So, there is a lot of buzz, about a lot bands, like all of the time.
Understandably, it gets really hard to tell when the buzz is reasonable and warranted. I’m not claiming to be able to see through that, but I listen to a lot of music and I do occasionally have Eureka moments. My most recent: Kurt Vile is great.
If you like lo-fi folk or down tempo rock, I’m going to skip all gushing and the praise and the comparisons, and say that there is a very strong chance you’re gunna like this guy. Just check out this song…
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There’s tons of stuff out there to read about this dude. He’s great. He’s from Philly (thus the Wawa Tea bottle). He just got signed to Matador Records, but he used to mess with the presently exploding Woodsist Records. He is/was in War On Drugs. He released an album with a band called The Violators (get it?). He played an awesome show in Boston on the 18th!
I just wanted to mention that I have a new EP coming out called tiny mtns. I’ll be touring in Aug. in support of it, so if you’re on the East Coast be sure to check to see if I’ll be in your town. It would be awesome to see you at a show. Here’s a song off it called Thicket Holds a Ram. I hope you like it. If you do, you can pre-order the EP here
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Mars Volta fans rejoice! TMV has just announced that their new full-length, Octahedron, will drop on June 23. That’s just over two months away. Exciting stuff!
This news would be exciting enough on its own, but I’m still super-style-excited to get my hands on a copy of El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s limited vinyl release of Cryptomnesia on Saturday. The new group has almost the same lineup as TMV, and based on the officially-released trailers, it’s going to sound similar as well. The vinyl release is limited to 3,000 copies and will only be available at brick and mortar record stores for record store day. Here’s a sneak peak of Cryptomnesia:
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Akron/Family is a really great act that has been kicking around for quite a while. Originally signed to Michael Gira (of Swans/Angels of Light) ’s Young God Records, the band got great reviews for their first two records, played backup to Michael as his Angels of Light, and generally made a great name for themselves in the dawn of the whole “freak-folk” movement.
Here we are a few years on from their initial success, and the boys have recently signed to the newly founded (2007) Dead Oceans (sister label to personal favorites Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian). Not only that, but they are also preparing the release of their new album, Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free.
I loved their last album, Love is Simple, and I really love this new track they’ve released. If the record is anywhere near as good as this and their past work implies, don’t be left outside in the dark.
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Elijah took a break from recording to play a killer set at a Grinding Tapes house party on Friday night. Thanks to everyone who came out to see him!
He currently has three songs fully completed, and is working on the last two tracks for the EP. He’s hoping to finish up recording by tomorrow! Yesterday, he collaborated with local multi-instrumentalist, Samantha Hale on a new track.
The Points North have finished up recording their new album, Saw Across the Sound at Liberation Studios in Worcester, MA and are mixing it this weekend. Check out these pictures from their sessions!
Here’s a peek at a new Elijah Wyman song in progress! In this video–which was recorded last night at the Grinding Tapes house–Elijah is mixing in a new track of flute and glockenspiel.
Here are a couple pictures from tonight’s recording session at the Grinding Tapes house. Elijah collaborated with local indie connoisseur, Sarah Kirkland and banjo extraordinaire, Jake Woodruff to lay down some tracks for a brand new song.
Posted March 24, 2009 by Elijah Wyman at 1:26 pm ·
Filed under Music News (general)
Since Grinding Tapes was created Jason Rozen (the founder) has been trying to get me (Elijah Wyman) involved in writing for various, short lived blogs that he started. With good intentions I’ve always said, “Sure thing” and never blogged for any of the GTRC sites that popped up and died…until this one! Our friend and general coolkid Laco has been writing for this which has been a great motivator for me. I have high hopes that this will be the GTRC blog that sticks. GTRC blog history aside, I’m really excited about this. I’ll try and update at least once a week.
If you follow me on Twitter you may know that I’m in Massachusetts to record. I drove the 16 hours from Asheville straight and got in last night. I loaded every instrument I own into the car. Tonight I’m meeting up with Jason to start work on a new EP that I’ll release in July/August. We’ve already booked a release show for it at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA For July 30th.
All I own.
So right now I’m sitting in Atomic Cafe. I ate a delicious bagel with egg, and cheese, and lots of Tapatio. (I brought that myself because I’m a geek.)
My buddies Dan & Sarah making the best lattes in New England.
Anyway, I’m really excited about recording. I’m inviting some good friends over to play instruments and give their opinion on what things should sound like. So far one friend told me to sound just like Silver Mt. Zion and another told me to make songs like the electronic stuff that Beruit did…I’ve never heard it, but I think I’m already opposed.
My goal for this recording is to create a fevered environment. Let me explain. It’s a head feel I get when the room has been taken over by an atmosphere. Most recently I felt this atmosphere when I saw Mountain Goats at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.
Hail Satan!
John (I don’t want to look up how to spell his last name, so let’s just agree to call him John) reached a frenzied squaller at points in his set that whipped the audience into frothing passion! It was beautiful during the song, The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton, people where out of their seats screaming, “Hail Satan!” with the song. It was powerful.
Anyway, the feeling. It’s the feeling of loosing your insides. The heat of a tube amp in your head. I imagine it’s similar to the state athletes reach where they can turn their brains off and just do what they do by muscle memory. I feel like I’m constantly chasing that feeling of creation without thought or pretense. The idea is that in doing so the most individual, the most personal, and the most universal art I can make will come out naturally.
When that heat starts in my head at a show I’m playing I know it will be a rewarding performance for me which I believe is also rewarding for the audience. That fever creates an atmosphere in the room that is palpable. You can feel it in your forehead, in your nose, heavy on your chest. Music does this easier than any other medium I believe. The chill in your hair that you feel before getting the flu, dizzy from sounds.
Something I hear all the time is people talking about bands who are, “In it for the music.” I feel weird about this term because I’ve never been into music “For the music.” I’ve always been into music for the release, for the fever. I’ve always thought of music as the medium that I happened to choose to release through. It’s not that I love music…I mean I do, but I crave that release.
I’m excited to live in Jason’s empty house and do nothing but try and tap into that feeling and capture it on 4 track recorders.
Shhh… We have a secret for you. Elijah Wyman will be staying at the Grinding Tapes house next week to record his forthcoming album! Stay tuned for pictures and video!
