Haze-glazed honey-supple new music* for making your Monday morning taste like sugar. Download the candy.

1. “Be Brave” by The Strange Boys (Be Brave)
2. “Marathon” by Tennis
3. “Monster” by Magic Man (Real Life Color)
4. “Glorylight And Christie” by Cotton Jones (Tall Hours In The Glowstream)
5. “So Sorry, Girl” by Blackbird Blackbird (Happy High EP)
6. “The Observer” by Brazos (Phosphorescent Blues)
7. “Don’t Look That Way At It” by White Denim (Exposion)
8. “We’ll Find Out” by Timber Timbre (Timber Timbre)
9. “Bio Hassle” by Boogie Boarder (Pizza Hero)
10. “Wehmut” by Josephine Foster (A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing)

*and the occasional old

When Maryland’s Cotton Jones showed up at Grand Army Plaza the morning after their short set at Le Poisson Rouge, the only thing they’d grabbed from their van was an acoustic guitar. Despite the inevitable traffic noise, we decided it’d be worthwhile to have Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw jump into the empty fountain and try a song there (for an opportunity to see Whitney sit on the lap of some frozen Greek hunk, if nothing else). We then headed to Prospect Park across the street, where they played several more songs, and the rest of the band lent doo-woops and finger-snapping while drummer Chris Morris settled on a pair of sticks, of different dimensions, to use for percussion.

If embedding this video, please credit and link to this page.

A new collection of Secret Garden performances will resume tomorrow, April 29th. Here’s a schedule of what’s in store. If you’re unfamiliar with this ever-changing magical garden, it is a mini-documentary series in which I film bands performing a few songs outside the context of a regular show. Along with the schedule you’ll also find some “candid band photos” that, as a tradition of my own, I take after each shoot.

If you’re a blogger who’d like to write a preview for any of these episodes before they release, just email me at hoovesontheturf [at] gmail [dot] com

2009 Spring/Summer Dates for Secret Garden Video Series

Arp 29 – Fanfarlo

Download “Harold T Wilkins“

May 05 – Cotton Jones

Download “Blood Red Sentimental Blues“

May 12 – Middle Distance Runner

Download “Brother John“

May 15 – Revival Times

Download “Curious Storm“

May 19 – Balmorhea

Download “San Solomon“

May 26 – Floating Action

Download “Absolute Sway“

Jun 02 – Sprengjuhöllin

Download “Worry Till Spring“

Jun 09 – The Tallest Man on Earth

Download “The Gardener“

Last night at Le Poisson Rouge, Maryland’s Cotton Jones played a short set of about six songs; they said most were songs they don’t play very often. I’d forgotten how many members are in this band–six, and they’re all good. Even though I prefer this venue when they clear the floor for standing room (the seating arrangement feels a little too fancy), it has fantastic acoustics and it was great to hear Cotton Jones with so much clarity. They’re playing tonight at Union Hall with Lost in the Trees, and despite a muddier sound, that will probably be the show where they’ll play the hits and let loose a little. More pictures after the jump.

Download “Blood Red Sentimental Blues“

Website: Cotton Jones Myspace

Back at the venue, Slow Club had started to play.

Then we made our way back to the city where Suckers was playing a super fancy “All That Sparkles” party at Malverde, hosted by I Am Sound, ‘Sup Magazine and This Is Music. The sound was great there, and Suckers played one of my favorite sets.

Mapei was unable to make it, so Quinn Walker of Suckers filled in with a solo set with Brian.

But since his voice needed a rest, they handed it over to Brian’s brother Scott.

Couldn’t resist a smoke though.

The party’s hostess was Rebecca Havemeyer, who did a little number of her own.

Michachu and the Shapes, one of the bands I really wanted to see while I’m here, played next.

I’m a fan of Mica Levi’s nonchalant singing style.

With cowbells and confident drumming, the rhythm section was solid.

Peggy from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is really easy to spot:

The band sang “Happy Birthday” for band mate Raisa Khan.

On our way to other adventures, there was this place:

And more musicians:

We arrived at Club 1808 to see The Tallest Man on Earth and Chairlift. Aids Wolf played first.

