Monday, January 26, 2009

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion


(tip: stare at the album art above, watch it move! does it move?)

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (320kbps mp3)
Download via RAPIDSHARE - check it out!

This is definitely the pick me up record of the moment. As a good friend of mine put it best, the first two tracks are kinda of hypnotizing. The soundscapes have a lot of layered tones with many subtle transitions. The first track introduces a great percussion section around 2:30 timestamp which set a great tone and induces the hypnosis. This is best experienced loudly for the deep dive. I like to think the creative direction for their album artwork handshakes well with the direction of the music.

The songs that follow continue delivering epic soundscapes that seem to push the listener in a certain direction. It's like moving through a labyrinth of sound. Some clips even have sounds that I'd imagine in a coming of age movie during an epiphanic moment or some kind of amazing discovery.

Order it here, in Vinyl which will give you a coupon to a free digital download direct from the band, or here as a CD.

I'm still digesting this record. Personal favorite tracks include My Girls, Summertime Clothes, and Bluish.

Johnny Cash - The Legend Of


Johnny Cash - The Legend Of
Download via Megaupload

I admit, I hadn't seriously turned to this legend till after the movie. Those who want to hate - hate on or exit the blog....

Before the feature film, I had heard I've Been Everywhere and Hurt, which aren't bad songs but really aren't the meat and potatoes of this record or of any of his work. Now this record covers several eras of Johnny Cash's music, and I prefer the earlier works. The inarguable rawness, darkness, sense of humor and honesty are what make this music great.

Want your own physical copy, buy it here for less than $9.

Personal favorites from this record are Folsom Prison Blues, Sunday Morning Coming Down and Jackson.

Slowdive - Souvlaki


Slowdive - Souvlaki
Download via Megaupload


For some this is an early 90's thing. For me it's an early 00's thing which means mid twenties and all that that entails. Particularly, during intimate times. Anyhow, they're a British band part of the dubbed 'ambient shoegaze' music categorium. Slow paced, introspective, romantic - somewhat more dramatic than most are willing to handle.

Order it from Amazon, here for less than $9 if you dig it.

Track 6, Souvlaki Space Station is the best song on the record.