Jesse Coppenbarger

Our friend, Jesse Coppenbarger, has recorded a record coming out in August (title TBA) where some of the song's inception dates can be traced all the way back to 2003 and 2004. The songs started taking form in friend's living rooms, moving through household basement recording studios off Hwy 30 and the famous Voyager's Rest in Oxford, and finally ending up at the living legend Jimbo Mathus' studio in Como, MS. On a particular track called "Young Ones", Jesse even recorded the drums for the song in the basement of the train station in Jackson, MS. He says, "The record is basically the mix of starting a recording process one place and finishing a song, in some cases, somewhere totally different." Those that also played on the album include the following: Konrad Bevilaqua (FLIGHT), Justin Showah (Jimbo Mathus), Cole Furlow (Dead Gaze), David Gilmore and Lyon Chadwick (Sleeping Bulls), Joey "Soft Hands" Miller (InterrobangPhoto), Phillip Blackwell, and Kinney Kimbrough. Click his name above to visit his Myspace page, and listen to the three tracks posted. You can also follow his blog here.

More to come closer to the record's release. Be sure to catch Jesse at Proud Larry's in Oxford, MS tomorrow night (5/1) with the ever ubiquitous Dent May. Posted below is Jesse doing a WHY? cover from Colour Revolt's Daytrotter session back in September of last year.

Jesse Coppenbarger - "These Few Presidents"

New John Vanderslice

Thanks to Clyde over at RadioCure, I came across John Vanderslice about 3 years ago. He's released a song today off his forthcoming album Romanian Names due out May 19th by way of Dead Oceans record label. Starting in June he is scheduled to tour with The Tallest Man on Earth. Check out the song below and check out "White Dove" on the playlist.

John Vanderslice - "Too Much Time"

Austin City Limits Music Fest Lineup 2009

Pearl Jam*Dave Matthews Band*Beastie Boys*Kings of Leon*Ben Harper and Relentless7*Thievery Corporation*John Legend*The Dead Weather*The Levon Helm Band*Ghostland Observatory*Sonic Youth*Mos Def*Toadies*Flogging Molly*The B-52s*Lily Allen*Citizen Cope*Arctic Monkeys*The Decemberists*Coheed and Cambria*Andrew Bird*Girl Talk*STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)*Phoenix*Bassnectar*Bon Iver*!!!*The Avett Brothers*The Airborne Toxic Event*Medeski, Martin & Wood*Clutch*Michael Franti & Spearhead*Grizzly Bear*Heartless Bastards*Passion Pit*White Lies*Dan Auerbach*The Walkmen*The Scabs*Reckless Kelly*Devotchka*Blitzen Trapper*The Virgins*Here We Go Magic*Eek-A-Mouse*K’ Naan*Asleep at the Wheel*Dr. Dog*The Raveonettes*The Knux*Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears*State Radio*Los Amigos Invisibles*The Felice Brothers*Federico Aubele*Raul Malo*Daniel Johnston*Poi Dog Pondering*Brett Dennen*Rodriguez*Henry Butler*Preservation Hall*Sam Roberts Band*The Greencards*Sara Watkins*Walter “Wolfman” Washington*David Garza*John Vanderslice*Zac Brown Band*Todd Snider*School of Seven Bells*The Dodos*Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3*Alberta Cross*Deer Tick*Bell X1*Alela Diane*The Wood Brothers*The Parlor Mob*Rebirth Brass Band*Marva Wright*Terri Hendrix*L.A.X.*Lisa Hannigan*The Low Anthem*Sons of Bill*Suckers*Sarah Jaffe*Cotton Jones*The Henry Clay People*Papa Mali*Jypsi*Vince Mira*Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights*Mimicking Birds*Jeffrey Steele*Jonell Mosser*Leatherbag*Keith Gattis*Damien Horne*Sarah Siskind*Dexateens*Nelo*Danny Brooks*Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band*The Soul Stirrers*The Durdens*Palm School Elementary*The Gospel Silvertones*Diaconos*Quinn Sullivan*Ralph’s World*Q Brothers*Milkshake*Telephone Company*Loose Cannons*Lunch Money

Passion Pit Climbs Higher

It's not that I don't like Passion Pit. I like them fine, but it was more I was just not impressed until today. I felt like they could do better with what they had. They had the potential to take the synth pop of yesterday and move it forward. Sure "Sleepyhead" was fun, but I just didn't get excited about the EP like I thought I was going to.

