Voilà! Music Wrap-Up: 2008

That's it. The end. 2008 is coming to a close, and what a wonderful/crazy/stupid/[insert adjective] year it has been. As always, there was a ton of music put out in 2008, and Voilà! is here to do that music justice.

Voilà! has been active and seen a whole year of music, officially. And this is the second run through of the best songs in a year for our humble site. Scrummaging around for some of the neatest music you can find may be a little cumbersome and difficult, but was it ever worth it! We found some unbelievably great stuff this year; 2008 was quite a zinger of a music year. From the latest kings of dance and pop trying to take their place on a thrown, some Chicagoan-Hollywood lovers kicking and screaming from the top, to marching bands who have you celebrating happiness, 2008 has left a defined mark on the music world. This is just some of the awesomeness we all collectively experienced through our speakers.

All of the following albums/bands are in no particular order - we're just going with the flow - but all made their mark specifically in the last 365 days. Just like last year, (when possible) I'll provide the link to buy the album from the well respected folks at Insound.com, in my opinion, one of the best music purveyors on the net. But in these tough economic times, you may want to send your money to a more "renowned" business. Never fret, because most of the music that made our list can probably be found on Amazon.com! But, before we begin, let's have a short review over how Voilà! handles our Music Wrap-Up.

Here's how it works:
The Top 10 - The best 10 albums of 2008.
The Bottom 10 - The best 10 albums that didn't make the Top 10. Hence, Bottom 10.
Obscure Recommendations - Some more obscure or interesting albums released in 2008 that were worthy of mention.
Best Bands of 2008 - The best of the best that Voilà! found over the year.
Best Bands For 2009 - The best new bands you should really pay attention to starting January 1st.






Top 10:
[the best of the best]




Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - "I see a mansard roof in the trees," where Blake got a new face, but nobody cares about an Oxford Comma because the kids don't stand a chance. Let's face it folks, Vampire Weekend took the world by storm with their debut self-titled album. With a slew of dorky-collard-shirt indie-pop mixed with an African tinge, these New York cats have Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa'd their way from near obscurity to international notoriety. The album itself is packed with songs that will keep you drawn in and listening again and again the whole way through. This album is borderline perfection, and it would be a tragedy to not hear it.



Moonbeams by Throw Me The Statue - Can a band be filled with such deliciously tasty creativity and music to the point where they are too addicting? Throw Me The Statue certainly tested those waters with their debut Moonbeams. Follow this pop rainbow and you'll find yourself at the big pot of musical gold at the end. With songs like "Lolita," "About to Walk," "Your Girlfriend's Car," and "This Is How We Kiss," there's a song for everyone. With lo-fi aesthetics and teeth rotting sweet melodies, Moonbeams should not be missed.



Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie - Death Cab celebrates a decade of playing wondrous music with a brand new album! Narrow Stairs takes all the bubblegum pop of contemporary Death Cab and mixes it with their old school stylings; a mixture of Something About Airplanes and The Photo Album. Narrow Stairs is a perfect representation of the ever evolving, ever involving, ever intriguing, ever exciting musical spectrum Death Cab for Cutie is known for.



Come Into My House by No Kids - There's a unique something in the air. An unmistakable something that's drifting in from Western Canada. I promise it's not a North American cold front. It's in fact No Kids, and with their bubblegum pop that emulates all forms of music with irresistible intrigue that No Kids display on their debut Come Into My House, you won't be able to turn away. Come Into My House is an album that will draw you in, and one that may never let you free again. Embrace it with open arms, and you'll be bathed in the most pleasant of sounds, I promise.



The Muslims by The Soft Pack [formerly The Muslims] - Good ol' homecookin'. Well, at least in a musical sense. That's what The Soft Pack is great at, and when they were still known as The Muslims, they released their self titled debut LP, filled to the brim with some wild, vibrant, fun, cranky, crazy, cool collection of songs. Recorded very simply, The Soft Pack emulates something like The Strokes if they recorded in a basement. The shocker here is The Soft Pack makes The Strokes look silly. With a crisp, lucid, minimal style, The Soft Pack's debut album is organic rock 'n roll, without all the unnecessary gimmicks and additives.



Bam Bam by Bam Bam - One of the biggest break out bands to land a stage at SXSW 2008, Bam Bam's debut self-titled release is off the chain. With a tremendous presence, a colourful array of intensely dynamic songs, and a unique take on indie rock with a Mexican perspective, Bam Bam is an unprecedented presence on this year's Top 10. Their debut album is on your required listening list, no matter what language you speak or country your from. There is nothing that compares.



Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust by Sigur Rós - How do you top something so awe inspiring as Sigur Rós' album Takk..., which garnered the Icelandic ensemble international acclaim from literally all over the world? Well, if Heima, now the #1 documentary on IMDB doesn't do it, how about a brand new album? Stripping away the orchestral wildness of Takk..., Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust presents Sigur Rós as they were meant to be seen: poignant, grandiose, and beautiful beyond comprehension.

Ocular Spectacular by MGMT - Last year, people were dancing away to !!!'s Myth Takes. Any good Top 10 will have something great to dance to. But I never imagined putting anything like Ocular Spectacular on this list. MGMT came parading through with a dance-pop hurricane that blew their competition out of the water entirely. This album will make the strongest of dancers need to take a break, the most renowned DJs giddy like schoolgirls, and may even impress the likes of superstars like Daft Punk. Ocular Spectacular made this list without even trying.



Pop-Up by Yelle - Les personnes de français a arrive, et ils est prepare à détruire les personnes du États-Unis! Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme. Or maybe that's just crappy French (which it is). But regardless, the French have indeed begun to take the States and the world by storm now that French rapper Yelle has left a trail of adoring fans in her wake across the planet. She released Pop-Up to a wide range of success, and the fast paced, bass thudding beats on Pop-Up, along with the catchy, promiscuous, raunchy French lyrics easily earn her a spot on anyone's best music of 2008.



When The Music Starts by Mount Righteous - I could give a brief summary of Mount Righteous, or about their debut album, When The Music Starts. I really could. I could tell you about how their marching band-esque attitude gives them a personality like no other, or how their eclectic, vibrant songs bring happiness and joy out of your heart, and make it tangible. But that wouldn't do them justice. So, I'll let Mount Righteous explain: "When the music starts, we all get together. And we dance, and sing, and love one another. It's a gorgeous thing, the feeling it brings. Freedom is finally mine."



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Bottom 10:
[the albums that almost made it]




Hold On Now, Youngster... by Los Campesinos! - Debut albums from great bands can almost be a shoe-in for best-of-this-year lists, and Los Campesinos!' debut is no exception. The kooky characters from Wales present a truly unique, fast paced, eccentric critique of pop-culture in their debut Hold On Now, Youngster..., which sent these boys on the fast track to success internationally. C'mon, if you aren't addicted to "You! Me! Dancing!" yet, you need to listen to some different music.



Youth Novels by Lykke Li - Her name may be tricky, but her hips and the music will never lie. The entrancing debut from the Swedish indie-pop sweetheart Lykke Li is pure golden with gorgeous melodies orbiting unprecedentedly perfect rhythms boiling down every emotion into a foot tapping, hip wagging dance. Whether you love her for her lively fashion, her many collaborations, or that silky sweet voice that draws you in like a siren, Lykke Li's debut Youth Novels will entrance you with a hypnotic beauty that is unparalleled.



We Brave Bee Stings and All by Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Ms. Thao Nguyen, along with her diligent compadres in The Get Down Stay Down, definitely set a new standard for contemporary folk music. With a strong emphasis on blues and distinctive uniqueness in musical improvisation, We Brave Bee Stings & All raises the bar for all their peers. Thao's raspy voice, along with her conceptual lyrics, and The Get Down Stay Down's interesting instrumentation, We Brave Bee Stings and All is a must hear from 2008.



At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade - To be unique, they say, you have to march to the beat of your own drum. Obviously nobody considered how Wolf Parade would "Beat Your Drum" if they were given the chance. Now on their sophomore LP, the anglophone Montréal quartet Wolf Parade have been tearing their way through the music scene with the release of At Mount Zoomer. Taking all you love from Apologies to the Queen Mary and multiplying it by four, At Mount Zoomer brings a maturing view of a wild band.



Pershing by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - There was a dilemma this year. Two of the biggest pop albums made a release invariably at the same time, Moonbeams by Throw Me The Statue, and Perishing, by Someone Still Loves You... What do you do?! Perishing is a tidal wave of fun-lovin' and jubilance! Perishing may be down here on the Bottom 10, but it is identically synonymous with Moonbeams on the Top. It's all a matter of taste, my dear readers; don't count Perishing out; it's a must hear.



Fate by Dr. Dog - If there was probably a stand-out band that just about everyone could agree on for 2008, in the independent music scene, it might easily be Dr. Dog. The Philladelphia boys struck a chord across the mainstream media with We All Belong, and followed their success up with Fate. Fate presents a significantly matured and diligently crafted sound, progressive and textured, a work that leaves you begging for more.