These folks obviously have incredible skills but I think you’d really have to be tortured by your own existence, at some level, to be in love with this kind of music, so when I say that this was one of my least favorite sets, it’s probably a compliment. It was like feeding a horse a bag of olives when what it really wants is just a quality stack of hay.

Plenty of gestures and drama in this performance though.

All the Saints was playing on the outside stage.

Chairlift was supposed to play inside at 7:00pm, but their drummer wanted to play the drums that was on the outside stage. They were told that if they could wrap up by 7:45pm, they were welcome to play outside.

They decided not to play the drums after all, but after some time spending setting up, this move to the outdoors resulted in a very short set comprising of 3 songs. Still, it was a great set.

And then finally! The Tallest Man on Earth! After being let down by his non-appearance at Paradise the previous night, I was extremely happy to see Kristian Mattson hanging out at the backyard. He was my quality stack of hay.

He and his crew, like Chairlift, were a little amused by the “inside stage” that was basically just a carpet in a tiny room. His manager made the best of it by turning some of the lights toward the performing area. At times during the set we’d hear one of the workers there chanting “coming through, coming through”. They were moving things around; including trash. And at other times we’d keep hearing the crazy band playing outside whenever the door to the backyard was left open. Kristian was amused by it all, but he sounded awesome. I’m pretty he’ll sound awesome no matter what unfriendly circumstances he plays in. After the set, he turned the lights back towards the audience to make the end of the show all the more proper (this made everyone laugh). I don’t have many pictures because I filmed the entire set, which I will edit and post once I’m back in New York.

We made our way back to the city for These United States at Elysium, which was to be my first official SXSW show to go to.

The venue was a little weird, but the band was in its best form. They rocked hard!

We left with them to go to a Daytrotter bonfire.

It was at Daytrotter’s Austin studio.

Cotton Jones was there, as were other familiar faces.

We reluctantly left this cozy spot to go to Habana Calle 6, where These United States had “Rough and Ready” to perform at the Songs for Presidents showcase. To my luck, Shilpa Ray was playing a solo song on a harmonium. She sounded fantastic. But I couldn’t take a picture because a friend of mine who was holding my camera for me was nowhere to be found at the time

20. Those Darlins

This is the sound I was looking for when I clicked on far too many terrible country bands from the SXSW official artist list. I’m sticking with Those Darlins instead.

Download “Wild One“

19. Hurray for the Riff Raff

When Walt McClements plays that accordion and Alynda Lee sings her sad songs, there’s no sense at all in leaving the room.
Watch their “Secret Garden” video.

Download “Grocery (Live at the Secret Garden)“

18. Fanfarlo

I really dislike the high synth lines in this particular song, and there’s one track in their album Reservoir that sounds a little too much like its arrangement was modeled after Beirut, but this voice is too good to resist.

Download “Harold T. Wilkins“

17. Liz Green

What a hauntingly magnificent voice. In her live performances she is joined by the fabulous Gus Fairbairn and John Fairhurst (whose solo set itself is sure to be awesome). Liz doesn’t have any unofficial shows planned as of now, but you can follow my twitter if you’re interested in keeping up with any last-minute performances and/or house shows she’s sure to play.

Download “Midnight Blues“

16. Sharon Van Etten

One of a kind, and best paired with whiskey. She’s only playing unofficial shows.
Watch her “Secret Garden” video.

Download “It’s Not Like“

15. Left Lane Cruiser

This just sounds like an enormous amount of fun.

Download “Big Momma“

14. Cotton Jones

Paranoid Cocoon is a fine album, and Cotton Jones is one of the most graceful bands today.

Download “Blood Sentimental Blues“

13. Motel Motel

Motel Motel is easily one of the more interesting bands to have recently come out of Brooklyn.

Download “Coffee“

12. Dark Dark Dark

Their sea-bound traveling songs are always a treat. They’re only playing unofficial shows.
Watch their “Secret Garden” video.

Download “New York Song“

11. Adam Arcuragi

I love Adam’s wholesome voice; there’s just the right combination of swagger and heartbreak in it. He’s only playing unofficial shows.
Watch a video of him playing with his friends from These United States.

Download “The Bottom of the River (Live at IOTA)“

10. Lonnie Walker

It doesn’t look like there’s been much recorded, yet there’s an unmistakable and likable personality that comes through in the few songs available.