Now, with their debut LP Manners due out on May 19, Passion Pit, Manners in particular, is making a move up on my 'to listen' list of the spring. Adam informed me that they premiered one of the new songs today, "Moths Wings," and I must say I am impressed. It's definitely the best Passion Pit song to date. Check it out below.

Passion Pit - "Moths Wings" - from Manners due out May 19.

Also great music available for stream this week at spinner:

Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
Shout Out Out Out Out - Reintegration Time
Ben Fold - University A Capella
Ben Lee - The Rebirth of Venus
Japandroids - Post Nothing
A Camp - Colonia

AND....Fat Possum's own Crocodiles drops their debut LP tomorrow Summer of Hate.

Good Music, Under $2.00

Has the economy short handed your music buying ability? Want great music for real cheap? Go here and buy Andrew Bird's Armchair Apocrypha for $1.99.

Dead Gaze Interview

Check out our boy Cole's interview with Brooklyn - based - blog '7 Inches' and read the write up at http://www.7inches.blogspot.com/. Listen directly to the interview/podcast here.

Christian Beshore

I recently listed Christian Beshore's song "Operator" in my April playlist, but the guy deserves more than just a small plug. Beshore, who is from Pennsylvania, has created some of the best blues sounds that I have heard in a while. The garage sound of Beshore's blues has a twofold meaning. First, the instruments are created in his garage. The majority of his music is performed on three string cigar box guitars that look like they have been created from the scrap wood pile of a carpenters shop. The raw guitar riffs are backed by a kick drum and a hi-hat 'with some junk bolted to it.' The aesthetics of this project are a garage creation. Second, the recordings are done in the garage giving them that distorted rough sound that only a flat slab of concrete can generate. It definitely gives the blues a more bluesy, delta porch feel. It is lo-fi without trying to be.

Even the songs themselves, with names like "Weary Bones" and "Blind Man Blues" evoke images of the delta. How Beshore captured this all to MS familiarity in Pennsylvania is unknown to me, but I will take it. To get a broad taste of Beshore's music visit his myspace page www.myspace.com/christianbeshore. Also you can browse some photos there of his homemade guitars. Below are a few streams "Sad Sack (demo)" and "Operator" for your listening pleasure.

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New King Khan & The Shrines Video

Video of "Land of the Freak" off their new album What Is? Enjoy.

Juke Joint Fest Photos 4/17

Here are some photos from R. Cole's Psychedelic Blues Orgy show in Clarksdale, MS courtesy of Joey "Soft Hands" Miller. More photos by Joey here. The band consisted of RC Furlow (guitar/vocals), Len Clark (drums), and Brian Thomson (bass/vocals). Check out RC Furlow's Dead Gaze here.

NPR Fulfills My Daily Music Fix

NPR's All Songs Considered  gives us a closer look at Jack White's The Dead Weather as well as streams of Bill Callahan, Vienna Teng, St. Vincent, and acoustic Radiohead.  Basically all the music you need for a given day.  Also, get an exclusive stream of St. Vincent's new album Actor here.

