THANXGIVING PLAYLIZT

Can't believe it's Thanksgiving already. Here's a little playlist I threw together. Based it more on the mood of the songs than the lyrics. It's best for the after dinner tryptophanic/drunk slumber. Share it with the family and friends while you reminisce and share stories about each others lives. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

MP3 :: Monarques - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
MP3 :: Bowerbirds - Northern Lights
MP3 :: The Walkmen - New Country
MP3 :: Volcano Choir - Sleepymouth
MP3 :: Stars - On Peak Hill
MP3 :: Grizzly Bear - Little Brothers
MP3 :: Dilute - Apple
MP3 :: Jets To Brazil - Autumn Walker

For the family that likes movies instead of tunes, Home Alone is on FX until midnight in the east coast. I've already watched it twice.

DIGI DREAMS' BEST ALBUMS OF 2009: PART TWO

Our list for the top 10 albums of 2009 was carefully constructed and negotiated by myself and Tony. We were blown away by the incredible work of these albums from the first track to the last - not one note lazy or misused. It was incredibly difficult to decide a good working order. And this time we'll give you some reasons as to WHY we chose what we chose. Be sure to check out our own personal lists in the comments section after this post and feel free to give us your own opinions on what you thought was your fave album of 09.

TOP 20-11

Honorable Mentions:
Here We Go Magic - S/T
Cage - Depart From Me
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Coalesce - OX
Rain Machine - S/T
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
Mos Def - The Ecstatic

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10. jj - jj n° 2 [7/1 - Sincerely Yours]

jj captured my interest earlier this summer while the pavement was just starting to build up some steam. Their debut lp was like a Supersoaker 50 for the ears. - Evan

fave track :: from africa to málaga

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9. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - S/T [2/3 - Slumberland]

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart own a small piece of my soul, and this record is exactly why. -Tony

fave track :: Young Adult Friction

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8. The Love Language - S/T [2/10 - Bladen County]

I found The Love Language while spending a cold night in November of 2008 searching for new music to feed on. Their music carried this fresh and vibrant aura of not-so-lo-fi love. - Evan

fave track :: Sparxxx

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7. Do Make Say Think - Other Truths [10/21 - Constellation Records]

Four songs. Forty minutes. Each song feels like a new season and without any singer or lyrics, this record made me feel something new as each song built and progressed into their beautiful endings. -Tony

fave track :: Do

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6. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns [6/4 - Astralwerks]

Natasha Khan's sophmore effort opens with her soft voice caressing the morning dew of a subway until you're taken away from the busy bustle by tribal drums from a far away land. A gorgeous album overall. - Evan

fave track :: Glass

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5. Beirut/Realpeople - March Of The Zapotec/Holland EP [2/17 - Ba Da Bing Records]

Two EPs with two completely different feels. Zach Condon topped himself with this collection of songs. He has a 19 piece band (The Jiminez Band) backing him throughout March Of The Zapotec, and Holland is credited to Realpeople, his early musical moniker. Such a diverse and carefully crafted sound...it's amazing that he is only 23 years old. -Tony

fave track :: Beirut - The Shrew
fave track :: Real People - My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille

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4. Why? - Eskimo Snow [9/22 - Anticon]

Always very lyrically entertaining, Why? really went out on a limb with Eskimo Snow, as it is his least hip-hop oriented work to date...and he somehow perfectly brought it all together and still maintained his personality throughout the record. -Tony

fave track :: Berkeley By Hearseback

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3. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [5/26 - Warp]

Easily one of the most anticipated albums of 2009, Veckatimest stands out with it's flawless tracklist and it's impeccable knack for capturing every mood. - Evan

fave track :: Ready, Able

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2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [5/26 - V2/Loyauté]
When they wrote this record, do you think they knew that they annihilated (almost) everything else that would be released in 2009? Such a pristine collection of songs. If you don't own this record, you need to buy it. Now. -Tony

fave track :: Lisztomania

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1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [1/20 - Domino]

