SONG: Bill Callahan – Sycamore

Buried deep within our subconscious are emotions that surface in untold ways, like holding on to an ex’s clothes after a breakup. Where these actions grip us, transcending reasoning, Labyrinth Ear exposes us for our innate needs on “Navy Light.” Spooky, truthful, and captivating, Oak EP is an exciting taste of a darker side of disco pop. - SF Critic

Labyrinth Ear – Navy Light

Download: Labyrinth%20Ear%20-%20Navy%20Light.mp3

Labyrinth Ear – Navy Light (4am Mix)

Download: Labyrinth%20Ear%20-%20Navy%20Light%20(4am%20Mix).mp3

Labyrinth Ear: Last.fm | Myspace | Hypem | Site

SONG: Cut Copy – Need You Now

johnnybegood — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:34:02 +0000

“Rhythmic and hypnotic” are singer Dan Whitfords’ description for Cut Copy’s new album Zonoscope. Spot on.

Cut Copy – Need You Now

Download: Cut%20Copy%20-%20Need%20You%20Now.mp3

Cut Copy: Last.fm | Myspace | Hypem | Site | Tour

The Croissant Mix #2

johnnybegood — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:07:36 +0000

Since the first edition seemed to be quite popular, i decided to gather some more french songs together for your ears to enjoy.
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Manu Chao – Sibérie Fleuve Amour

Francis Cabrel – La Robe & l’Echelle

Pauline Croze – Larmes

Benjamin Biolay – Bien Avant

Alex Beaupain – Comme La Pluie

Bénabar – Quatre Murs Et Un Toit

Florent Marchet – J’ai 35 Ans

Yelle – Jogging

Yann Tiersen – Le Jour De L’ouverture

Charlotte Gainsbourg – Elastique
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Transient Predilections

johnnybegood — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:13:27 +0000

This song by Husky Rescue has really got a hold of me. I was listening to their album Ghost Is Not Real the other day when i decided to check out their debut Country Falls. Good thing i did cause the entire thing is an absolute gem. Make sure to try New Light Of Tomorrow if you enjoy this one.

Husky Rescue – City Lights
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I first heard about The Deep Dark Woods a week ago when I found one of their songs on a random blog. It triggered my curiosity. Apparently they just came out with a new album called Winter Hours, which features this great song.

The Deep Dark Woods – All The Money I Had Is Gone
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I’m not sure why it just hit me. Maybe it’s because their live performance of this song was so passionate, or cause I never paid enough attention to it. Maybe it’s just one of those songs that has to grow on you. I’ve been finding myself listening to You & Me repeatedly since it came out last year, but this one just took me by surprise and made me develop an unprecedented love for it.

The Walkmen – New Country
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Even tho i’m pretty pissed off with them for abruptly cancelling one of the shows I was looking forward to the most this year, this song definitely deserves to fill a spot in here.

Junior Boys – Teach Me How To Fight
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Video: Oren Lavie – Her Morning Elegance

johnnybegood — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:15:48 +0000

I only bumped into this song today. I must admit it’s pretty catchy. And the clip is definitely worth a watch.

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Oren Lavie – Her Morning Elegance

Wolf Parade @ ABClub, Brussels (05/12/08)

johnnybegood — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:48:22 +0000

Great venue + front row + amazing band = …

I got there at least an hour before the opening band was supposed to kick off. I didn’t really care about waiting, or going to the bathroom for that matter, I knew this concert was sold out and I wasn’t going to lose my spot. But then, for 45 long minutes I wish I did. What happened? Soon did. A mainstream pop/rock band with cheesy lyrics and cheap guitar solos that reminds me of Jimmy Eat World. I think we would all rather enjoy it if instead they brought The Arcade Fire or Handsome Furs along next time.

Maybe people were looking for some consolation afterwards, but the place was heating up and the crowd was rapidly multiplying. Until, after much anticipation, a lot of waiting and 2 cups of overpriced beer, the guys from Wolf Parade finally made their appearance on stage. 1, 2, 3, 4… 5? Oh, well apparently Hadji Bakara (synthesizer and sound manipulation) wasn’t going to join us that night. Spencer didn’t really give us a feeling he was coming back anytime soon. I quote: “Besides, I think we sound much better without him”. And they actually did. It seemed like Spencer had to take over Hadji’s tasks and it gave every song a different effect (even tho he appeared weary from doing so). The music was rawer and hearing Dan Boeckner screaming his lungs out on songs like Language City, The Grey Estates, It’s A Curse and Shine A Light made this concert even better.

