BYT Inaugural

For all of those in DC for Inauguration, I highly recommend picking up tickets for Brightest Young Things's Inauguration Classic 2k9 Spectacular at Bohemian Caverns. The line-up is fantastic (comedian Tig Notaro, DC next-big-thing rapper Wale, Team Robespierre, Art of Junk, to name a few) and the party is literally ALL DAY. From 9:30am til the wee hours of the next morning, you can come and go as you please- you can even drop coats or bags off and then come back after street festivities to pick it all back up. It will be the perfect homebase for the day. Tickets are only $20 so act fast! Should be a great time.

"Daylight"- Matt & Kim

I just saw the music video for one of my current favorite songs, Matt & Kim's "Daylight," and it fits the song perfectly. From what I've heard and this video, Matt & Kim are one of my must-see-live groups. Along with Arcade Fire, Mates of State, and the Submarines, they are one of my favorite married indie-rock couples.

They're supposed to be tons of fun, and get everybody dancing. I really regret not getting tickets to see them with Dan Deacon. That would have been a crazy show.

"Sleepyhead"- Passion Pit

When my friend told me that she had heard the best song ever, I obviously had doubts. She and I declare something the "best song ever" every few weeks. When she played the song, Passion Pit's "Sleepyhead," for me, I was very turned off. On first listen, it sounded like a MGMT knock-off. Synth-pop with shreaked vocals and droning noise. But then as I listened to it more, I realized that it is, in fact, a brilliant song.

Similar to MGMT, Passion Pit produces trippy freak-pop, but PP puts much more emphasis on the "pop" while MGMT sticks to the "freak." On "Sleepyhead," the point-of-awesome builds slowly. A thumping beat, hand claps, twisted vocals, spoken word, and a curtain of glittery synth layer perfectly and climax in the best purely-intrumental "chorus" I've ever heard. The synth gets thicker and goes absolutely nuts, and rather than retreating into slower verse, frontman Michael Angelakos prolongs the hype with shrieked lines that segue right into another synth meltdown.

Passion Pit's Chunk of Change EP is out now, and yes, the other songs are also great.

N.A.S.A.- Money

David Byrne, singer of one of my favorite bands, Talking Heads, somehow linked with N.A.S.A. (production duo Squeak E. Clean & DJ Zegon) to create this insane single. It's one of my current favorite songs. The jam features the most ridiculous line-up of guest stars for one song I think I've ever seen: Chuck D, Seu Jorge, Ras Congo, and Z-Trip.

My Favorite Albums of 2008

This is a rough list that will probably change in about an hour. I think that while last year brought a lot of good follow-ups (M.I.A., Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, to name a few) 08 brought a lot of really great new bands (Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Los Campesinos, Santogold). Folk music (Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver) got pretty big, as did grunge (No Age, a runner-up for my list) and anything afro-beat inspired (Vampire Weekend, Dodos). Can't wait to see what 2009 will bring, and if any of this year's debuts will create some great follow-ups!

1. fleet foxes
2. keep your eyes ahead- the helio sequence
3. narrow stairs- death cab
4. visiter- the dodos
5. viva la vida- coldplay
6. volume one- she and him
7. vampire weekend
8. for emma, forever ago- bon iver
9. little joy
10. hold on now, youngster...- los campesinos
11. feed the animals- girl talk
12. mission control- the whigs
13. evil urges- my morning jacket
14. pershing- someone still loves you boris yeltsin
15. stay positive- the hold steady
16. santogold

While all of those are albums released this year, my ultimate favorite album that I listened to in 2008 would have to be the New Pornographer's Challengers. I don't know why I never bought this in 07. Every song is perfect and wonderful and amazing.

In Defense of Top 40

Hey all.

I started a weekly column over at BYT called "In Defense of Top 40," in which I defend (or attempt to defend) the musical merits of whatever song is currently #1 in the nation. Here's links to my first two. Enjoy and comment please!

http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/music/in-defense-of-top-40-single-ladies-put-a-ring-on-it-by-beyonce/

http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/music/in-defense-of-top-40-live-your-life-by-ti-feat-rihanna/

Wilco Live Photo

My camera is crap so I didn't get any good shots at the Wilco show last Sunday, but here's one I think turned out OK.

Wilco Live Review- Rewrite

Hey all. I rewrote my Wilco review for the school paper. Here's the new version. Thoughts?