Download “Compass Comforts“

9. Micachu

This is probably the band in this list that intrigues me the most.

Download “Golden Phone“

8. Callers

When Sara Lucas sings, you can be sure that it’s to your benefit. It probably even makes your heart healthier. Callers is from Brooklyn.
Watch their “Secret Garden” video.

Download “More Than Right“

7. Suckers

Suckers is equipped with a great drummer and a fantastic combination of two very distinct voices; hopefully Quinn Walker has recovered his by now, after losing it temporarily. Suckers is also from Brooklyn.

Download “Afterthoughts and TV (Demo)“

6. Drink Up Buttercup

These guys seem to deliver engaging shows without a fail; probably because they’re some of the most confident and assertive performers I’ve ever seen, and they’re totally bent on making the shows fun for themselves.
Watch their “Secret Garden” video.

Download “Sosey Dosey (Live at Earfarm’s CMJ show)“

5. Floating Action

My favorite new band. Their upcoming self-titled is already one of my best-loved of the year.

Download “50 Lashes“

4. The Tallest Man on Earth

I guess Kristian Matsson must lead at least two lives, because he most certainly leads one in my dreams!

Download “The Gardener“

3. These United States

It’s a good thing These United States plays so many shows so very often, because I’m pretty close to becoming dependent on seeing them perform every now and then. I’d like to think that I’ve seen many great bands who are brilliant on stage, but not all of them have the dangerous effect of acting like a magnetic field to what you consider important and what you don’t. In your life, I mean.
Watch their “Secret Garden” video.

Download “Honor Amongst Thieves“

2. Tune Yards

Some of the most important songs I’ve heard recently are from Tune Yards’ album, Bird-Brains. Merrill Garbus, the woman behind it, is a rare jewel; her songs have nine lives, and her voice is their overarching, irreplaceable mother-ship. You’re gonna have to be driven if you want to catch her though: I was told she’ll most definitely be playing only one show, that being the Force Field PR + Asthmatic Kitty party. I’m guessing her other band Sister Suvi’s multiple-show schedule has something to do with it.
Watch her “Secret Garden” video.

Download “Hatari“

1. White Denim

Badass! Their album Exposion is one of my absolute favorites from the last two years, but I’ve never seen them play before. I’m on a high-priority mission to catch at least one White Denim show while in Austin this week.

Download “Don’t Look That Way at It“

On a side note, there will be no Secret Garden shows for the next two Tuesdays, but there will be daily updates from Austin, and there will be new videos after I return. If any of the twenty artists listed here interest you, you should follow me on Twitter.

Where I take a 10-minute break from everything else and bring you three fine bands. Pictured above is view from my window seat on the way to DC.

“As April Is to May” by Luke Winslow-King

Last Friday I met with Luke Winslow-King and his friends for another installment of Brutal Winter in the Secret Garden. It was a challenging morning but eventually a lot of fun. The performances will come soon. For now here’s a song off Luke’s latest, Old / New Baby. Pictured is that morning’s line-up in a warm kitchen in Brooklyn after the shoot.

“Brother John” by Middle Distance Runner

Apparently this song’s used in a Harley-Davidson commercial I’ve yet to see. Pretty different from the last song I posted of them. Pictured are two members of the band lounging at a lobby after playing Sixth and I Historic Synagogue in Washington DC.

“Blood Red Sentimental Blues” by Cotton Jones

I’ve been listening to their upcoming album, Paranoid Cocoon, from which this song is taken, and it sounds so fabulous. I love it! Pictured is the band playing CMJ last year, and this one was taken by Kashish.

Speaking of sharing:

Joe and I also bought the two albums available from “These United States” since we were both so impressed by their performance. The lead singer was awesome when we talked to him, too. When Joe decided to get a CD, I figured I’d get one too. Joe got the newest album and I was going to follow suit, but the dude said “Why don’t you get the other one then you can burn each other a copy? Go for it, man.”

20 “Run to Your Grave” by The Mae-Shi

A song to play really loud and jump to, whenever one feels the need to be an ecstatic, aimless punk, which one should feel often, I guess. Taken from Hlllyh.