Lollapalooza 2009 Lineup

Depeche Mode * Tool * The Killers * Jane's Addiction * Beastie Boys * Kings of Leon * Lou Reed * Ben Harper and Relentless7 * Thievery Corporation * Snoop Dogg * Rise Against * Andrew Bird * TV on the Radio * Vampire Weekend * The Decemberists * Neko Case * STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) * Animal Collective * Band of Horses * Of Montreal * Arctic Monkeys * Coheed and Cambria * Ben Folds * Fleet Foxes * Silversun Pickups * Kaiser Chiefs * Crystal Castles * Bon Iver * Santigold * Atmosphere * Dan Auerbach * Cold War Kids * Deerhunter * Lykke Li * Robert Earl Keen * Peter Bjorn and John * Heartless Bastards * Gomez * Glasvegas * Federico Aubele * Dan Deacon * Passion Pit * Zap Mama * The Raveonettes * The Gaslight Anthem * The Airborne Toxic Event * White Lies * Ra Ra Riot * No Age * Asher Roth * Los Campesinos! * Bat For Lashes * Chairlift * Gang Gang Dance * The Virgins * Amazing Baby * Portugal. The Man * The Knux * Ida Maria * Delta Spirit * Friendly Fires * Manchester Orchestra * Constantines * Ezra Furman & The Harpoons * Hockey * Miike Snow * Alberta Cross * Hey Champ * Sam Roberts Band * The Henry Clay People * Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam * Cage the Elephant * Living Things * The Low Anthem * Blind Pilot * Langhorne Slim * Other Lives * The Builders and The Butchers * Eric Church * Joe Pug * Kevin Devine * The Greencards * Carney * Thenewno2

Visit the official site here.

Loads of Releases 4/21

A lot of new releases today. Sort through these:

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career stream
King Khan and the Shrines - What Is? stream
Dirty Projectors - "Stillness is the Move" single stream
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing stream
Asher Roth - Asleep in the Bread Aisle
Allen Toussaint - The Bright Mississippi
Okkervil River - Pop Lies EP
Art Brut - Art Brut vs. Satan
The Breeders - Fate to Fatal EP
...and last but not least HAHA Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows stream

YES!!! FINALLY!!!

It's no secret that the genre that is hip hop has been in a bit of a rut lately. I'd dare to say that it hasn't given us much since Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III and Kanye's 808s and Heartbreaks, but that is obviously debatable. Can Clipse save us? I've been waiting for this like kids wait on Christmas...

Unquestionably my favorite hip hop duo, Clipse, is preparing to release their 3rd album called Till the Casket Drops sometime in December this year. Rick Rubin has been pegged as a producer on at least three of the songs coming off the record, which makes me really excited. Today, a song off the album has leaked and it's called "Kinda Like a Big Deal" and features Kanye West and was produced by DJ Khalil. This is a little taste of what's sure to be an excellent hip hop record from the Norfolk, VA duo. Stream it below. Download it here. Pusha T and Malice the meanest. Love 'em.

Clipse feat. Kanye West - "Kinda Like a Big Deal"

Also, be sure to check out another potential "savior of the game", Rick Ross, on Jimmy Fallon tonight. Thanks to Drew Levanway for the heads up.

New Deerhunter EP

Bradford Cox's Deerhunter is scheduled to release a new EP digitally on May 18th entitled Rainwater Cassette Exchange. This 5 song EP follows 2008's acclaimed Microcastle. The physical release of the EP will be June 6th. The title track from the release is available below.

Deerhunter - "Rainwater Cassette Exchange"

Bill Callahan

Bill Callahan (Smog) just released his second album under his given name on April 14th. The album is entitled Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle. Callahan is an American singer-songwriter and began his career working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City, to which he remains signed today. His previous works are known for their more simple arrangements and melodies, but it seems on this album that he has added more variation into the arrangements.

"Eid Ma Clack Shaw" has been added to the playlist. This song is about dreaming the perfect song, writitng it down in the middle of the night, and waking to realize that all you've written down was nonsense.

April Playlist

Here are few songs that have been on my rotation lately.




Mumford & Sons - "Hold on to What You Believe" - part of the newly named British folk revival.



Iron & Wine - "The Trapeze Swinger" - This eight minute ballad in standard Iron & Wine fashion gives me confidence that Sam Beams upcoming release Around the Well, out May 19, will be a good one. Get the song for free here.




Nada Surf - "See these Bones" - Classic Nada Surf pop bliss. This song is on the playlist.




Christain Beshore - "Operator" - This guy plays some serious good garage blues with his three string cigar box guitar. Might as well be coming out of the MS flatland.

