profile of other bands that deserve exposure.

So what? The music review is a fickle thing. Often influential, reviews are written by a particular person with particular preferences during a particular moment while they are in a particular mood. Being in a good mood or being into a certain genre of music while writing a review may lead to a reviewer giving an album a higher rating than it deserves, or vice versa. The problem is that in this day and age, when many people tend judge albums by the numerical ratings reviewers give them, music reviews have a bit too much influence and can often be misleading.

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Let's start with Pitchfork's recent review of The Loud Wars by So Many Dynamos. Reviewer Paul Thompson, on his way to awarding the album a mediocre rating of 5.5, makes two points that really stick out.

1) Regarding the similarities of the album to music of the late 90s D.C. scene, Thompson writes: "So, yeah, if you'd walked into Melody Records circa summer 1999 and heard The Loud Wars, you wouldn't have batted an eye. And that's just it; The Loud Wars is formula, and it's not even really the Dynamos' formula to use, so when the songs fall a bit flat, it's hard to know whom to point the finger at."

"It's not even really the Dynamos' formula to use"? Whose formula is it, then? Has the late 90s D.C. sound been copywrited by the bands that were part of it? And since when is taking influence from other bands a crime? One can imply from the review that Paul Thompson used to have an affinity for bands like Q and Not U and The Dismemberment Plan, so he should be able to tell the difference between those two bands' breakthrough efforts and The Loud Wars; while they share some musical similarities, sonically they are of a different age.

Perhaps this is just Thompson's version of tough love. Earlier this year, Pitchfork writer Ian Cohen reviewed The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's s/t debut (an album by another band that at times wears its influences on its sleeve) and said, "The Pains of Being Pure at Heart simply made a slyly confident debut that mixes sparkling melodies with an undercurrent of sad bastard mopery, and you're just being a dick if you think the past has some kind of patent on that. That's just the way good pop music works." One would also assume that the past has no patent on mixing angular guitar work with a breakneck rhythm section, either.

2) Continuing, Thompson says about the album: "The Loud Wars runs on amicably enough...and you'd be hard up to finger a bad tune here, but it's all about the same: the same reference points, the same too-busy-by-half arrangements, the same emphasis on proficiency over depth, the same defensively bummed out lyrics, the same slightly sour melodies, the same sense that you're dancing through some kind of dread that's hard to place a finger on."

If it's hard to actually identify a bad track on the album, why the 5.5? Because it's "all about the same"? Okay, let's look at that for a second. "The same reference points"? If other bands can use "the same reference points" and not be penalized for it (again, see The Pains of Being Pure at Heart), then why can't So Many Dynamos? "Proficiency over depth"? A glance through The Loud Wars' CD booklet reveals the large amount of thought the band put into the album, especially musically (for example, some of the melodies in the album are melodies from older So Many Dynamos songs played backwards). "Too busy"? Songs like "Friendarmy" and "The Formula" have some rather spacious bridges and "New Bones" slowly builds for over four minutes before getting busy. "Defensively bummed out lyrics"? While some of the album's lyrics may fit this description, it's not true in all cases (for example, "Artifacts of Sound" features discussion of the current state of music without any self-deprecation attached). Thompson just seems too willing to dismiss this album as a "throwback" despite his admission that none of the songs are bad.

In sum, Thompson should not have penalized So Many Dynamos so much for taking cues from their musical influences. Admitting that it's hard to pick out a bad song on the album should make it clear to the reader that the album is, at the least, a solid, consistent effort from a band that happens to take some influence from music of the past. Really, the 5.5 rating seems to stem mainly from Thompson being "over" this late 90s D.C. scene that The Loud Wars reminds him of, and little else.

Ambient Signal - 6/23/09 - Extended show!

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

Extra Special Extended show this week! 6:30 to 10pm..so much new music! Some of it was even good! I hope you enjoyed, and I might have an extended show next week too!

