Archive for February, 2010

It’s been awhile since we’ve posted a new Listen@MBV feature– we were actually averaging 2-3 per month for much of last year, but it’s now been 3 months since our last installment. But we’re back on, and I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than the new release from Field Music, just out today on Memphis Industries. Yes, it’s a double-album– but we’ve had to wait so many years for new Field Music material, getting 20 tracks of FM’s exquisite Sunderlandian pop hardly seems like overkill. So have a listen– and be sure to pick up Measure in your format of choice.

- Ryan Catbird

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February 16th, 2010 10:39am

LHB’s Shorties (Stars, The Mountain Goats, and More)

The Montreal Gazette profiles Stars.

Twice nominated for Junos (for Heart in 2004 and Set Yourself On Fire in 2005) and a Polaris Music Prize (In Our Bedroom After the War, 2008), Stars mark the point at which "indie pop" becomes less a descriptive than relative or even kneejerk term. Founded in 1998 by Torquil Campbell and Chris Seligman, their sound has fused orchestration, sophistication and, yes, ambition since 2004 album Set Yourself On Fire and single Ageless Beauty established them on the Canadian scene.

The Sasquatch! Music Festival has announced its 2010 lineup.

onethirtybpm lists the top 100 albums of the 2000s.

F**k Yeah The Mountain Goats is a fan blog dedicated to John Darnielle's band.

One of my favorite online music blog projects, the Music Alliance Pact (which has bloggers in 35 nations highlight a new song from their country) has posted its February 2010 edition.

NPR's All Things Considered profiles the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

Better Than The Van is giving away a tour van filled with music equipment at SXSW.

- David Gutowski

Large Hearted Boy

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February 16th, 2010 10:33am

IN THIS BOX OR ANOTHER

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Orchestre Afizam - “Kenga” A walking man came across a small box. Inside the box was a bird. It circled him, cheering, and flew away. The man continued walking. He came to another box. Inside this box was a cricket. It cricked, hopped, and disappeared into the grass. The man walked on. He found another box. Inside this box was a beautiful song. The man heard the song and said to himself: One day I will play this song on my electric guitar, in a solo, softly. The song disappeared into the sky.

Five years later, the man's lover gave him a box. He opened it. A bird flew out, cheering, and flew away. A cricked hopped out, cricking, and disappeared into the grass. The man waited. "Is there no song?" he asked the woman. "Songs are for lonelies," she said. One year later, she broke his heart. [this is a song from the Democratic Republic of Congo. it comes to me, and i am grateful, via the blog Goldkicks, which is regularly and unexpectedly exceptional.]

Continue reading at Said The Gramophone...

- Sean Michaels

Said The Gramophone

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