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Band of the Day (10.13.10) Eluvium

13 Oct

BOD (10.13.10) Eluvium

It’s really late and I’m having one of those dive deep into my head nights. I needed some ambient music, so I scurried through my care package from my good friend Arizona Turk and our newest excavator and noticed the new Eluvium record. Similes is the fifth album from Portland, Oregon ambient musician Matthew Cooper, under the name Eluvium. The record includes, for the first time, vocals from Matthew. It’s an amazing record and it should be THE record that get’s Eluvium to a place of stardom. It’s not just a sound noise experiment, it melodic, death defying and melodic. Matthew’s voice is similar to another haunting late evening favorite Matt Berninger of The National. It’s not often we write about bands that have 5 records, but it is often that we dream of deserving, hard working musicians getting their day in the sun. Matthew deserves much love for his beautiful records and it’s so worth taking a Saturday night and deep diving into his catalog. For now, I have two tracks for you and I know you won’t be disappointed.

Hear: (I uploaded the two best vocal tracks because they are the best tracks. I love them both…spread his love)
“Making Up Minds”

Download — Eluvium – “Making Up Minds”

“The Motion Makes Me Last”

Download — Eluvium – “The Motion Makes Me Last”

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Band of the Day (10.12.10) BIGCOLOUR

12 Oct

BOD: (10.12.10) BIGCOLOUR

I remember the first time I heard The Police. I can’t say I was of the age where I could see them live, but it was a sound that struck me as inventive. The lead singer playing bass, the drum beats I couldn’t tap my toes to and the layered guitars with reggae overtones and a smattering of garage punk. So there’s this guy from Chicago that seems to have some buzz around him. His name is Brian Brissart and he’s cleverly owning his sound. I know comparing him to The Police is a big “No No” but dude has a direction that people are comfortable with and it sounds great. It’s a combination of Toro Y Moi’s spectacular chillwave vibe, The Police’s vibe and Real Estate’s Indie rock feel. He has a couple of EP’s out, his newest is Meshes of the Laughternoon. Listen to a few tracks below.

UPDATE —- Just got an email from the label and BIGCOLOUR just released the fantastic EP Centuries of Summer and you can download it for free from his BandCamp here.

Listen and love it.

Hear:
“Crevasses” – The Police guitar and vocal vibe. My favorite track from the new EP

BIGCOLOUR – “Crevasses”

“Stork” – Probably the most accessible track from Brian. Love it and I wouldn’t be shocked to see it splattered all over the blogs.

Download – BIGCOLOUR – “Stork”

“Power Stranger” – Love this track too.

Download – BIGCOLOUR – “Power Stranger”
His live band includes:
joseph andert
jordan vouga
alex auby

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Band of the Day (10.11.10) Little Children

12 Oct

BOD (10.11.10) Little Children

Today is a huge day, a day we celebrate because we have a new music excavator. Someone to own The Nordics, digging ever deeper to find us the best new music from the great North. Bristian comes to us from Lund in southern Sweden, he’s a music junkie and he’s been introducing us to new music for sometime now. Please read his bio here

With Little Children, Linus Lutti’s musical alias since early 2009, the tone is the quiet, emotional and sincere. He’s from Stockholm and his voice is soft. The low-key style is his thing, it’s an unmatched tone, but the arrangements of sparse guitar, horns and woodwind instruments could rival that of Bon Iver. Add a jazzy touch like that of John Legend or Jamie Cullum and you have the perfection of Little Children. See Little Children touring London in November…

Hear:
“Hold On” – This song will make our top 25 for the year.

Download now: Little Children – “Hold On”

“Salvation”

Download now: Little Children – “Salvation”

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Band of the Day (10.7.10) Warpaint

7 Oct

BOD: (10.7.10) Warpaint

All girl quartet Warpaint has been on the LA scene for some time now. Over three years of hard core touring, and a few EPs, the band has really found their groove. With a new LP hitting stores this fall, we’ve find the cherokee ladies of Silverlake perfectly mixing electronic sounds with layered vocals. As Cat Power goes retro cover chic, Warpaint smashes it live with the likes of John Frusciante mixing new tracks. Time to make Warpaint your favorite female artists of 2010.