19. “Oceanic” by Imaad Wasif

When Imaad Wasif played with his band at Cake Shop, the loud treatment of his songs made his delicate voice gasp for air under the weight of all that noise. Then there was a rare moment when everything was quiet and he slowly pulled his voice away from the microphone, and those few seconds had the ache of a dagger through the heart. “Oceanic” is a song where you can hear some of that; a voice that must hurl itself towards everything that will ruin it so that it can resurface all alive and resilient.

18. “Klara” by Ólöf Arnalds

The only non-English song in the list, and this one’s in Icelandic. It reminds me of clothes hung to dry, blowing through the wind, and clouds chasing in over a blue hill. Blue! Whispers of accordion from somewhere not too far.

17. “I Can’t Tell in His Eyes” by Wildbirds & Peacedrums

Mariam Wallentin prefers a highly stylized approach to singing, one that makes her sound primal and aggressive. Sometimes it sounds overworked, but most times it just sounds pretty damn impressive. This song, however, is an unusual slip where she just sings, without a cloak or a mask of any sort. Filled with scenic evocations of the everyday, it’s pretty colorful for a break-up song. Then there’s this killer: “She is the country / That deeply betrayed him / So now he’s moving to Spain / Now he’s packing his things / All of his belongings / And I can’t tell in his eyes / If he’s gonna cry or if he’s gonna fight”. Taken from Heartcore.

16. “Fools” by The Dodos

Rhythm drives The Dodos. The boyish melodies serve to hold the the drums from running too far; the words are a vessel for rhymes; and the consonants are the necessary evil to vowels. “Fools” is a good mix of these things.

15. “Bleed Blood” by City Center

What it feels like to swim under water and let yourself go. City Center’s Fred is a river that runs through Brooklyn.

14. “Dance Dance Dance” by Lykke Li

A song of sweetness, and hips; it reminds me of Vanessa Paradis. Taken from Youth Novel.

13. “The Waves” by Princeton

“The Waves” is an elaborate work of production by Princeton. It’s somewhat silly, with all its tropical inclinations; somewhat dorky, with all its literary references; but all the while endearing; and there’re quite a few places to visit here in 3 minutes and 15 seconds. Taken from their four-song EP, Bloomsbury.

12. “The Nights Pt. 1” by The Builders and the Butchers

I was lucky I got to this band at a tiny dive bar in Connecticut filled with crazed fans who knew all of the songs. Two drummers packed into the corner and faces red and wet with sweat. This is the first song off their self-titled album, a world where you must grow beards, wear big black hats, carry shovels everywhere you go, and sing loudly over beer all the freaking time. Even if you’re a woman. Plus, what an awesome band name, and so filled with character.

11. “Rapture (Sweet Rapture)” by AA Bondy

Here’s how it begins: “I don’t wanna talk about Jesus / I just wanna see his face / The trees are swinging like hanging men /And I just wanna see his face”. Then it gets better; it’s as if the shadows give over to the sun, still water begins to run, and the day breaks as the chorus hits in a swooping lift: “Rapture, sweet rapture / Won’t you lay your hands on me”. But wait, it gets better still: “Mary take that silver dagger / Put it through my throat”. Sung in that amazing voice of AA Bondy’s and taken from that amazing album, American Hearts.

10. “One Cotton Shot Short” by Matt Jones

These verses smell like waffles and they melt in your mouth. It’s taken from The Black Path, which I don’t think is out yet. I stole it from Jesse Elliott’s Mixmas.

9. “More Than Right” by Callers

I’ve been hanging on to this song ever since I heard it back in the summer, though I know little about this Brooklyn band… what a great voice, what a drunkenly staggering pace, and what a night these lovers must have whisked through. They’re playing at Union Pool tonight, the 19th.

8. “The Butcher” by Final Fantasy

Owen Pallett writes a song that sounds like rainbows and butterflies, waterfalls and waves, despite a title that suggests otherwise. Taken from Spectrum, 14th Century, one of the two EPs he released this year.

7. “Trouble No More” by Dark Dark Dark

“I’ll take these rosy cheeks of mine / And be headed south”

6. “Mister Jung Stuffed” by Man Man

A song that captures everything Man Man. Incredible musicians, enthusiastic and consistent theatrics; goofballs, hooligans, drunkards. It opens this year’s Rabbit Habits.