I totally called it. 2009 would be Animal Collective's year with the anticipated and loved Merriweather Post Pavilion. The first time I listened to this album, my heart was pounding with excitement while the first track ["In The Flowers"] made MPP bloom into a colorful and perfect welcome to this year. -Evan

fave tracks :: My Girls , Brothersport

Double Dosage: Grizzly Bear @ Conan + Chris Taylor's new project Cant

Do Grizzly Bear ever hibernate? It seems that they've been working non stop since the beginning of the year with building huge and well deserved hype for Veckatimest. They've gone on a few tours nationwide, recorded a song for some soundtrack and still have time to hang out on the late night circuit. Last night they took on Conan with Victoria Legrand [Beach House] who fittingly brought the beach umbrellas for the backdrop. Not really.



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In other Gbear related news, bassist and harmonizer Chris Taylor has a side solo project entitled Cant. Check out the track below and click the link to check out this growing record label.

MP3 :: Cant - Ghosts

[mp3 via stereogum]

[Belated] SATURDAY IN VIDS: Volcano Choir // Grizzly Bear // The XX // Music Go Music

So I'm on the ball as far as keeping Digital Dreams a daily blog, but sometimes I get sidetracked either by being productive and responsible or getting a "little" drunk. Hence, the belated post. Hope you all had a great weekend!
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Volcano Choir are waiting patiently in my iTunes list until the time is right. The trees will have to be bare, the sun will set earlier and my breath will be visible. Check out the video below for Island, IS. It's capable of putting you in a meditative trance. Bawk like a chicken.



MP3 :: Volcano Choir - Island, IS

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G Bear playing a new song from that New Moon soundtrack with Victoria Legrand from Beach House. mmmmmmm



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Jools Holland has a knack for getting some excellent up and coming bands to play his circular music fuck. Watch him introduce The XX as they play Islands and Night Time. Both are from the debut album XX.



MP3 :: The XX - Islands

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Music Go Music recently performed on Face Time. Not sure exactly what this Face Time thing is, but they have some superb video quality.



MP3 :: Music Go Music - Light Of Love

TRACKLIST + MP3: New Moon Soundtrack - Death Cab For Cutie

I never got into the whole Twilight thing. After looking at this tracklist for the upcoming movie New Moon, I feel kind of happy but awkward. Do I embrace the fact that indie rock is having it's day and let it ride or feel strange that teeny-bopper-superfans will become huge fans of Grizzly Bear? It'll probably be the first. I highly doubt the latter. and to tell you the truth, this tracklist kind of reminds me of this charity album that dropped earlier this year...

1. Death Cab for Cutie: "Meet Me on the Equinox"
2. Band of Skulls: "Friends"
3. Thom Yorke: "Hearing Damage"
4. Lykke Li: "Possibility"
5. The Killers: "A White Demon Love Song"
6. Anya Marina: "Satellite Heart"
7. Muse: "I Belong to You (New Moon Remix)"
8. Bon Iver and St. Vincent: "Rosyln"
9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: "Done All Wrong"
10. Hurricane Bells: "Monsters"
11. Sea Wolf: "The Violet Hour"
12. OK Go: "Shooting the Moon"
13. Grizzly Bear: "Slow Life"
14. Editors: "No Sound But the Wind"
15. Alexandre Desplat: "New Moon (The Meadow)"

MP3 :: Death Cab For Cutie - Meet Me On The Equinox

New Moon Soundtrack is out 10/13

SATURDAY IN VIDEOS: Micachu & The Shapes // Grizzly Bear // Sufjan Stevens // White Lies // Empire Of The Sun

This was premiered on a few days ago on bjork.com. When interviewed for NPR, Bjork had these kind words to say:

"I saw her in London, in June, a year ago and I was really excited about her. I thought it was that sort of 'do it yourself' approach, with all these little guitars and her attitude was really fresh… think it's really, really fun. (She)is a bit of a prankster really, isn't she?"