Folie à Deux by Fall Out Boy - They've got the haters tugged in tow, and pride themselves in the derision. With the debut of Infinity On High, Wentz turned these guys into Hollywood superstars rather than rough 'n tumblin' Chicago boys. But if you take out all the MTV drama, when you look at these guys objectively, their latest release with Folie à Deux is actually a pretty grand album. Folie à Deux is an anthemic release, filled to the brim with pop-rock jams that beg to be compared to Take This To Your Grave day, along with quirky influence from Stumps' extensive music taste (listen for Prince or Costello) Fall Out Boy scores a casual goal. At least here, anyway.



Partie Traumatic by Black Kids - An expansive celebration of the keyboard, Black Kids' debut LP launched them into a land of critical acclaim. This album is vibrant and draws back to Hot Hot Heat's Elevator in both music and vocal styling. What sets Black Kids apart is their vibrant uniqueness - a flavour that can't be replicated any other way. If you like dancing, this album is for you.



'The Very Best' Mixtape by Esau Mwamwaya - How in the world did this end up in the Bottom 10?! I'm really at a loss here, friends. Malawi vocalist Esau Mwamwaya, along with Radioclit, have crafted themselves a huge collection of amazing remixes of wonderful artists including Architecture In Helsinki, Vampire Weekend, and M.I.A. They're almost all sung in Chichewa, and I haven't the faintest what Esau might be saying, but isn't it just FABULOUS?! There is no reason this should be in the Bottom 10; this is in fact, one of the best albums of the year.



Broken Social Scene Presents: Something for All of Us... by Brendan Canning - It can't be a year without Broken Social Scene, right? The Canadian supergroup is still having a blast with their eclectic Broken Social Scene Presents series, which still has last.fm users scratching their heads as who to list the artist as. This year, co-founder Brendan Canning gets his shot at a feature album, with Something for All of Us..., and pulls out all the stops for his re-introduction. If you haven't heart "Church Under the Stairs" yet, what have you been doing all year?


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Obscure Recommendations
[some folks who made enough noise to be heard]


Weepy by Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

Acoustic EP by Motion City Soundtrack

Cars by Now, Now Every Children

A Good Day by Priscilla Ahn

The Bedroom Covers by The Morning Benders

The Bake Sale by The Cool Kids

Texas by PlayRadioPlay!

¿Cómo Te Llama? by Albert Hammond Jr.

Seaside Rock by Peter Bjorn and John

Colin Meloy Sings Live! by Colin Meloy

We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed by Los Campesinos!

Sad Robots EP by Stars

Uroboros by Dir en grey

Jingle Spells 2 by Various Artists

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Soundtrack by Various Artists

Who Killed Harry Houdini? by I'm From Barcelona

o by Tilly and the Wall

Loyalty to Loyalty by Cold War Kids



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Best Bands of 2008
[the ones Voilà! watched closely]


Bam Bam

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

Priscilla Ahn

The Soft Pack (formerly The Muslims)

Yelle

No Kids

Ohbijou

Peachcake

Mom

Mount Righteous

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Best Bands For 2009
[the ones you should start watching closely]


Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

The Je Ne Sais Quoi

Dirty Skirts

Now, Now Every Children

Via Audio

Wax On Radio

Lite

Eisley

Mount Righteous

The Scene Aesthetic

Malajube

The Cool Kids + Kenna = Loose Wires Remix

Everything's better in twos. Pong is a classic, of course. But let's stay away from the video game metaphores. Mates of State, The White Stripes, Animal and Not Animal, Hold On Now, Youngster... and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed; you can't really go wrong when you have another to bounce off of.

The Cool Kids know this, and employ it with a unique degree of perfection. Representing as usual, the Chicagoan duo have teamed up with musical entrepreneur Kenna in a remix of Kenna's song "Loose Wires". Prepare for the symphonic exaltation of feet-moving, dance worthy music while The Cool Kids take you to the nearest free space to get your body movin' with the bumpin' beat. Why yes, Kenna, it is electric in here.

Wander over to The Cool Kids' website, and snag yourself a free download of Kenna's "Loose Wires" remix featuring The Cool Kids. Hurry, hurry!

The Voilà! Music Omnibus (Christmas)

I try to stay on top of the music world, at least from my point of view, as thoroughly as possible. But I freely admit, sometimes the music scene gets carried away, and will unleash more stuff than I can keep track of, or have time for. It's not exactly hard work to keep a music blog up, but when one has to maintain a professional/social/family life as well, I must admit, sometimes I can't report everything to thee avid readers.