Early Works for Me if It Works for You II

Most people have heard of The Postal Service and know that Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard also fronted the "indietronic" sensation of 2003.  Fewer people have heard of late 90's electronic act DNTEL, and even fewer than that would recognize the name James Tamborello (also produces under James Figurine).  The truth is however that Tamborello was more or less the foundational basis for one of 2003's most successful and genre-changing albums.  Silently slaving away in his studeo, writing and producing the large majority of the music, beats, cues, and riffs and then paying for all those shipping costs to Seattle, Tamborello's name still rarely is mentioned while Gibbard and co-vocalist Jenny Lewis consistently get tagged as "The Postal Service."  

Tamborello began creating music in 1989 when the synth of the 80's was coming to a close and the grunge of the early 90's was picking up steam.  Tamborello, apparently entranced by the 80's synthetic sounds, picked up his synthesizers, closed his garage, and started creating synthetic rhythm pop that was essentially the anti-thesis of Nevermind.  Tamborello's first solo electronic album Early Works for Me if it Works for You was released under the name DNTEL in 1999 and documented 12 demos that Tamborello had written from 1994-1997.  In 2000 DNTEL released its first EP Something Always Goes Wrong establishing a legitimate cult following for an artist whose musical style did not fit into the genre swings of the new mellinium.  A follow up LP Life is Full of Possibilities was released in 2001, but the following remained at a minimal cult status with a few highlights including (notice the foreshadowing?) a relatively well received song entitled "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan" featuring none other than Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard.  This duo eventually went on to release an album under the moniker The Postal Service that participated in one of the largest genre shifts in Pop music since, well, Nirvana's Nevermind. 

DNTEL is essentially the foundation on which the electro-indie-pop that I love was built.  Tamborello built off of the 80's even when it wasn't cool anymore and then, when 80's electro-pop sound came back, there he was synthesizer and drum machine in hand ready for the new mellinium.  Yesterday, Phthalo records, DNTEL's original record label, released Early Works for Me if it Works for You II which is forty tracks of DNTEL oldies including digitally remastered editions of Early Works for Me if it Works for You and Something Always Goes Wrong as well as a previously unreleased album of demos recorded around 1996.  This virtual history of modern electro-indie rock can be yours for only $18 on Itunes.  I certainly recommend it.

"(This is) The Dream of Evan and Chan" has been added to the playlist.

King Khan & The Shrines

King Khan & the Shrines 2007 album What Is? is available for full stream along with a couple of videos here.

Also, Neko Case on Letterman and YYY's on Jimmy Fallon!

"One of My Kind"

Have an hour to spare or simply looking for an hours worth of entertainment to get through work or school? Conor Oberst's documentary One of My Kind is now available for full stream or download at www.causecast.org which requires you to form a free account OR you can go to http://documentary.causecast.org and just watch it without signing up. They ask for a donation to a charity of your choosing for getting to watch the film for free, however, if you don't give, you will not be penalized. Enjoy the film, it should be good!

Dinosaur Jr. and Dead Confederate in Oxford

From the wheeler/dealer, slipper/slider David/Swider:

Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr.) will be doing an in-store performance Saturday, April 18th at Off Square Books at 3:30 p.m. In addition to the performance by Barlow, Fat Possum Records will be giving away a limited addition 7" vinyl to commemorate Record Store Day, which is an international celebration of independent record stores. Having recently signed with Jagjaguwar, Dinosaur Jr. plans to release a new album this summer. Their latest record, Beyond, was released by Fat Possum Records in 2007 and received excellent reviews. Dinosaur Jr. will be playing later in the evening at Proud Larry's with Dead Confederate opening. Tickets are $19. The in-store at Off Square Books is free to the public. Come by and check out the new records, get some ice cream and a coke, or drink a beer. This is the second performance in a new series of in-store gigs at Off Square Books.

"Feel the Pain" by Dinosaur Jr. and "Tortured Artist Saint" by Dead Confederate have been added to the playlist. If you don't know or don't like "Feel the Pain" you're nutty.