Aw, Bjork. Well anyway, here's the DIY-ish tree/photobooth video for "Turn Me Well" which is off of her debut album Jewellery. 

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What do fencing, stop watches and a red ball have to do with Grizzly Bear? I have no clue. But Sean Pecknold [brother of that Fleet Foxes dude] who directed this vid probably does. Or doesn't. Who knows.

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Interlude I—Dream Sequence in Subi Circumnavigation from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

Hulla Hoops the BQE and cars stuck in traffic. Which one doesn't belong? Well, none according to Sufjan Stevens new film The BQE [out Oct 20th via Asthmatic Kitty]. Read all about this new project here.

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I'm not a fan of late night unless it's either Conan or Colbert. So naturally, I didn't watch Kimmel until White Lies came on. It's safe to say that they pretty rocked the shit out of it.

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Statues, make-up, a horse, oh my!

Saturday In Videos - Grizzly Bear // Passion Pit // Lily Allen // Ducktails

Gorgeous rendition of Ready, Able complete with a killer string section

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Passion Pit | To Kingdom Come from EFFIN' MEGA VIDEOS on Vimeo.

Here's a new joyous/apocalyptic new video for "To Kingdom Come" from that new Pashy Pit album - in case you've never heard of it before. HA. Nice mustache

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Another Lily Allen video - this time for her song "22." Buy It's Not Me, It's You @ insound and def check out the vid for "F*ck You" overrrr....here

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At first I wasn't really a fan of Ducktails. The band not the show. The show fucking rocked. Anyway, I'm slowly catching on to the dreamy, sleepy instrumentals. It only makes sense that the video for "Parasailing" would feature slow motion monster trucks, chameleons and square dancing underneath hazy colored filters and textures. Hello, lazy summer.

[Video] Grizzly Bear brings Cheerleader to Fallon

This week/weekend has been very strange to say the least. First MJ and now Billy Mays have left us in the course of 3 days. Real shitty. Real shitty.

In other news, I've been kind of MIA on the blog action lately due to school, work and some weekend play in my city of choice - Philadelphia. I'll be back in full force pretty soon. Don't worry baby birds. I'll feed you soon.

Here's a nice vid from Friday's Jimmy Fallon featuring Grizzly Bear to hold you over:

The Weekend Fundown [Fun Edition]

What are you planning to do this weekend? Get drunk? See a show? Get laid? All of the above? I hope so.

Here are some ideas:

FRIDAY:
Hoots & Hellmouth @ JB's [CD RELEASE PARTY!]
The National @ Electric Factory
Phillies vs Nationals - 7:05 Pm

SATURDAY:
The Avett Brothers @ The Troc
A Camp @ JB's
Zee Avi @ World Cafe Live
ROCKTITS! w/ DJs Joel, Russ, Nez, Steve V @ Kungfu Necktie
Phillies vs Nationals - 7:05 PM

SUNDAY:
Jessica Lea Mayfield @ JB's
Phillies vs Nationals - 1:35 PM

TUESDAY:
Grizzly Bear @ The Troc [See you there!!]

Hoots & Hellmouth - Known For Possession
The National - Fake Empire
The Avett Brothers - Matrimony
Jessica Lea Mayfield - Kiss Me Again
Zee Avi - Bitter Heart

[Saturday In Videos] White Rabbits/Grizzly Bear/Vivian Girls/Rap Chop

[White Rabbits just released their newest album It's Frightening this past Tuesday. Highly recommended.]

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Two Weeks


They also just did a Black Cab Session w/ the song "All We Ask" from the upcoming album, Veckatimest.