The snow may be coming down, but can you here the sound? Hark! Are those jingle bells? Is Santa's sleigh coming our way? What is that deafening roar? Why none other than the Voilà! Omnibus, of course. It's decked out with snow chains for adequate speedy travel down these icy streets, as well as so many Christmas lights that it's probably breaking some sort of fire code, all to enliven your glorious Christmas spirit. There are gingerbread cookies and a slew of Christmas songs playing over here; please, couples, there is mistletoe in the back of the bus - we don't want to see all the snogging. Un... deux... trois... ALLEZ!

Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage, Volume VIII

Sufjan's Christmas 2008 Compilation
There are tons of great holiday songs albums out there. Most people think of Nat King Cole, or Otis Redding, or Frank Sinatra. But as for contemporary music, you can't go wrong with the Yuletide folk renditions by Sufjan Stevens. Sufjan's annual tradition is to record a small collection of Christmas tunes (classics and original) strictly for family and friends as a Christmas present. Last year, a huge collection of his Christmas songs were put out. But that doesn't mean he's through! Run right over here to snag Sufjan Steven's 2008 Christmas record....... awkwardly titled Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage, Volume VIII... I just report it and listen to the music guys, I swear.



"I Was Very Taken With The Turtle Dove."
Belle & Sebastian's Christmas Party for Peel Sessions
The best part for a music lover like me is to catch wind of all the amazing new Christmas music that filters in from all directions once December is upon us. Now, normally, it's just a band nobody's ever heard of trying to do a neat cover. But what if it's an ensemble like Belle & Sebastian? The indie-pop collective from Glasgow visited the Peel Sessions, and recorded a whole session, filled with old B&S favourites, as well as oodles of Christmas songs. C'mon, how can you pass up covers of James Brown and Elvis Christmas songs? Go check it and download the entire Peel Session here.


Who Wants To Be Picasso These Days, Anyway?
You Ain't No Picasso releases Christmas Mix
Matt Jordan knows how to value Christmas. On his blog, You Ain't No Picasso, it's easy to see this. I mean, between all the Christmas updates, and The Twelve Days of Mixmas, how can you doubt? Of course though, what Christmas would it be without a little free music? Mosey on this way, and you can catch You Ain't No Picasso's 2008 Christmas mix, filled to the brim with The Polyphonics Spree, The Boy Least Likely To, The Kinks, Frightened Rabbit, and many more. Go now!


The Perspective of Listening to Good Music
Rachel Lee Shares her Favourites of 2008
The days of "The Saddest Christmas" and "The Winter Rush," but lately, Rachel Lee of both Some By Sea and Ghosts & Liars has been busying herself with solo music, vacations, and writing away in her lovely little blog. Very recently, she decided to share her thoughts on the best music to grace 2008 with its delightful melodies. Please note you'll see the likes of Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and Thao with The Get Down Stay Down making her list. Don't miss, check it out right here, right now.

A'Carolin' for Christmas in Texas
Green River Ordinance Releases Christmas Song
I recently took a trip up to Chicago. You can really get into the Christmas spirit with all the salt and snow layering the streets, along with all the crazy cab drivers. And let's not forget the -30 degree windchill. But home for me is in North Texas - Fort Worth, to be exact - not really a place known for snow drifts or ice. But hometown brethren Green River Ordinance are still in the holiday spirit! They are sharing a neat holiday video with their fans, along with their rendition of "O Holy Night." Go check it all out over yonder, y'all. Woops, my apologies - the Texan slang slipped out.

But It's Warm Indoors, At Least
Danger Radio Confides a Christmas Cover
If you're the type that likes to dance while tapping your feet to the beat-bumping rhythm of some indie-pop rock songs, then I'm betting you know who Danger Radio is. The dance rock compadres in Andrew de Torres (of The Scene Aesthetic) side project that has quickly built a reputation all their own loves Christmas time. Last year, they shared their version of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You," featuring the talents of Gatsbys American Dream. This year, they're going for a cover of Frank Loesser's "Baby, It's Cold Outside," featuring their friend Kathryn Claus (as DR said, 'that's not a joke.'). You can stream their cover on their Myspace now, or snag it from any music digital outlet out there, iTunes included.

Christmas and A Cab Ride
Black Cab Session's Features Slow Club for Christmas
Sure, maybe it's a little weird. But Death Cab for Cutie did compliment the English oddity of the internet, Black Cab Sessions, saying "It is weird, yet reputable." Indeed it is, as the Black Cab Sessions busies itself around the busy London streets in the back of their cabs with famous musicians from all around. This time, they're featuring Slow Club, with a lovely little Christmas ditty just for your eyes and ears. Go check it out!