YYYs (Animal Collective Remix) and The Open Door EP stream

Animal Collective has remixed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs track "Zero" from It's Blitz. Stream here. Sounds pretty trippy. Also, The Open Door EP is now available for full stream here. Other albums available for stream include:

The Boy Least Likely To - The Law of the Playground
Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Radiolarians II

The Open Door EP

Death Cab for Cutie has released a five song EP entitled The Open Door. The EP was released on April 1 and features the single "Little Bribes." It seems like Ben Gibbard is continuing where he left off on Narrow Stairs which is good news for all Death Cab fans. "Little Bribes" is available for stream on our playlist. Enjoy!



Also, get Dead Gaze's new record, The Pride of Calling Panther Lake!, here. Couple more days....

One Year in Photography, Film, and Music

Matt Sharp, former bassist for Weezer, announced on January 1 that his band The Rentals were going to embark on a yearlong journey of multimedia.  The project, entitled Songs About Time, is a literal pilgrimage through 2009 using film, photo, and music.  It's an anthropologists dream.  A time capsule of life.  The concept can seem overwhelming when you approach it as a viewer, the band, after-all, is asking for a year of your support in order for you to fully grasp their project, but when you get involved with it you will become more than simply intrigued.  

The ambitious project includes:

1) A daily photograph posted on their website that documents in some form or fashion the creation process, lives, and/or the surroundings of the band as they go throughout their project.  Each day the band will also take one roll of 35 mm film, that is 365 rolls of film, which will be unprocessed, labeled, and stored until the end of the project.  These rolls of film will then be sent to fans who choose to purchase the bands limited deluxe edition box set at the end of the year.

2)  Every Tuesday the band will post a short black and white film, filmed during the prior week, on their website.  As the bands says "These films will follow us through the writing, recording, and mixing of our three mini-albums."  The films will be completely scored and arranged by the band.

3)  Finally, every three months, the band will release a mini-album available for stream and purchase on their website.  The albums are scheduled for release in April, July, and October.  The first mini-album was just released on Tuesday and is entitled Chapter One:  The Story of A Thousand Seasons Past.

All of the multimedia is available exclusively and for free on The Rentals website.  You can also purchase different packages of the multimedia which will allow you to download and keep photos, films, and/or music.  The package I bought which included the first mini-album, a couple of photographs, and the mini-albums own film was $6.  I strongly encourage you to check it out.

WWW.THERENTALS.COM

Playlist Update

It's near impossible to get any time to post on the blog these days with exams. I do though have some things I want to put on the playlist that I have either been meaning to post about or have heard while trying to figure out the difference between real covenants and equitable servitudes.

Handsome Furs - "I'm Confused"
Glasvegas - "Flowers and Football Tops"
White Lies - "E.S.T."
St. Vincent - "The Strangers"
Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"
Frightened Rabbit - "I Feel Better"

New Conor Oberst Releases

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band has released two of the singles off of their forthcoming EP Outer South.  The album will be released on May 5.  Both of the songs "Nikorette" and "Slowly (Oh so Slowly)" are available for stream at Oberst's myspace.  "Nikorette" is available for free download here. Oberst also has a documentary coming out on April 15 called One of my Kind.  The documentary will really be the first glimpse into the mysterious life of one of America's best songwriters.  Little is known about Oberst other than he is a literal fountain of lyric and tour-a-holic so the documentary has the potential to be quite enlightening.  The video will be free for stream or download at www.conoroberst.com.  The site encourages you to donate to a list of non-profits in order to view the video, but this is not required.  The documentary trailer is posted below.

Dead Gaze

Dead Gaze is our boy Ransome Cole Furlow's new project that was recorded over a 2 week period at his father's band hall in Wesson, Mississippi. He contributes all the instrumentation and tweaks in the tracks on the record. The album is entitled The Pride of Calling Panther Lake!, and is comprised of 8 tracks of lo-fi, grungy, new wave, ambient goodness. Be sure to check out Mr. Furlow and Len Clark from Colour Revolt as R. Cole Furlow's Psychedelic Blues Orgy at Juke Joint Fest April 17th, 18th, and 19th in Clarksdale, MS. The April 19th show is at The Shack Up Inn at Hopson Plantation. Dead Gaze dates are in the works and sure to follow. Click on his name above in the post to visit his Myspace page and preview a few of the tracks. To download the full album, The Pride of Calling Panther Lake!, click here. Get the record now as the link provided is only available for 6 more days! After that we'll provide another way to download.

