Posts about The Books
2010 was a dull year for discovering new bands; caught between over hype and under hype, the ripe atmosphere for discovery is quickly diminishing. The Cults signed to Columbia Records, Tennis played their first New York show at the large capacity Terminal 5, Blackberry got maximum coverage out of a Tune Yards song, Best Coast and Wavves annoyed the half of us with their money-friendly philosophy on selling out. So I stuck to, for the most part, old favorites who made great new releases. As far as releases go, that Future Islands put out their first proper full length, and that Lower Dens became a band, were probably the highlights for me. I wonder whatever happened to Yellow Fever’s release, though — their new songs seemed ready to go pretty early in the year! But here it is, the top 10.
Download this mix from MediaFire here.
Full list after the jump.
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Jelly-bean hot-spring new* music to paint your Monday Morning a sugar-toothed yellow. Download the twinkie.
- “Lemonade” by Braids (Native Speaker)
- “A Cold Freezin’ Night” by The Books (The Way Out)
- “Safety” by Tune Yards (Bird-Brains)
- “Hospice Gates” by Lower Dens (Twin-Hand Movement)
- “Most Wanted” by Cults (Cults 7″)
- “Lawn Knives” by Gobble Gobble (Secret 7″)
- “Medulla Oblongata” by Buke and Gass
- “Apple Option Fire” by Hot Lava (Lavalogy)
- “South Dakota” by Magic Man (Real Life Color)
- “De Vienne A Paris” by Ödland (Ottocento)
*and the occasional old
Cherry-picked new* music for making your Monday morning smell like geraniums. Download the magic potion.
Tracklist
1. “Beautiful People” by The Books, The Way Out
2. “O Family” by Callers, Fortune
3. “Wide Awake” by Beach Fossils, Beach Fossils
4. “Blessa” by Toro Y Moi, Causers of This
5. “Crushing Limbs” by Anni Rossi
6. “I Was Denied” by Thee Oh Sees, Warm Slime
7. “Love More” by Sharon Van Etten
8. “Adequate Sheen” by Tony Castles
9. “Fishage” by Beaters, Fishage 7″
10. “Distant Whistling” By Elephant Micah, Echoer’s Intent
*and the occasional old
[imeem http://media.imeem.com/m/KJNAGh1wSl/aus=false/]
Even after The Books started touring as a duo, they’ve always been good at delivering their experimental songs live. Nick has an understated, calm voice faithful to the recordings while Paul’s cello serves to add improvisational fluidity. Ever since their collection of found-video collages began to take shape, however, the structure of their recent shows has been somewhat standardized. It was a great delight, then, to be surprised during the encore with a rarely performed “Getting the Job Done” from 2002’s Thought for Food. Perhaps it was the addition of opener Todd Reynolds on the violin that allowed it to happen. They referred to the shortened version as a “half” song, an amazing one at that, and Nick can really sing that fast.
More after the jump.
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[imeem http://media.imeem.com/m/rmvZOlGMKW/aus=false/]
One more Books video from the Wordless Music performance at New York Society Ethical Culture.
“Smells Like Content”
[vimeo 181554]
Previously:
Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong
The Books played at New York Society of Ethical Culture as part of the Wordless Music Series. The set was similar to the one at Webster Hall (read my review), with the noteworthy exception of a new song. In “8 Frames,” the 8-beat or 4-beat loops in the video that accompanies it serve as the rhythm.
“That Right Ain’t Shit”
[virb http://www.virb.com/external/video/9650/fg1Kh1c91iAqCu2ilL4fcRq6Sp4A4jE]
(More photos and videos after the jump)
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