Hear:
“Elephants”

Download — Warpaint – “Elephants”

“Billie Holiday” – Arranged by Red Hot Chili Pepper John Frusciante, this track is vocals first and very pleasant

Download — Warpaint – BillieHoliday

Band:
Emily Kokal /// vocals, guitar
Theresa Wayman /// vocals, guitar
Jenny Lee Lindberg /// bass, vocals
Stella Mozgawa /// drums, keys, vocals

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Band of the Day (10.6.10) Moon Duo

6 Oct

BOD: (10.6.10) Moon Duo

San Francisco is a hot bed for new music. I’m not kidding, see Tamaryn and The Fresh and Onlys. Don’t believe me, we don’t care, because we’re here and there is a sound forming. Moon Duo is the finest of what SF has to offer. Their a wall of spooky sounds and their wall includes a shoegazey horrorific approach that keeps you listening. Our friends at the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride were looking for new music for this year’s event and we at NBD suggested Moon Duo. Sanae Yamada and Ripley Johnson formed Moon Duo in the City in 2009 and their latest EP is kraut driven and it reminds us of BRMC with a mix of Royal Trux and a dose of Turbonegro.

Hear:
“Escape” – Surf rock for the night dwellers.

Download – Moon Duo – “Escape”

“Motorcycle, I Love You”

Download – Moon Duo – “Motorcycle, I Love You”
Band:
Sanae Yamada
Ripley Johnson

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Band of the Day (10.5.10) Miniature Tigers

5 Oct

BOD (10.5.10) Miniature Tigers

Brooklyn indie pop rock, dabbed with a little Supergrass are what make Miniature Tigers great. So they made the trek to the big slope from Phoenix, but it was worth it. You all are probably snickering saying, “Dude Miniature Tigers were so Band of the Day in 2006.” Possibly, and yest CMJ did award them the top crown in 2008, but it’s Fortress that will define this band. Tell it To the Volcano was a fine record for these boys, but they released it smack dab in the in The Vampire Weekend years and they got lumped into that genre. It’s this latest record that makes them special and worthy of the daily jeweled crown. Miniature Tigers have perfected that Brit Rock Supergrass sound and they’ll make it bigger than Supergrass did. Those poor guys released fantastic records every year, and the US just ignored them…

Hear:
“Goldskull” – You’ve heard this single by now and it’s fantastic. WIll make the NBD Top 10. It’s GREAT!

Download –>Miniature Tigers – “Goldskull”

“Egyptian Rose” – The second best track on the album, showing their love for 90’s Brit Indie rock…piano in tow!

Band:
The band is made up of frontman-guitarist Charlie Brand, Rick Schaier on drums and vocals, Algernon Quashie on guitar, keyboard and vocals, and Alex Gerber on bass and vocals.

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Band of the Day (10.4.10) Meursault

4 Oct

BOD: (10.4.10) Meursault

Ahhhh the Scottish love fest continues for Meursault. But it’s time we take this to the US. If you didn’t know it, Meursault is a big deal in Scotland and in the UK. Their first album came out in 2008 and it was considered one of the greatest things sliced Dundee cake. Their Gaelic folk sounds are severely Scottish, but their composition is very modern. I listen to them and I hear bits and pieces of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, but I also hear pure Scottish harmonies. They’re a beautiful band and one that should sit on your mantle for many many years. Their second record was released a few weeks back and it doesn’t disappoint. All Creatures Will Make Merry is ripe with mandolins, acoustic harmonies and layers of vocals. Songs like “Another” are pure, simple folk tunes with layers of sound. The most surprising thing is how they blend the folk, with Animal Collective electronics, layered pianos, echoed vocals with the same purity of their acoustic sounds. I truly love this band and I know you will too.