[oh yea...you can stream Veckatimest on Grizzly Bear's myspace page. and don't forget to buy it on Tuesday]

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[Vivian Girls video for Moped Girls. Thought it was pretty funny]

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[Is it sad that I think this is actually catchy? "You're gonna love my nuts"]

[Mom Does Reviews] Grizzly Bear / Passion Pit / St. Vincent / Phoenix

Mom's are the best. They're caring, sweet, motivating and most of all - honest. In honor of mother's day, I played a few of the most anticipated and most talked about albums of 2009 [so far] for my mom. Here she'll tackle the intricate details of Grizzly Bear's latest offering - Veckatimest, Passion Pit's Manners, St. Vincent's Actor and Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Let's get to it, shall we:

Grizzly Bear [May 26 2009 - Warp Recs]
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
--They need to stop playing the same piano chord. The other instruments were good though. What was that?--
Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader
--Eh. It's okay--

Passion Pit [May 19 2009 - Frenchkiss Recs]
Passion Pit - Make Light
--That's a 'him'?? NO WAAYY! Noooo...It's a her. You're fooling me--
Passion Pit - Little Secrets
--Has a good beat. As long as he doesn't try to hit higher notes...it's good. Yea that one's good--

St. Vincent [Out Now on 4AD Recs]
St. Vincent - Strangers
--What is she saying? Boring boring boring boring boring. I've had enough--
St. Vincent - Actor Out Of Work
-She has a good voice. But she has to take the cotton balls out of her mouth-

Phoenix [May 26 2009 - Glass Note Recs]
Phoenix - Listzomania
--This is making me tired. Next--
Phoenix - 1901
--This one I like. Good tune. Can't understand the words, but good tune--

[video] Grizzly Bear on Jools Holland

If you look past the huge "evaluation copy" label, you can watch Grizzly Bear perform "Two Weeks" on last night's Jools Holland. I love this song. And you should too

Sunday Shake Up

My Sundays nights are usually always the same. Come home from work, make some Sencha, create a playlist and hit the books [aka study]. It never occurred to me that maybe I should post my playlist. Well, here it is.

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Veckatimest [2009]
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
100 Days, 100 Nights [2007]
Faded Paper Figures - North By North
Dynamo [2008]
Camera Obscura - French Navy
My Maudlin Career [2009]
Peter Broderick - Below It
Home [2008]
Beirut - Scenic World
Gulag Orkestar [2006]
Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
Walking On A Dream [2008]
Hella - Biblical Violence
Hold Your Horse Is [2002]

Should I make this a weekly thing??
Suggest a good name and maybe you'll win something

REMXXXX: Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Thanks to a DJ named Tom Ato, one of my favorite songs at the moment is now remixed. 

Check out Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" remixed with a variety of Jay-Z rhymes, Tag Team's "whoomp there it is" and Lil John's "let's go." I don't think this is the first time we'll hear a Two Weeks remix...


Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks [tomato remix]

[mp3] Grizzly Bear "Cheerleader"

I know about that whole Grizzly Bear/Veckatimest leak debachle. I have a split view on downloading illegal music and I don't feel like getting into it right now. Anyway, I may or may not have downloaded the leaked shit version of Grizzly Bear's new album. And if I did, I already deleted it. So there's no worries. I'll wait until May, and I'll even go out and purchase it. How do you like them apples?

Anyway, here's a high quality version of a new song "Cheerleader" from the Warp website. [Warp is the label that Veckatimest is being released on, just in case you didn't know].

Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader

And please, have some patience and wait until May 26th to buy the damn album.

New Album Cover via Grizzly Bear!

Thanks to the magical powers of the internet this is the cover of Grizzly Bear's new album, titled Veckatimest:

And here is the tracklist:
1. Southern Point
2. Two Weeks
3. All We Ask
4. Fine for Now
5. Cheerleader
6. Dory
7. Ready, Able
8. About Face
9. Hold Still
10. While You Wait for the Others
11. I Live With You
12. Foreground

And here is the song "Two Weeks" performed live @ Letterman:



Excited much!? YES

If you haven't heard the news already from multiple indie blogs/websites, Grizzly Bear were featured on Letterman a few days ago to perform their new song "Two Weeks"