5. “Horn Song” by Suckers

This tune here? A soundtrack for your trip to the gate where angels drink wine, play cards and call each other whores; and you’ll be the most beautiful person when you get there.

4. “Original Bones” by Cotton Jones

“The last time I tried to be so original / I broke all my original bones”

3. “Drops in the River” by Fleet Foxes

“White Winter Hymnal” was the first song I heard and loved from these here Fleet Foxes (like everyone else), but “Drops in the River” was the one I really clung to; it’s got all the goodness of White Winter, but it travels further. I think of them as the same person at different ages, I don’t know which one’s older. This one’s the younger, probably.

There was an unbelievable overabundance of overrated crap this year (Cut Copy – what?), as was there a lot of great music that not everyone discovered and loved as deserved. Then they’re all these year-end lists that are themselves the most overrated act of every freaking year. But, I love Fleet Foxes, and the amount of love and hate that’s been directed towards them, or perhaps the obscene extent of fame they seem to have found (but fame is a ridiculously nonsensical by nature), has ultimately nothing at all to do with my own enjoyment of their songs. They use the language of music with care, compassion and devotion, they seem to understand it really well, and this language, which unleashes its power over your heart than it does your brain, is a funny thing. Right? While it’s great to be articulate about how you feel about music (despite everything, the writers at Pitchfork are really good), it’s terrible to be unable to enjoy music with your heart. I don’t understand why it matters so much that the guy from Fleet Foxes sounds a little like the guy from My Morning Jacket… I really believe in Robin Pecknold. I think he’s good for us. Us humans.

2. “The Gardener” by The Tallest Man on Earth

Heart breaker of a song, everything about it will stab you.

1. “A Day to Float the Bahnar Boat” by These United States

When I first heard this song, my blood level dropped to an all-time low. About 30 seconds in I was having an existential awakening, thinking, “What am I going to do with my life?“, and after I’d recovered, “What were they thinking?” When I made other people listen to it they didn’t quite freak out like I had, which kind of reaffirms my belief that taste is all physics. Everything to do with heart rate and blood levels and how the molecules of the songs fit into the molecules of you. For me, this is one of the most perfect songs ever: in its few words and the compassionate melodies that accompany them, it contains not one but several, unending life cycles, and there’s nothing quite as thrilling as a life. Nothing quite so filled with an exploding spectrum of emotions like hope, triumph, loss, disappointment, sadness, happiness, and so on, all of which I felt when I listened to it the first time.

It was recorded as a free track for Peppermill’s 52 weeks project, for the Spring set in particular. From what I understand, Jesse Elliott took parts from this article in the Washington Post–which was published in the week the band had been assigned by Peppermill–and rearranged them into lyrics. They’ve credited the article’s author Joshua Zumbrun for the lyrics, but that is a lie, essentially. The words and phrases may have been lifted, but the effect they have in the song owes entirely to what parts were picked, and how they were edited and rearranged. Then there’s Tom Hnatow with his haunting glockenspiel and piano…
]]> http://hoovesontheturf.com/200812/best-songs-2008/feed 7 http://hoovesontheturf.com/200810/cottonjones-cmj http://hoovesontheturf.com/200810/cottonjones-cmj#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:34:15 +0000 sarahana http://hoovesontheturf.com/?p=1951 ]]> Download “Original Bones” by Cotton Jones | Like its neighbor Cake Shop, Pianos hit full capacity on day four of CMJ; and as I mentioned earlier, Kashish was so taken with seeing Maryland’s Cotton Jones Basket Ride at the Red Bull Space the previous night that he headed to Pianos to catch them again, perhaps to get a more “authentic” New York show experience this time—the Red Bull Space was an interesting place to see bands you like, but it felt more like a posh, private party there, and the sound up front was pretty distorted; that venue is more suited for electronica shows. Anyhow, KEXP did a little CMJ push for Cotton Jones, mentioning that the band plans to release three EP’s before moving on to their debut full-length. All pics by Kashish.

Cotton Jones:

Oxford Collapse:

The Broken West: