Mates of State “Maracas”

MTV just turned 30 years old.  I was two when video killed the music star. Early videos like “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits totally melted my brain. Later, I couldn’t decide if “November Rain” or “In Bloom” was a better video. Around the late 90s, I stopped watching MTV, partly because I had to do practical stuff like go to college, but mostly because MTV started to completely blow chunks.

This video, the latest slice of pure joy from Mates of State, is everything that used to make MTV so great.  They are totally rockin’ it and they look and sound so classic.  I especially love the Juno-G synthesizer that carries the whole song. Carly called this one.  So.  Freakin’.  Awesome.

NME reports Jens Lekman has released a free song from his next EP, An Argument WIth Myself.  Anything new from the Swedish singer/songwriter is noteworthy.  While this song doesn’t match the heights of “Black Cab” or “A Postcard to Nina,” we will take it for what it is: a fun, dancable song about not feeling quite right with one self.  I’ve seen Lekman live six times and I have a feeling I will be catching him again soon.  You should too!

Tour dates:

Sept 28- Los Angeles, CA

Sept 29- San Francisco, CA

Oct 1- Seattle, WA

Oct 3- Chicago, IL

Oct 5- Washington, DC

Oct 6- Philadelphia, PA

Oct 7- Brooklyn, NY

Oct 8- Boston, MA

Oct 9- Brooklyn, NY

The Go-Betweens - Bachelor Kisses

Often overshadowed by more popular acts like The Smiths and The Cure, the influence of Australia’s The Go-Betweens is now vast. Grant McLennan sings this beautiful love song that failed to make a dent in the pop charts back in 1984. More recently, the song was recorded by The Radio Dept for a limited fanzine in Sweden. It’s a song for the ages.

This is my second post about the Mountain Goats. I love this video for “Estate Sale Sign” and I love the song. It’s really sad, but what isn’t? If you don’t have the new album, All Eternals Deck, on Merge Records go get it. Now.

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN (feat. the Peanuts gang) - THERE’S TOO MUCH LOVE

“I could dance all night like I was soul boy. But you know I’d rather drag myself across the dance floor.  I feel like dancing on my own where no one knows me and where I can cause offense just by the way I look.”

JENNY O. - WELL OK HONEY

I love everything about Jenny O. I saw her play recently at the Pasadena Make Music Festival and she sounded great. Pick up her Home EP for this and four other sweet songs. When the drums come in, I can’t help but shake and smile so big. The funky little guitar part is cute. There’s even a little bit of Odelay-era Beck in here, don’t cha think?

YACHT - Waste Of Time

Three quotes from Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains:

1. “I’m perfect! But nobody in this shithole gets me, because I don’t put out!”

2. “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”

3. “Every girl should be given a guitar on her 16th birthday.”

Tender Forever - Every Monday

Here is a lovely song from Tender Forever. I never knew this band until Carly named a great song she had written after the Portland, OR-by-way-of-France singer. I saw Tender Forever when she opened for Mirah during a fantastic show at the Echo. I was filled with joy by her unique voice and romantic lyrics. I thought about posting her covers of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love” or Cher’s “Believe,” but this one is so unique and beautiful. Who doesn’t love a little ukelele?!

The Babies - Meet Me in the City

A couple years ago Vivian Girls were so hyped I couldn’t get in to any of their shows or find their sold-out singles. So naturally I was excited to hear about The Babies, a ridiculously awesome, low-key side-project from lead Vivian Girl Cassie Ramone. Ramone and Woods bassist Kevin Morby share vocal duties for the band. Earlier this year the group released an album on Shrimper Records. You should buy it on cassette tape. It is Shrimper Records, after all, the label that first released Lou Barlow and The Mountain Goats on tape.  It’s only $5 and the album is full of punky chords and great melodies.

The amazing duo Mates of State will release their new LP Mountaintops on Barsuk early this Fall (September 13th)! I’m sure we will be in desperate need of some crisp and fun new pop numbers at that point to begin our movement away from the hot, hot, heat of this sure to be, toe-burning summer.

“The new album was self-produced, written and recorded over the last year and a half in 6 different studios with multiple different engineers, and then tied together by mixer Chris Coady (Beach House, Gang Gang Dance, Smith Westerns).” 
 
Track listing for Mountaintops:
1.  Palomino
2.  Maracas
3.  Sway
4.  Unless I’m Led
5.  Total Serendipity
6.  Basement Money
7.  At Least I Have You
8.  Desire
9.  Change
10. Mistakes

Here’s the video “My Only Offer” from the group’s last album “Re-arrange Us” which came out in 2008. “Crushes” is also still available to stream on the group’s web site as well.