As promised below and in the annoying talking part of WalCast 5: The Search for Spock (what do you mean, you don't know what I'm talking about? Go read it and listen to it! Geez...), here is the fabled 2-fer in honor of Tuesday, Feb. 2. Enough talk, let's get to it. But leave a comment like your life depended on it. It might. (wink, wink). As always, player below for streaming, link way below for downloading.
Plan B - Mutemath - Picking up the remnants of the defunct band Earthsuit, the N'orleans boys from their first EP, Reset.
Noticed - Mutemath - This one is from their first, self-titled full-length album.
Don't You Evah - Spoon - The indie band's indie band, from down in Austin, TX. Consistently good and original stuff. From Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Yeah, I know.
The Underdog - Spoon - Possibly my favorite song from Spoon, off the same album listed above. I just couldn't type it twice.
Good Advices - REM - The original college rockers from Athens (well, other than the B52's. and maybe others) from Fables of the Reconstruction. You might call it Reconstruction of the Fables. I don't.
Little America - REM - Going back even one album further to Reckoning, this song was always one of my favorites to cover live.
IT=LOVE - Spouse - Northeastern US band from their 2007 release Relocation Tactics.
Tonight - Spouse - Closer to the same album. That's closer as in "clozer", not being close to something. That wouldn't make any sense.
Man Down - The New Frontiers - Love this album (like you didn't know that already). From the only album from the no-longer together TX band, Mending.
The Day You Fell Apart - The New Frontiers - Another phenomenal song from Mending.
Gazelle City - The Pillows - Come on sunshine, pick me up. If you've never heard of this Japanese pop-rock group, here's your opportunity to remedy that situation. Cuz you're missing out. This is from My Foot.
Sad, Sad Kiddie - The Pillows - From Runner's High.
It's a Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads - Title track from an album everyone should have. Such great stuff.
6ix - The Lemonheads - This one comes from the album Car, Button, Cloth, and is a tribute to Gwynneth Paltrow in the movie Seven.
Subterranean Homesick Alien - Radiohead - One of the best songs from one of the greatest albums ever, OK Computer.
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead - Awesome song from my personal favorite Radiohead album, The Bends.
Get it while it's hot here.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Walcast 5: The Search for Spock
Bringing you the best in music and the worst in banter since late 2009, The Walcast is back. After a 2 week leave of absence, I'm bustin' out with a two-fer this week, in honor of Feb. 2nd being on a Tuesday this year (that's a 2-fer-2/2-tuesday. for those playing at home). That's right, TWO Walcasts this week. Twice the music for the same low price. And if you act now (or even if you just sit there), the second 'cast will be a 2-fer within a 2-fer! That's right, half the bands for twice the price! We are all about bargains here at the Walcast, cuz I'm cheap. Of course, because it's the second one, it's actually above this one on the page, which means you've already seen it and spoiled my surprise. Thanks a lot. So grab a snack and allot some time on your i-schedule, and prepare for the best the interwebs have to offer in free podcasts that are run by me and called The WalCast (got to be at least the second-best anyway). Just press the arrow-looking button on the virtual player below to begin the sweet, sweet music (or download via hyperlink at the bottom). And please, leave me a comment. Please?
Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls - Siberian - Opening track from the Seattle-area bands one and only release With Me. This was my pick for album of the year in 2007.
A Whole Lot Better - Brendan Benson - Popster supreme from his 2009 album My Old Familiar Friend.
I've Done Everything For You - Rick Springfield - Yes, you read that right. C'mon, this was/is a great song!
Should to Shoulder - DeVries - First solo attempt from Travis DeVries of The Turn Ons, who are Peter Buck's favorite Seattle Band and who Spin Magazine named one of the best 100 bands you've (probably) never heard last Sept. I still have not heard them.
A Problem Like Maria - Kitchens and Bathrooms - By popular request, a tune from my old band. From our first album These Modern Nights. I didn't play on this tune, it was my predecessor, the fabulous Sean Lee, but it is one of the most ready-for-the-masses tunes we recorded.
Flavor of the Month - The Posies - Early-mid-nineties power-pop from the great Pacific Northwest.
We Want It We Want It - Boat - A random song I threw in this week because I can.
Chicago x 12 - Rogue Wave - Great song by the same band that gave you so much background music on episodes of The O.C. I never watched it. I swear. I just know these things. From Asleep at Heaven's Gate.