Purple is new music

Bright Eyes - Devil in the details
Annuals - Springtime
The Velvet Teen - The Raining Curtains
Mum - Prophecies and reversed memories
Denali - Everbody Knows
Forget Cassettes - Instruments of action
School of seven bells - My Cabal
Stars - Your ex lover is dead
Sigur Ros - Milano
Grizzly Bear - All we ask
Dirty projectors - Two Doves
Ethan Rose and laura Gibson - Sun (Of PDX Pop now! 2009)
Portland Cello Project - Beat (Health, life, fire)
Alexa Woodward - Spoon
Low Anthem - To Ohio (Reprise)
Deertick - Houston, TX
Ohbijou - Black ice
Regina Spektor - Laughing with
Deradoorian - High Road
Sunset Rubdown - Dragon's lair
Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
Phantogram - Mouthful of diamonds
Foreign Born - Vacationing People
Tiny Vipers - Dreamers
Those Darlings - Red light love
Love is chemicals - Let me come down
St. Vincent - Laughing with a mouthful of blood
Phenomenal handclap band - All of the above
Phoenix - Armistice
Busdriver - Scoliosis Jones
Deastro - Kurgan Wave Number One
Mint Chicks - Hot on your heels
Tiny Masters of today - Skeletons
Viva Voce - The Slow fade
So many dynamos - Glaciers
The Field - Everybody's gotta learn sometime
Bon Iver - For Emma
Menomena - Let's all unite
Neva Dinova - Dances fantastic
Daylight's for the birds - For Now
Montag - Grand luxe
Orenda Fink - Leave it all
Son lux - Raise

Starting with the Portland Cello Project

Portland Cello Project - Por Una Cabeza
Portland Cello Project - Violet
Elvis Costello - The Crooked Line

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Concrete Jungle
Geraldo Pino and the Heart Breaks - Shake Hands
Mighty Shadow - Ah Come out to party
The Derek Trucks Band - I wish I knew (How it would feel to be free)

Desmond Dekker - Music Like Dirt
Desmond Dekker - Licking Stick
UB40 - Red Red Wine

Shandileer - Luv Up
Taxi - Frenchman
Sergio Mendes - Sambadouro
Sergio Mendes - Senhoras do Amazonas
Tom Jobim & Elis Regina - Aguas de Marco

the Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel
the Decemberists - the Sporting Life
Geraldo Pino & the Heart Breaks - Let's Have a Party
Rootsman - Miami Vibes
Antibalas - Gabe's New Joint
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Ambush in the Night

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Who the Cap Fit
the Black Keys - Strange Times
Kitchener - Gimme the Thing
the Derek Trucks Band - I'd Rather be blind, crippled and crazy

Kitchener - Sugar Bum Bum
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Stir it up

Kitchener - Pan in A minor

Happy Friday

Mike Clark - In the House
S.M.V. - Milano
Iron and Wine - God Made the Automobile
Portland Cello Project - Mouth for War

Punta Legacy - Garifuna Kids
Sergio Mendes - Magalenha
Wairenziante - Bela Fleck and the Muwewesu Xylophone group
Menahan Street Band - Home Again

Socadito - Los Gatos Bravos
S.M.V. - Lil' Victa

Dirty Projectors - Temecula Sunrise
St. Vincent - Actor out of work
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes

El paso de la tortuga - La Banda Blanca
Bob Marley + the Wailers - Positive Vibration (Rastaman Vibration)
Bob Marley + the Wailers - Wake Up and live
Bob Marley + the Wailers - Roots Rock Reggae
Bob Marley + the Wailers - Top Rankin

Cancion del Marathon - Banda del Marathon
El encarguito - Guillermo Anderson

S.M.V. - Pendulums
Remolino - Huracan Mitch

Polache - Hablo Espanol
Polache - La Potra

Toots and the Maytals - Pressure Drop
Los Rolands - La Yuca

Sopa de Caracol - Banda Blanca

Rock For Sustainable Capitalism - 6/17/2009

Wooo summer radio!