Well folks, we've seen the Christmas sights and sounds this year, and how can you not love all the Yuletide cheer? Hopefully you're spending your Christmas Eve day filled with family tradition and lots of tasty food! Bake them cookies - pour that milk - Santa's hitchin' up his sleigh, and he's going to be slamming on top of your roof soon, messing up your shingles. Happy holidays, folks.

Video: "Souls Have No Drum Machine" - Peachcake

It's always a good time to save the world. In these times of "desperate times call for desperate measures," with so many people stressing over money, wars, Christmas shopping, traveling to all corners of the world to visit with family, and of course dealing with all that family chaffing once they get there, it's nice to just take a nice deep breath and be reminded that the world is still a decent place to be. Dare I say, a wondrous place?

Peachcake is all about finding the joy in the world. They show it in their live performances, they show it in their beat-bumping music, and they show it in their extreme personality and excitement for all things awesome. And once again, these kooky cats from Arizona are spreading the love (not war) all across Earth like butter on toast.

The lead off is this: "On Saturday 30, August 2008, Peachcake descended from Planet Awesome to distribute free art to the unsuspecting citizens of Los Angeles California." The mini-campaign was called Freed the Art, and Peachcake indeed wandered around with a large truck full of fabulous artwork to hand out to the masses in the So Cal city. All of this excitement was caught on camera, as Peachcake filmed the conduction of peace and love from person to person while rolling through Venice and Hollywood. And thus, Peachcake's debut music video was born.

You can go see how peace and love pays off right now in Peachcake's debut music video for "Souls Have No Drum Machine." The video is being debuted over on AOL.com, right here! Of course, "Souls Have No Drum Machine" is one of the high energy exaltations off of Peachcake's brand new album, What Year Will You Have The World?, which was finally released last month! Once you've witnessed the vibrant joy within "Souls Have No Drum Machine," you should wander over to Peachcake's Myspace (and/or Planet Awesome) and tell them what you thought; they're curious! Well what are you waiting for? Get going!

Last.fm's Best of 2008

For those who are talented musicians, who can play all nameless sorts of instruments without a second thought, and who are so so poetically inclined that they probably speak in rhyme, music can be an outlet like no other. They can express every feeling on a whim of word or chord or melody. They can make people swoon at first listen, and have their listeners begging for more like addicts.

Then there are the rest of us, of course. For us listeners, who are definitely not musically inclined, music can be one of two things: a passing fancy, or a complete obsession. I can't speak for you of course, dear reader, but I can confidently label myself in that latter category. If you just listen to music because it's neat, well, good for you! But if you're as obsessive about music as I am, I'm guessing you probably have a Last.fm account, and scrobble there viciously, daily.

Here's the basic rundown for those not in the know. Last.fm is a music website dedicated to the act of scrobbling. After installing a doo-hicky for your lovely computer, the program automatically scrobbles (or in other words, keeps tally of) the songs you listen to, sending them to Last.fm. Last.fm compiles all that nifty information, and makes a huge musical repertoire with you, showing every song/band/album you've ever listened to on your computer, ever. Now, of course, with millions of Last.fm users, the website handles tons of song information. They recently put all that info to good use.

Last.fm, with their complex interface and data collection system, has compiled their Best of 2008 list. It was not constructed by their staff, nor was it crafted by a dilligently organized survey. No, this list was created by the amount that the perspective song/artist/album was scrobbled on Last.fm. In part by all the listeners scrobbling their tunes, this list was crafted, and thus those bands that deserve to be on these top 10 list (at least by number of times being listened to) earned their spots. Expect to see a lot of Coldplay dominating the top 10 songs of the year, but also expect to see the likes of MGMT, Foals, Bon Iver, Sigur Rós, and many more somewhere up there on the best new artist and best new albums of 2008.

Check out all of Last.fm's Best of 2008 lists right now on Last.fm right now! If you're crazy about music, and would love to see some awesome lists all about the music that you listen to, feel very free to get your own free account on Last.fm while you're there. And if you're really curious, you can always check out what I'm listening to. Be forewarned though, I have been listening to A LOT of Folie A Deux since its release... I CAN'T STOP!

Brand New Flight of the Conchords Episode

Now, maybe you've been living under a rock. Or maybe in a cave. Maybe in the woods? How about deep in the jungles of the Amazon, living off of wild South American fruit amongst a pack of jaguars? Well, now, not to be judgmental, but as far as I know, the internet connections in these places is slim to none, so if you are able to access from there, I'd first inquire how you're doing so.