The crowd went wild from the start, people were jumping, singing along and extended applause after every song became standard procedure. Dan even seemed to be moved by it all.. but he also seemed a bit drunk so who knows. I’m not great at remembering setlists or at reminding myself I want to grab them after a show, but I think it looked something like this. Obviously Kissing The Beehive wasn’t going to be spared during this parade and it was such an eargasm and a personal 2008 highlight to hear Boeckner and Krug sing it live, right in front of me.

I remember when Sunset Rubdown came here in May, I tried to talk Spencer (yeh, we had a long chat about life and sandwiches) into coming here with Wolf Parade. I doubt he remembers that conversation and I doubt that’s why they came. But a special place in my heart will always feel otherwise. Thanks Spencer. Now come back with Swan Lake!
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Wolf Parade – Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts

Wolf Parade – It’s A Curse
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The Dodos @ VK, Brussels (03/12/08)

johnnybegood — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:21:29 +0000

Well, you can’t miss a concert of The Dodos can you? After seeing them at Trix in Antwerp and missing them at Pukkelpop I was happy to see they couldn’t get enough of our waffles and came back for more. This time it was Brussels that would get to enjoy the grand sound that drums, guitars and a garbage can are able to produce.

The venue was a first timer for me and I was surprised by the size of it. Let me put it into proportion; Trix is as big as my living room while VK could easily go for the size of a tennis field.

It didn’t really bother me actually, but it became clear that the show wasn’t going to be as intimate as last time. And it definitely wasn’t, I was lucky if I got to see some of Meric Long’s ear from time to time, but looking at the crowd that showed up made me realize this: The Dodos have become much more popular than they were a couple of months ago. In a way it pleased me to know that their music has been getting some appreciation and that their exhausting concert schedule hasn’t been in vain.

Some of the standard concert highlights were the heartwarming sound of Ashley, the chills I got when hearing Jodi, and, of course, the essential classics; Red & Purple, Winter and Fools.
But what really did it for me was the second part of The Season which climaxed into an incredible orgy of drumming and guitar sounds and felt like a musical earthquake.

The Dodos never disappoint and you just end up loving them more after every show. This was supposed to be the last concert of their tour, at least that’s what I understood, but according to their myspace they are still playing some shows here and there. Do these guys ever get tired?

Head over to war-toy.blogspot.com if you speak french and want to read another great review of the concert.

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The Dodos – Jodi

The Dodos – Fools (Radio Edit)

The Walkmen @ ABClub, Brussels (23/10/08)

johnnybegood — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:11:50 +0000

The Ancienne Belgique or AB tout court is a well known venue in Brussels, and apparently they also have a room next door called the ‘ABClub’. It’s the first time I’ve been to this place but it felt small in a cozy way and everything else seemed organized pretty well. When we got there we already missed a part of the support band Lady & The Lost Boys, and I kinda regret I didn’t miss more of their show. I’m not sure how they’re supposed to warm you up for The Walkmen, maybe for Rilo Kiley or Nada Surf, but it definitely wasn’t my cup of tea.

Fortunately, once the not-so-lost boys of The Walkmen appeared on stage it was a whole other story. The band members were much older than I thought, but that didn’t stop them from filling the room with pure energy. I love it when a band give everything they have for a show, no matter how small the audience or the room. With this concert it just seemed like every song was perfect, you could feel they were playing with so much drive and it made the music sound amazing.

Obviously there was a lot of You & Me involved: The New Year, On The Water, Four Provinces were all part of the set list. Mix that up with some great tracks like Thinking of a Dream I Had, All Hands And The Cook andThe Rat, and you got yourself a party. Well, maybe not a party, but at least a really good fucking show.

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The Walkmen – The Rat (Live @ The Troubadour)

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Tour dates:

26/10/08
Molotov / Molotow
Hamburg

28/10/08
Ulu
London

29/10/08
Manchester Academy 3
Manchester

30/10/08
Thekla
Bristol

31/10/08
Cockpit
Leeds

01/11/08
Stereo
Glasgow

02/11/08
Button Factory
Dublin

06/12/08
Fillmore at the TLA
Philadelphia
PA

16/12/08
Brooklyn Masonic Temple
Brooklyn
NY

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The Walkmen – Thinking Of A Dream I Had

The Walkmen – All Hands And The Cook