We Share the Same Skies - The Cribs - Good song from the latest album of this British band that now claims Johnny Marr as a member.
Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths - Marr's original band with a song from one of their best albums (there weren't any bad ones) The Queen is Dead.
Dashboard - Modest Mouse - Marr also did a stint with this Seattle-based indie group. This is from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.
Roll Up Your Sleeves - We Were Promised Jetpacks - One of my favorite new band names. From the Scottish bands debut.
In Between Days - The Cure - Classic from 1985's The Head on the Door.
Sway Your Head - We Shot the Moon - Very nice song from The Cougar and the Polar Bear EP.
Roll With It - Oasis - Rock with swagger from one of their best albums, What's the Story, Morning Glory.
Download available here. Just click the highlighted word "here" in the last sentence.
Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls - Siberian - Opening track from the Seattle-area bands one and only release With Me. This was my pick for album of the year in 2007.
A Whole Lot Better - Brendan Benson - Popster supreme from his 2009 album My Old Familiar Friend.
I've Done Everything For You - Rick Springfield - Yes, you read that right. C'mon, this was/is a great song!
Should to Shoulder - DeVries - First solo attempt from Travis DeVries of The Turn Ons, who are Peter Buck's favorite Seattle Band and who Spin Magazine named one of the best 100 bands you've (probably) never heard last Sept. I still have not heard them.
A Problem Like Maria - Kitchens and Bathrooms - By popular request, a tune from my old band. From our first album These Modern Nights. I didn't play on this tune, it was my predecessor, the fabulous Sean Lee, but it is one of the most ready-for-the-masses tunes we recorded.
Flavor of the Month - The Posies - Early-mid-nineties power-pop from the great Pacific Northwest.
We Want It We Want It - Boat - A random song I threw in this week because I can.
Chicago x 12 - Rogue Wave - Great song by the same band that gave you so much background music on episodes of The O.C. I never watched it. I swear. I just know these things. From Asleep at Heaven's Gate.
We Share the Same Skies - The Cribs - Good song from the latest album of this British band that now claims Johnny Marr as a member.
Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths - Marr's original band with a song from one of their best albums (there weren't any bad ones) The Queen is Dead.
Dashboard - Modest Mouse - Marr also did a stint with this Seattle-based indie group. This is from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.
Roll Up Your Sleeves - We Were Promised Jetpacks - One of my favorite new band names. From the Scottish bands debut.
In Between Days - The Cure - Classic from 1985's The Head on the Door.
Sway Your Head - We Shot the Moon - Very nice song from The Cougar and the Polar Bear EP.
Roll With It - Oasis - Rock with swagger from one of their best albums, What's the Story, Morning Glory.
Download available here. Just click the highlighted word "here" in the last sentence.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
WalCast 4 (Diggin' Deep in a Pile of Pop)
Back to relatively obscure indie pop for the 4th Walcast, and there are some gems this time around. Regular listeners of independent music will recognize a few tunes, or at least the bands, but if anyone out there has heard all of these tunes I'll give you a shiny penny. As always, listen from the player or download below, leave comments and let me know what you think, and call your mom-she misses you.
Track Listing:
Superjet Waterslide - The Color Wheels - Clocking in at just under 2 minutes, this ditty is from the NY state husband-wife team's self titled debut.
Wish - Days Away - I really need to get some more music from this SoCal power-pop outfit. though I'm not sure if they're still together since this 2008 EP, Ear Candy for the Headphone Trippers, is the last I know about from them. But it's goooood...
Water and God - All Get out - I found this track on the SXSW download of artists from last years' festival. This SC band has a full length due out in the first half of this year, and I will definitely be checking it out.
Tonight I Have to Leave It - Shout Out Louds - Swedish indie-pop outfit with several albums under their belt and a new one due soon.
Keep Your Eyes Ahead - The Helio Sequence - Portland, OR duo with the great title track from their 2007 album.
Such Great Heights - The Postal Service - Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) on vocals from this 2003 side project. Many have awaited a follow-up album which has never come.
Burying Luck - Minus the Bear - One of my favorite newer Seattle area bands with the first track from their last release Planet of Ice. They have albums with titles such as This is What I Know About Being Gigantic and songs like Monkey!!!Knife!!!Fight!!!, and they finished recording their latest album last Sept, so we should see that released soon.