I promise not to pester you further if you live out in the (literal) middle of nowhere, but if you live anywhere near a television set with cable, or near the internet, it's quite possible that you've heard of Flight of the Conchords. The duo of comedic New Zealanders went from near obscurity to an explosion of fame after HBO accepted them to star in the latest original series Flight of the Conchords, following the bands silly fictional exploits in the Big Apple.

It's been quite a long wait, but second season of Flight of the Conchords is finally nearing its debut of January 18th, 2009 in the United States and Canada. Now, just hearing that the new season will be debuting in almost one month to the day - so close to Obama's innaguration - must have some people shaking in their boots with anticipation. Normally, I'd probably be one of those excited souls. But fortunately, I've gotten my sneak peak of the new season already!

FunnyorDie.com has just released the entire first episode of season 2 of Flight of the Conchords on their website for full commercial-free streaming bliss. You can wander straight there to catch the entire first episode right now! Or, if you want to be friendly, you could wander of to the Flight of the Conchords Myspace and say hello, or at least give a colloquial nod (not to mention hear all the songs from their official LP). Why are you still reading?! Go check the new episode out, with great haste!

Band of the Week: Air France

[December 15-21]

Air France
Sounds Like: Pop / Electronic / Atmospheric
Drinking Buddies: Studio, M83, Julian Fane.

Synopsis: A serene synthesis of sounds.

Makes You Want To...: Travel; Meditate; Stay indoors.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Air France.



Not to start this off in a totally cliched manner, but holy crap, what is up with the weather? We've got the worst ice storm to hit the northeast in... well, as long as most people care to remember, a nasty bout of Canadian chill swarming into the midwest, and it's even snowing down on the Gulf of Mexico. If you live in North America, you are no doubt silly for leaving the house, yelling at your local meteorologist on the television, or sipping hot chocolate/tea from the comfort of your warm and cozy home.

On these frozen nights that seem to curse the very life out of the land with a blanket of snow and ice, it's nice to hide in the most hospitable place you can find. But for all the frostbites and car wrecks that this wicked weather may bring, one must admit, there's an extreme beauty to be found in nature, even at it's cruelest and coldest. And maybe this is just an opinionated suggestion, but I see this beauty personified into the sweet sounds crafted by Air France.

Adding to the list of bands that are not geographically exact (I'm From Barcelona [from Sweden], Architecture In Helsinki [from Australia], Beirut [from New Mexico]), Air France is a duo from Gothenburg Sweden. With careful detail, and meticulous skill, Air France creates intricately textured songs with subtlety and finesse. The moods are light and vibrant, and play on with a quircky sense of repetition. The songs they play are almost mystic in nature.

It's hard to capture the sense of atmosphere in a song; hard to define the image of a place in the notes and chords - rythmns and melodies - squeezed into a musical composition. It takes a novel understanding of the thematics that one can develop in song. Bands like Sigur Rós, Explosions In The Sky, and The Decemberists know how to dilligently use their instruments to their songs advantage, to better paint the picture they are trying to tell. Air France takes the same concept into tow, and with a steady rythmn, shape scenery around the song. Scenery of driving down a road through the countryside with farms passing by the windows; of a plane in flight over the Atlantic, the destined continent just out of eyeshot, but approaching by the second; of a fire cracking as snow softly covers the backyard. With an active imagination, Air France can take their listeners on rides no book or movie could ever show or tell.

Air France is currently taking things at a very slow pace, and are remaining quiet back in Sweden. Though we may not be hearing much from the band themselves, you can certainly catch a glimpse of their wonderful music. Air France presently has no official LP, but they do have two EPs, their On Trade Winds EP, as well as their more recent No Way Down EP. You can snag yourself a copy, watch some videos, and listen to their wonderful music on their Myspace right now!


Stay indoors during these cold times, reader. Have a wonderful week.

Goot Is Making Progress - New Free EP

Those catchy melodies, those lilting piano tunes, those cute melodies... if you don't know all the wonders of Alex Goot for yourself, well dear reader, you've certainly been missing out. This one-man thunderstorm of a band has been busy all year between recording cover songs and making some brand new material, all released on his Myspace.

But this entry happens to be one celebrating tons of new music. We're not talking a random demo or two, folks, because this is much bigger. Goot has released an entire, brand new EP, just for our greedy little paws and ears. Humbly named the Progress EP, Goot's new EP definitely shows the progression in his music with dilligently refined song structure and a slew of new, catchy pop songs to waft out of your speakers.