Neil Pennycook began performing with friends from his hometown of Penicuik in early 2008. Their first record was released in the same year, then re-released by the label with a few marketing buck in 2009. The album made #16 for Scottish Album of the Decade.

Hear: Two tracks that show their diversity

Acoustic Folk
“Another”

Electronic Heavy Folk
“Crank Resolutions”

Band:
Neil Pennycook
Fraser Calder
Chris Bryant
Calum MacLeod
Phillip Quirie
Pete Harvey
Gavin Tarling

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Band of the Day (9.30.10) Sambassadeur

30 Sep

BOD: (9.30.10) Sambassadeur

I’m in a female vocalist mood this week. Stumbled on three very good bands led by females this week. Sambassadeur are a Swedish pop band formed in 2003 in Gothenburg actually in Skövde, a much smaller town in Sweden. Anna Persson has a silky voice with a twinge of attitude. The band are signed to the Labrador label, releasing three studio records. Their third album, European, was released in February 2010. I think I’ll call them The Younger Sibling of The Cardigans with a flair for the Metric, Emily Haines dramatics. Best description I have. “Albatross” is a great track and makes the album download worth the listen.

Hear:
“Albatross”

Download —>Sambassadeur – “Albatross”

Band Members:
Anna Persson, Daniel Permbo, Joachim Läckberg, Daniel Tolergård

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Band of the Day (9.29.10) Lower Dens

29 Sep

BOD (9.29.10) Lower Dens

Jana Hunter, brings spaced out mid-fi, fuzzed out sounds with Lower Dens. Having worked with Devendra Banhart early in her career, Jana cut her teeth with Phosphorescent and CocoRosie. Lower Dens is the resurfacing of Jana, away since late 2007, and she is the first artist to be featured on Devendra’s label Gnomonsong.

Lower Dens is a foursome that co-habitats in Baltimore, though Jana is originally from Texas. Their sound is reminiscent of early 80’s rock, with clean guitars, fuzzy synth and awesome vocals. I won’t place them in the XX category, but they sure do cross over that sonic sound several times on this album. Jana’s voice is a combination of Mazzy Star, PJ Harvey and the gutteral sounds of Fiona Apple.

Hear:
“Tea Lights”

DOWNLOAD NOW Lower Dens – “Tea Lights”

Download their DayTrotter Session —> Don’t know DayTrotter? Go there now to get a FREE SESSION. Love the Daytrotter.

Band Members:
Jana Hunter
Bookends
Teddy
Stella

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Band of the Day (9.28.10) Mystery Jets

28 Sep

BOD: (9.28.10) Mystery Jets

It’s a miracle or a damn shame that British bands don’t break in the US. So many labels try, but the mainstream American ear is primed for processed drivel. It’s people like Arizona Turk me and our faithful listeners who understand, support and evangelize their favorite Brit rockers. I told the stories about Doves, Travis, etc. etc. etc. etc. but for God’s sake, someone please take Mystery Jets and make them big. They have 45,000 followers on Facebook, three albums and that’s not enough. They need a TV show, a big movie, an iPhone ad, a VW campaign, something. I put Mystery Jets in the UK files as “Yet Another Fantastic Example Of Sunken Atlantic Treasures.” Maybe it’s the trek across the Atlantic, but never-the-less, here is some good old fashion afternoon listening.

Mystery Jets, stormed onto the scene in 2006 from Eel Pie Island. Yes this is a real place, a tiny island on the river Thames and it was a musical haven in the 60’s. In 2010 they introduced Serotonin, their third record, and it’s good. They bring big, rock pop sounds that are complex but don’t suffer from any Northwest echoed vocals. It’s what you expect from a big bad British rock band. It’s heartfelt, and it gets right to the point. It’s synthesized with clap machines and 70’s glam riffs but it quickly delivers Rush type vocals with simple clean British guitar riffs. The 80’s synth is an accompaniment, not a detriment. I say they’re one part The Coral, a dot of Travis, a sprinkle of The Killers, frosted with Geddy Lee vocals. By the way, Mystery Jets have more Facebook followers than Geddy Lee. Go figure.