Spiral Stairs - Elf Power - They were part of the Elephant 6 collective in the nineties and they are sill kicking with this track from their 2008 album In a Cave.
Completely Replaceable - The Films - South Carolina indie group from their 2nd album, Oh, Scorpio.
Two Kinds - Film School - San Fransisco post-punk dream-pop band from last year's Hideout.
Long Distance Call - Phoenix - Can good music come out of France? Apparently so, because that's where Phoenix hails from, and they make great music. This is from 2007's It's Never Been Like That.
Wednesday's Fine - The Moves -Memphis pop-music-maker Daniel Jones with his late nineties group The Moves, from the album Are You Ready?
New York, Not Her - The Literary Greats - Houston based group with a great track from their self-titled debut.
Body Buzz - Aloha - from the EP Light Works.
Golden Skans - Klaxons - London indie pop. I was soooo tempted to play Atlantis to Interzone instead for the humor factor, but this is a better song.
Don't want to sit on my web page for an hour? Download this show here, and listen to it on your portable music-player-thingie.
Track Listing:
Superjet Waterslide - The Color Wheels - Clocking in at just under 2 minutes, this ditty is from the NY state husband-wife team's self titled debut.
Wish - Days Away - I really need to get some more music from this SoCal power-pop outfit. though I'm not sure if they're still together since this 2008 EP, Ear Candy for the Headphone Trippers, is the last I know about from them. But it's goooood...
Water and God - All Get out - I found this track on the SXSW download of artists from last years' festival. This SC band has a full length due out in the first half of this year, and I will definitely be checking it out.
Tonight I Have to Leave It - Shout Out Louds - Swedish indie-pop outfit with several albums under their belt and a new one due soon.
Keep Your Eyes Ahead - The Helio Sequence - Portland, OR duo with the great title track from their 2007 album.
Such Great Heights - The Postal Service - Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) on vocals from this 2003 side project. Many have awaited a follow-up album which has never come.
Burying Luck - Minus the Bear - One of my favorite newer Seattle area bands with the first track from their last release Planet of Ice. They have albums with titles such as This is What I Know About Being Gigantic and songs like Monkey!!!Knife!!!Fight!!!, and they finished recording their latest album last Sept, so we should see that released soon.
Spiral Stairs - Elf Power - They were part of the Elephant 6 collective in the nineties and they are sill kicking with this track from their 2008 album In a Cave.
Completely Replaceable - The Films - South Carolina indie group from their 2nd album, Oh, Scorpio.
Two Kinds - Film School - San Fransisco post-punk dream-pop band from last year's Hideout.
Long Distance Call - Phoenix - Can good music come out of France? Apparently so, because that's where Phoenix hails from, and they make great music. This is from 2007's It's Never Been Like That.
Wednesday's Fine - The Moves -Memphis pop-music-maker Daniel Jones with his late nineties group The Moves, from the album Are You Ready?
New York, Not Her - The Literary Greats - Houston based group with a great track from their self-titled debut.
Body Buzz - Aloha - from the EP Light Works.
Golden Skans - Klaxons - London indie pop. I was soooo tempted to play Atlantis to Interzone instead for the humor factor, but this is a better song.
Don't want to sit on my web page for an hour? Download this show here, and listen to it on your portable music-player-thingie.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
WalCast 3 (Americana/Alt-Country)
For the third installment I've gone with a theme instead of just random pop-rock. Ranging from pop-with-a-steel-guitar-thrown-in to full-blown country and western tunes, this session is sure to satisfy the Americana music lover and the country-wary alike. Please leave a comment below to let me know what you think, and don't forget to subscribe via RSS feed to stay on top of my latest postings. Yee-Haw!
Track Listing:
Daylight Fading - Counting Crows - From Recovering the Satellites (my favorite CC album), one of the few songs of theirs with a slightly alt-country twang.
Burnout - Ox - Canadian country-rockers from their 7 track album (EP?) by the same name.
Waiting for the Sun - The Jayhawks - I could have gone with any number of songs from these Americana-rock mainstays, but I wimped out and went with the obvious choice from their first album Hollywood Town Hall. (not that there's anything wrong with this song)
I'm Not Here - The Wheat Pool - I recently discovered this Canadian alt-country outfit and I am just plain hooked on their latest release, Hauntario.