Dent May on Daytrotter and a Plethora of Streams

Today is a big day if you are really into free music. If you are not into free music, then I have nothing for you. For starters, Mississippi's own Dent May is the featured Daytrotter artist of the day. You can read a great article and download four free live recordings of songs off of May's record The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele. Click Daytrotter to visit the site.


In other news, spinner has a fantastic line-up of free new album streams this week. These include:

The Hold Steady - A Positive Rage
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
Juan MacLean - The Future Will Come - former member of LCD Soundsystem
Bob Mould - Life and Times
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head (reissue)
Youth Group - The Night is Ours
Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care
Doves - Kingdom of Rust
Vienna Teng - Inland Territory
The Felice Brothers - Yonder is the Clock

GO HERE TO CHECK THESE ALBUMS OUT. Enjoy!

Musical Stress Release

When you are up to your neck in neuro-anatomy there is really only one thing that crosses your mind while studying. What song can I turn on that will best alleviate the built up stress and energy inside my body? Another words, what song is most likely to leave me bleeding with a hurt knee, my desk chair upside down, my clothes dispersed, and my lungs gasping for air? Several options come to mind but perhaps the angriest song I have ever heard is "After the Eulogy" by BoysetsFire. The band is no longer together, but they certainly left their mark in my angriest playlist of all time. What is the angriest song you have heard or what song do you turn to when you just need to jump around? I am always in search of new ones...

You can listen to the song here. Be sure to click "After the Eulogy" and beware of language.

Arcade Fire/Neil Young: One Week Only

The Arcade Fire's new documentary Miroir Noir is available for viewing on Pitchfork.tv for free this week. It includes live footage from the Neon Bible tour, recording sessions for the album, and some other stuff.

Also, Neil Young's new "concept" (I hate this term when used to describe someone's record) album, Fork In The Road, is available for stream at his MySpace page until it's regular release next week.

Fondren Arts, Eats, & Beats

Sanders Bohlke showcased some of his new material Thursday Night at the Fondren Arts, Eats, and Beats artMIX. His new album is going to be great. We all know "Search & Destroy" and "Weight of Us," but look for the song "Somewhere" to be big.



Also, Jackson native Owen Beverly brought his band Tent Revival all the way from Charleston, S.C. to give the Jackson scene a taste of his new sound. This is a band everyone needs to check out. The songs have a definite Owen feel to them, but the band, including a cellist, creates a unique backdrop for his voice and lyric. A much grander sound adds a lot to Beverly's already superb songwriting. The bands E.P. can be heard at the above link, I recommend the song "In My Prime."
















Video of Sanders Bohlke "The Weight of Us." Forgive the conversation midway through.

Photos Courtesy of Joey Softhands

Here are a few photos from the past big ticket shows at the Lyric in Oxford, MS courtesy of our friend Joey Miller. Joey is a talented photographer based out of Memphis, TN and one heck of a killer dude. Go fool around on his site at: InterrobangPhoto. Thanks to Joey and happy belated birthday, brother.

Girl Talk - February 13th














View slideshow here.



Modest Mouse - March 6th





















View slideshow here.



Andrew Bird/Heartless Bastards - March 23rd





















View slideshow here.

Iron & Wine Flashback

"The Boy with a Coin" came off of Iron & Wine's 2007 album The Shepard's Dog. The song is one of my favorites off the album, and I thought it had a really cool video. Enjoy!

Grit Music on Myspace

April fools day is over, and although we here at Grit Music love Godwin Alexander, it is back to business as usual. Grit Music has launched a myspace page to make it easier to stay in contact with the people, places, and sounds that we profile. Drop us a line at www.myspace.com/gritmusicblog.