Propagandhi - Rock For Sustainable Capitalism
Paint It Black - Atticus Finch
North Lincoln - Remember
Screaming Females - Skull
LaGrecia - Two Shotguns
Dillinger Four - I Was Born On a Pirate Ship (Holdyourtongue)
Ramones - Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
American Steel - Time Gone By
Bouncing Souls - Party at 174
The Clash - Rock the Casbah
Lifetime - Young, Loud, and Scotty
Dear Landlord - Lake Ontario
Bad Brains - I Against I
Small Brown Bike - See You In Hell
Witch Hunt - Twenty-Five
Acid Reflux - Paid To Ruin Fun
Only Crime - There's A Moment
Fucked Up - Triumph of Life
The Lawrence Arms - Are You There Yet Margaret? It's Me God.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Bomb. Repeat. Bomb
The Virgins - Burn
Propagandhi - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes
Ensign - Slow Burn
Jawbreaker - Sea Foam Green
The Fire Still Burns - Disingenous
The Gay Blades - Bob Dylan's 115th Nightmare
The Gaslight Anthem - Miles Davis & The Cool (Live At Park Ave.)
Scream Hello - This Long Night
The Ergs - Books About Miles Davis
The Measure [SA] - Unreleased
The Riot Before - Words Written Over Coffee
Smoke or Fire - Life Imitating Art
The World/Inferno Friendship Society - Brother of the Mayor of Bridgewater

Ambient Signal - 6/16/09

WRPI 91.5fm!
http://www.wrpi.org/ for webcast
Tuesdays 6-8pm

I was away on vacation last week..so much rain lately..booo..although it usually fits my show well. Today it's 72 and cloudy but supposed to rain the rest of the week.

Colour Revolt - Matresses Underwater
Menomena - My My
Bright Eyes - Four Winds
School of seven bells - Half Asleep
Grizzly Bear - A Good Place
Sigur Ros - Saeglopur
Efterklang - Antitech
Grizzly Bear - While you wait for the others
St. Vincent - Actor out of work
Dirty projectors - Remade Horizons
Portland Cello Project - Tallymarks
Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
Deertick - Easy
Sunset Rubdown - Apollo and the buffalo and Anna, Anna, Anna oh!
Viva Voce - Die a little
Deastro - Vermillion plaza
So many dynamos - Artifacts of sound
Hecuba - Suffering
Busdriver - Split Seconds
Phoenix - Fences
Mum - We have a map of the piano
Brooke Waggoner - Fresh pair of eyes (eye of eyes remix)
The Album leaf - Thule
Bon iver - The Wolves (act 1 and 2)
Feist - My Moon my man
Anathallo - The River

Walter Goldberg Hours - June 15th

Diana Krall - I've got you under my skin
the Avett Brothers - the Day that Marvin Gaye Died
Albert Hammond - the Sweetest thing
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Rastaman Live up

The National - Abel
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes
Iron and Wine - Dearest Forsaken

Dennis Brown - Ghetto Girl
Bobby Melody - Jah Bring I Joy in the Morning
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Lively Up yourself

the Avett Brothers - SSS
Blitzen Trapper - Sleepy time in the western world
Cat Power - Speak for me
Beck - Lost Cause
Cat Power - He War

the Neville Brothers - Love the One you with/you can't always get what you want
the Neville Brothers - Let My People Go/Get up Stand Up
Kokolo - London Wire

the Avett Brothers - the Ballad of Love and Hate
Camera Obscura - Come back Margaret
Phoenix - Lisztomania
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
the Derek Trucks Band - Already Free

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Passion Pit - Eyes as Candles
Sergio Mendes - What is this?
Spoon - well-alright
Nina Simone - To love somebody

Animal Collective - My Girls
Yeasayer - Tightrope
Marcia Aitken - I'm still in love with you
Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the move
Passion Pit - Let your love grow tall
Soukous Stars - Safi
the Derek Trucks Band - Sweet Inspiration

Esperanza Spalding - Ponta De Areia