Black Lungs - The New Frontiers - Anyone who I've told about this band knows that they rock my world. Their one album career ended in Jan of 2008 and I have been sad ever since. One of my top albums of all-time, this is the opening track from Mending. (sob)
The Latest Rights - The Strugglers - Title track off the most recent album from Australian songster Brice Randall Bickford.
A Horse in the Country - Cowboy Junkies - Canadian (I know, right?) bluesy/folky/country-y indie group that's been around since the late eighties. Margo Timmins and her two brothers (and the bass player) serve up delicious tunes consistently. I saw them at the New Daisy in Memphis about 10 or 12 years ago and got to talk to Margo after the show, which was a real treat. This is from Black-Eyed Man.
Faster Days - Velvet Crush - Half of the album Teenage Symphonies to God is great, and the other half is phenomenal. This is from the phenomenal half.
Wiser Time - The Black Crowes - I shouldn't have to say anything about this track from Amorica, but to the uninitiated, just know: It's great.
Looking For a Way Out - Uncle Tupelo - Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy (and a drummer) blazed the path for modern alt-country in the early nineties during their short-lived career together, and luckily their legacy continues in their subsequent endeavors, the following two bands. This is from Still Feel Gone.
Catching On - Son Volt - Trace, the first album from Jay Farrar's post-Uncle Tupelo band is unbelievably good, and this is one of my favorite tracks from it.
Pick Up the Change - Wilco - Jeff Tweedy's group has been more popular than Son Volt since the breakup. AM, their first album, came out about the same time as Trace, and I couldn't decide which I liked more (and still can't). This is from that album.
Appaloosa - The Black Crowes - From their most recent release, the double CD Before the Frost...After the Freeze. This album is definitely their most rootsy, Americana album (have I used that word enough yet?)
One Hundred Years From Now - The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo pretty much started the whole country-rock movement. Couldn't do this 'cast without something from it.
Evangeline - The Band (with Emmylou Harris) - From The Last Waltz, a recording of their final concert. Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and company set a new standard for country-roots-rock in the early 70's, and remain an influence to many groups today.
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Willie Nelson - If you don't know this song, I can't help you. One of my all-time favorite songs.
Coming up in future WalCasts, more themes - Covers, Pacific Northwest Bands, Female Vocals, Chillin' on the couch on a Sunday afternoon, Shoegazing and other slacker sports, and more. And of course, lots more random pop goodness. Next WalCast: getting back to relative obscurity with Diggin' Deep in a Pile of Pop.
As always, you can download this show for posterity or just for away-from-computer listening here.
Thanks for being you.
-Wal
Track Listing:
Daylight Fading - Counting Crows - From Recovering the Satellites (my favorite CC album), one of the few songs of theirs with a slightly alt-country twang.
Burnout - Ox - Canadian country-rockers from their 7 track album (EP?) by the same name.
Waiting for the Sun - The Jayhawks - I could have gone with any number of songs from these Americana-rock mainstays, but I wimped out and went with the obvious choice from their first album Hollywood Town Hall. (not that there's anything wrong with this song)
I'm Not Here - The Wheat Pool - I recently discovered this Canadian alt-country outfit and I am just plain hooked on their latest release, Hauntario.
Black Lungs - The New Frontiers - Anyone who I've told about this band knows that they rock my world. Their one album career ended in Jan of 2008 and I have been sad ever since. One of my top albums of all-time, this is the opening track from Mending. (sob)
The Latest Rights - The Strugglers - Title track off the most recent album from Australian songster Brice Randall Bickford.
A Horse in the Country - Cowboy Junkies - Canadian (I know, right?) bluesy/folky/country-y indie group that's been around since the late eighties. Margo Timmins and her two brothers (and the bass player) serve up delicious tunes consistently. I saw them at the New Daisy in Memphis about 10 or 12 years ago and got to talk to Margo after the show, which was a real treat. This is from Black-Eyed Man.
Faster Days - Velvet Crush - Half of the album Teenage Symphonies to God is great, and the other half is phenomenal. This is from the phenomenal half.
Wiser Time - The Black Crowes - I shouldn't have to say anything about this track from Amorica, but to the uninitiated, just know: It's great.