Baltimore's Lyric Opera House is a gorgeous building even better sound, and alt.country band Wilco took full advantage of that last Sunday with a tight set that was evenly culled from their six studio albums.

The group’s 24-song, two-encore show was stuffed with new favorites like the bluesy “Hate It Here” as well as older cuts reaching back to their 1995 debut “A.M.” (the rollicking “Box Full of Letters” was a highlight). Even though the line-up has changed considerably since their inception, the sextet played as if they've been together their whole lives. Loose songs got looser, loud songs got louder, and everything just sounded how music is supposed to sound.

After opening with the mellow, harmonica-tinged “Sunken Treasure,” Jeff Tweedy & Co. got the extremely receptive crowd even more enthusiastic by wedging scorching jams into many of their songs. The audience hit its peak when the band segued from “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” opener “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” to 11-minute jam “Spiders (Kidsmoke),” which showcased guitarist Nels Cline’s absurd ability to shred.

One of the most compelling things about Wilco’s live performance is how rather than jamming melodically, their songs morph into beautifully dissonant soundscapes. "Spiders" was the best example of that, but set closers "I Got You (At The End of the Century)" and "Outtasite (Outta Mind)" also built skyscrapers of wonderfully orchestrated noise, with Cline’s blistering solos and chord progressions at the vanguard.

Aside from the stellar music, Tweedy's stage banter was right on point. After noticing a man with a neck brace, he asked if he could wear it and the sported it throughout "Kingpin.” Tweedy elicited loud cheers when he forgot a line in "Jesus Etc." and later explained it was because he was thinking about Baltimore-set television show “The Wire,” and wondering if popular character Omar was at the concert.

Tweedy didn't babble too much, and let the music speak for itself. "California Stars" and "Heavy Metal Drummer" got the crowd to sing-along while older numbers like "Forget the Flowers" and the twangy "It's Just That Simple" were extremely well-received by the appreciative crowd.
The band has immense talent, not just in songwriting but in execution and sheer ability. Each member was on point, adding muscle to even the most lighthearted and jaunty song (the peppy "Walken" was especially strong on stage). Wilco is currently on tour opening for Neil Young, but they made a special stop to headline their own show and proved that one day Neil Young could be opening for them.


Picture stolen with love from Charles Harris. If you want me to take it down, just ask!

Hired @ BYT!

The other day I was hired as a writer for the DC blog Brightest Young Things. Here's my first post there!

http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/live-dc/loose-and-looser-with-wilco/

My Favorite Songs of 2008

This list is numbered, but I know that right after I post it I will want to shift stuff around, so don't take the order to seriously!

1. Your New Twin Sized Bed- Death Cab for Cutie
I read more than a few reviews that people were disappointed in Death Cab's latest album, but I loved every song. My favorite was "Your New Twin Sized Bed." The lyrics were solemn but balanced by Chris Walla's rich production. The refrain (2:10), with its swirling texture in the background and Ben Gibbard's pleading vocals, is my favorite moment of the song.

2. Hallelujah- The Helio Sequence
I'd never heard the Helio Sequence before this year, and this gorgeous song is the reason I bought their latest album. This punctuated lyrics, the skittish drums and the synth and guitar undertones meshed together to create one of the most relevatory songs of the year.

3. Strawberry Swing- Coldplay
Viva la Vida was no doubt a departure for Coldplay. I honestly love every song, but "Strawberry Swing" defined my summer. It's lo-fi yet slickly-produced sound is a hidden gem on an album filled with so many anthems.

4. Skinny Love- Bon Iver
Bon Iver put all those fresh-faced, angsty troubadours to shame with this heart-wrenching track. This song alone justifies the existence of any acoustic, singer-songwriter genre.

5. Red and Purple- The Dodos
The charming lyrics and rustic, booming sound that the Dodos produced on their latest album came through strongest on this ditty.

6. Acid Tongue- Jenny Lewis
Here's why: the harmony on the chorus. I live for moments like that in a song.

7. Walcott- Vampire Weekend
8. Furr- Blitzen Trapper
9. No One Does It Like You- Department of Eagles
10. Life in Technicolor- Coldplay
11. When the Day Met the Night- Panic at the Disco
12. Lights Out- Santogold
13. This is Not a Test- She & Him
14. Spaceman- The Killers
15. How to Hang a Warhol- Little Joy
16. Kids- MGMT
17. Use Somebody- Kings of Leon
18. In the New Year- The Walkmen
19. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)- Beyonce
20. You Are the Best Thing- Ray LaMontagne