I feel like I'm forgetting something though... oh yes, did I mention the EP was entirely free? I didn't?! The fact is, Goot is offering these eight delicious songs for your listening pleasure completely free of charge. You can wander straight over to Goot's Myspace, and download the entire EP whenever you're ready (the link is at the top of the page - you can't miss it!). So what are you waiting for?! Get your new copy of the Progress EP now! Of course though, if you want to make sure Goot has plenty of money for some awesome Christmas presents, buy his previous album, Arranged Noises, while you're there.

I Want It Now, Now!

On the surface, Now Now Every Children looks like, well, children. They appear to be of the over-exaggerated eyeliner variety, with hair in their face, and some weird mix of Kimya Dawson and Brand New on their iPods. If you saw them on the street, they might pose a friendly reminder than you need to head to Goodwill for some funky new sweatshirts and worn-out Chuck Taylor’s.

But underneath the ultra-hip, pop-indie, “I want to be watching ‘The Royal Tenenbaums,’” skin that Now Now outwardly displays, there is a goldmine of delightfully poignant lyrics and mature musicianship that will make you think that they’re all grown up.

An undeniable cohesiveness of lead Cacie Dalager’s pretty vocals, and they are in fact quite pretty, with the trio’s rough symbol clashes, bell chimes, keyboard loops, and distorted guitar all shine brightest on their debut album Cars. Of course, they won’t stand to be your average underground sensation with a Myspace launch pad, though. These Children bring something new to the table: a versatility of mood. This music is relatable, listenable at most any time. You can soak in the melody of say, the title track of the new album whether you are having a dance party in your bedroom or driving home from a funeral. The music is comforting, appropriate. Their tunes are what you need them to be.

All three members of the band are quite young, too. Cars could certainly be the first step in a very promising career. Sure, they are not necessarily what you might call “radio friendly.” Still, neither are their feasible proteges, like Eisley. However, they are hopefully bound to pop up at some festival or in some Starbuck’s speaker, sooner rather than later. As an aside, do not be the least bit confused by the knowledge of their status as paramorefans.com’s April Band of the Month. They really do rock.

Now Now was signed to the impeccable, Midwestern-front Afternoon Records. They released two EP’s earlier this year, which contributed some tracks to the full-length album. The aforementioned album was released in stores Dec. 9.

Especially for fans of Tegan and Sara, Tilly and the Wall, and Islands, Now Now Every Children could become your new favorite band, no matter how young they seem. As iTunes customer StaceyRockSteady reviewed, Now Now Every Children are the "best thing to come out of Minnesota since the Mighty Ducks." True 'dat!



"We Know Martha Webber" by Now Now Every Children

Band of the Week: The Acorn

[December 8-14]

The Acorn
Sounds Like: Folk / Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Ohbijou, Great Lake Swimmers, Peter and the Wolf.

Synopsis: Outaouais folk, layered thick like a quilt.

Makes You Want To...: Travel; Meditate; Take a walk.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is The Acorn.


Everyone looks for something a little different in the music they listen to. Now, I personally love quirkiness in a musically artist; any band that diverts from the paved road ahead of them and takes the road less traveled gains my respect and admiration (as well as my ear). Now this is obviously a guess, but I have a hunch since you - my dear reader - are wandering from music blog to music blog in search of new, your tired of listening to the same old same old, and are in search of something a little more interesting.

The Acorn epitomizes "something a little different," and define "a little more interesting." The collective from Ottawa, Canada, use a strange blend of folk and pop to weasel their way into your music player. You may remember them, if you're a fan of another Canadian collection known as Ohbijou. The Acorn and Ohbijou shared their last split-EP together; if their choice in friends is any determiner of how amazing and eccentric The Acorn's musical stylings are, well, you should have high expectations.

And if your expectations are raised, they certainly won't be let down. With a vibrant array of different instruments and skills, The Acorn assails your cerebellum with a slew of sounds that pass through you like the cold Canadian northern winds, each note as unique as the snowflakes that combine with their brethren on the white ground. Too much imagery? What if I told you that The Acorn explores a textured array of sound with folk inspired rhythms that could impress someone like Sufjan Stevens?

What separates The Acorn from other folk outfits is their cunning combination of sounds, with their inspiration from their surroundings. Listening to songs like "Crooked Legs" is like walking through a still forest at night, or watching your breath rise in the cold air; The Acorn captures not only a sense of complexity and texture, but also a sense of simplicity and subtlety. Their keen use of instrumentation and thorough use of musical texture offers an immensely unique sound, along with a bright, poignant image.