Looking For a Way Out - Uncle Tupelo - Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy (and a drummer) blazed the path for modern alt-country in the early nineties during their short-lived career together, and luckily their legacy continues in their subsequent endeavors, the following two bands. This is from Still Feel Gone.
Catching On - Son Volt - Trace, the first album from Jay Farrar's post-Uncle Tupelo band is unbelievably good, and this is one of my favorite tracks from it.
Pick Up the Change - Wilco - Jeff Tweedy's group has been more popular than Son Volt since the breakup. AM, their first album, came out about the same time as Trace, and I couldn't decide which I liked more (and still can't). This is from that album.
Appaloosa - The Black Crowes - From their most recent release, the double CD Before the Frost...After the Freeze. This album is definitely their most rootsy, Americana album (have I used that word enough yet?)
One Hundred Years From Now - The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo pretty much started the whole country-rock movement. Couldn't do this 'cast without something from it.
Evangeline - The Band (with Emmylou Harris) - From The Last Waltz, a recording of their final concert. Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and company set a new standard for country-roots-rock in the early 70's, and remain an influence to many groups today.
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Willie Nelson - If you don't know this song, I can't help you. One of my all-time favorite songs.
Coming up in future WalCasts, more themes - Covers, Pacific Northwest Bands, Female Vocals, Chillin' on the couch on a Sunday afternoon, Shoegazing and other slacker sports, and more. And of course, lots more random pop goodness. Next WalCast: getting back to relative obscurity with Diggin' Deep in a Pile of Pop.
As always, you can download this show for posterity or just for away-from-computer listening here.
Thanks for being you.
-Wal
Saturday, January 2, 2010
WalCast 2 (More Random Goodness)
So here we are again with the second installment of my music show. A little less obscure this time, but good tunes nonetheless. Please leave some feedback so I can continue to improve the show. The next show will be an Americana/Alt-country theme, so be sure to tune in. Just press play on the player above to stream or hit the link at the bottom to download.
Track Listing:
The Great Big No - The Lemonheads - Evan Dando and friends have been making quality pop-rock for a long time now, and this one takes us back to Come On, Feel the Lemonheads, circa 1993.
No Sunlight - Death Cab for Cutie - From their 2008 release Narrow Stairs, DCFC is one of the great bands making up the new Pacific Northwest scene.
Melting in the Sun - INXS - One of the great new wave bands of the 80's. This is from The Swing, one of my favorite albums from them.
Level - The Raconteurs - From the first album from the indie "supergroup" made up of Jack White of The White Stripes and powerpop-ster extraordinaire Brendan Benson, among others. Love this song.
Sons of Cain - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - good track from 2007's Living with the Living.
Auctioneer - The Broken West - My friend Clay turned me on to these guys a few years ago, and both of their albums are out of this world. This is from their 2nd, Now or Heaven. Not to be confused with the great REM song by the same name.
Superstar Tradesman - The View - Scottish punk-pop-rock band from their 2006 debut Hats Off to the Buskers.
Achin to Be - The Replacements - Arguably one of the best rock bands ever, this is a classic from Don't Tell a Soul.
The Modern World - The Jam - From '77 to '82 these guys redefined punk, pop, rock and new wave, with their "mod revival" look and their awesome music. If you're not familiar, you're missing out.
LIft - Brad - Yeah, I know, 2 shows in a row? Get over it. This was a last minute substitution the the show for 2 reasons: 1. a friend of mine finally listened to, and enjoyed, a Brad song from the last 'cast, and I want to foster that new relationship, and 2. The song slated for this spot worked it's way into a music block that I want to do in another show. This is also from their 2nd, Interiors.
Dreamworld - Midnight Oil - Australian socially-conscious rockers with a great song from 1987's Deisel and Dust.
The King is Half-Undressed - Jellyfish - If you didn't catch wind of this San Fransisco power pop band during their brief 4 year tenure in the early nineties, you missed out on 2 really great albums, and should now rectify that issue. This is from the first, Bellybutton.
Human - The Killers - The Killlers have done a lot in incorporating eighties style into current musical trends, and have made some great music in the process. This is from their 2008 release Day and Age.
Who got the Meaning - The Elms - Midwestern rock from Indiana. Songs don't get much catchier than this. From their first full length, Big Surprise.
The Imposter - Elvis Costello - The true king of pop. From my favorite EC album, Get Happy!
Download this file for enjoying at your leisure here.
Enjoy!
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