Hear:
“Melt” – My favorite track from the new record

Band:
Kapil Trivedi
William Rees
Kai Fish
Blaine Harrison
Henry Harrison

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Band of the Day (9.27.10) How to Dress Well

27 Sep

BOD: (9.27.10) How to Dress Well

How to Dress Well is Tom Krell, a Bon Iverish vocalist that accompanies 90’s R&B beats. A clever sound from a clever man. He is a daytime philosopher from Cologne, Germany and a nighttime DJ who’s created a brand new sound. His vocals are eerie, his sound is familiar but unique. I think you’ll find this album one of your favorites of the year. Love Remains came out on September 21st. Get it here. Think Jodeci with a drop of LL Cool J, a spoonful of Tangerine Dream and a pound of Bon Iver.

Hear:
“Take It On”

How To Dress Well – “Decisions (feat. Yuksel Arslan)”

“Endless Rain” – It sounds like Jodeci was hijacked by Bon Iver

How To Dress Well – “Endless Rain”

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Band of The Day (9.24.10) Chapel Club

24 Sep

BOD (9.24.10) Chapel Club

I heard the track “The Shore” and thought I was listening to the band The Shore. Totally f’d me up, then I realized, wow this is a great first wave rendition of what was great about post-punk LA, London and New York. Dark, desperate, alone and searching for meaning in music. The Joy Division desire to have music define your death. Then you hear the second coming or as we call The Second Wave of New Wave…no it’s not that electro-clash crap that has ruined dance music, for the most part, but it’s the combination of Interpol and now Chapel Club, tugging at your eye-lids to not dose off and have your eyes doze off to your shoes. It’s not shoegaze Indie Rock, but The Second [New] Wave, the one that makes goth music, cool. The bands that do this well, JJ72, My Vitriol, Death on Wednesday, Interpol, Chapel Club. It boggles my mind that British bands can’t break in the US. Labels literally have no idea or luck in their pursuit to break these artists. Some of our favorite bands hail from the big island, and we’re shocked to see their tour schedule or Billboard sales. I challenge you to find a better band than Chapel Club. Now spread the word and start the fire. Maybe you can make the difference.

I love the track “The Shore” because it’s heart-wrenching, while it’s uplifting. The chorus from these London boys, pull you off your feet, wipes off your Harry Potter prep school coat and keeps the Joy Division Tee intact. It’s meant to be hurt your feelings, but it wins by patching things up at the end. I love when music does that. Thanks again to our own Arizona Turk

Hear:
“The Shore”

Chapel Club – “The Shore”

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Band of the Day (9.23.10) Tamaryn

23 Sep

BOD (9.23.10) Tamaryn

Sometimes life does a funny thing. You ask the universe for something and it delivers. I was thinking that I hadn’t heard a band recently that just kicked my ass. A band that changed the way I looked at the day. I also commented a few days ago how the The Fresh & Onlys have officially brought back the SF music scene. Well, now the universe delivered the greatest gift of all. A band that blew me away and they’re from NBD’s homeville, San Francisco. Tamaryn is gazy, airy and most of all, sonically similar to the best album of the 00’s, My Morning Jacket’s At Dawn. Tamaryn met Rex John Shelverton in NYC, they relocated to Rex’s hometown of SF, kicked the goth crap and rooted themselves in a fast forward sound. It’s not as purely brilliant as MMJ’s early work, but it’s damn good. Tamaryn brings her best Mazzy Star and this album, Waves, will be a dominant force for many many years to come. I will even venture to say that Tamaryn could be NBD’s Band of the Year.

Hear:
“Sandstone” – It’s makes me feel the same as when I heard “Heaven or Las Vegas” by Cocteau Twins

Download —> Tamaryn – “Sandstone”

“Love Fade”

Download —> Tamaryn – “Love Fade”

Band:
Made by Rex John Shelverton & Tamaryn

Live Show:
Jonah Buffa: Bass
Matthew Bajda: Drums
Rex: Guitar

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