At present, The Acorn is relaxing in their Outaouais home. Their rest is well deserved, since these folks have been touring all year long! Following the release of their latest album, Glory Hope Mountain - which debuted in the United States in March - The Acorn toured all over the place! Whether it was down south in Texas for South By Southwest 2008, over in New England, or at the biggest festivals around Canada, The Acorns managed to rack up many a mile in travels, espcially along with their buddies/pals Ohbijou. The Acorns have plenty of albums for your listening pleasure, including their debut The Pink Ghosts, and of course their latest release, Glory Hope Mountain, along with a couple EPs! You can check all these albums, along with a collection of their music, and more! on The Acorn's Myspace.

Don't forget your scarf when leaving the house; Christmas is quickly approaching from around the corner, and we can no longer leave the house without wearing a jacket or seeing some Christmas lights. Let's get festive, folks! Have a wonderful (if not cold) week.

Mount Righteous Headlining Art Conspiracy 4

Local time! The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is chock full of culture. Be it our Texan heritage, or our modern approach on how Texas should be, us North Texans live in a city sprawl that stretches as far as the eye can see in all directions. We take up two counties of Texas, make up something like 14 towns lumped together, and we rival the population of Los Angeles.

You may remember the article featuring Vomitorium, featuring an awesome art magazine featuring some local D-FW talent from local artists. As it so happens, some local North Texan artists are going to be wandering down into Dallas over the weekend; over 150 of them, in fact. They will be featured at a lovely art show and auction called Art Conspiracy 4, which is essentially and auction and a party all at one venue. And, as it so happens, one humble artist among the crowded bunch is an author featured in Vomitorium - Zicole Marxen - though you may remember him as being one of the famed members of one of the greatest bands to begin their rise toward stardom in 2008.

That's right my fellow North Texans, Mount Righteous. Z. Marxen is in attendance, and she's not coming with the rest of his posse in Mount Righteous, who are going to be headlining at Art Conspiracy 4. If you're of local folk here in North Texas, you should wander over to Dallas to attend the festivities; Art Conspiracy 4 will be held at 3011 Gulden Lane, Dallas, TX (75212) at 6:30 PM, with an entrance fee of $10. If you're anyone who's anyone (or live in the North Texas area), you'll definitely find yourself there.

Sure, Chameleon Chamber and Aton will be there, but we all know the real party lies with Mount Righteous. For those of you who live outside the Metroplex though, never fret! You can hear the righteousness that is Mount Righteous right here on their Myspace. Or you could read the feature article Voilà! wrote for them! Check it!

Video: "Microphones In The Trees" - A Silver Mt. Zion

Haunting songs are a luxury in my eyes. It's easy to make something happy, perky, poppy, jovial, or any other number of positive adjectives. It's easy because everyone likes to smile. Nobody likes to frown or feel bad; even if feeling bad is what someone wants, they're happy once they're feeling that way. It's easy to conjour happiness because happy is universal. Sad is easy too, because sad is easy to relate to, along with angry, which is proven by the thriving success of punk rock.

But haunting. Scary. Disconcerting. Powerful. Songs like that are more difficult to arrange - to compose - to construct. You have to keep your listener engaged, but you can't scare them off. You have to try to intrigue and distress simultaneously. Then, of course, you have to speak your peace for the song - say what needs to be said within the confines of the choruses. Some of the best political music I've ever heard is scary. It's easy to yell about politics, but it takes a lot more passion and skill to conceptualize politics; to give reality the weight reality really holds; to present the world in a light that is not necessarily flattering.

Case and point, this wonderful live performance by A Silver Mt. Zion. This was recorded as part of La Blogotheque's Back On Stages series of videos, expertly capturing intensity a band's liver performance avec cinématographie. The music by A Silver Mt. Zion, this truly unique ensemble from Montréal, can speak for itself with this poignant performace. Just remember, that it's not about simply what is being said, but also how it is presented.

Back On Stages 3-A Silver Mt Zion-Microphones in the trees
by lablogotheque

The Hush Sound on Daytrotter

Long time coming doesn't even begin to describe.

As you may or may not remember, WAY back at the end of May, Daytrotter announced that they recently recorded a session with pop-punk superstars The Hush Sound. Eager with excitement, I hung on like an addict for the release of the session of the Fueled By Ramen veterans on Daytrotter.

No such appearance came.


...Until now! Seven months after the original announcement, nine months after the release of the ensemble's last album, Goodbye Blues, Daytrotter FINALLY releases the long awaited live sessions with The Hush Sound. Sure, it may not exactly be punctual. But oh, is it ever so good, with four exclusive performances and a wonderfully written article! Do not hesitate to check out The Hush Sound on Daytrotter now!