Friday, April 30, 2010

Band of Horses: NW Apt

Here's a video for another song off Band of Horses upcoming release Infinite Arms, due out May 18.

NW Apt (or Northwest Apartment) is another bright, driving song BOH has become known for.

Ininite Arms
is shaping up to be a really good record. It occurred to me, though, why the band would release so many songs on the web. I've heard rumors it was leaked, but who knows. Four songs have been officially released for previewing thus far: Compliments, Laredo, Factory and now NW Apt, in that order.

I wonder what can be done, if anything, to better protect these artists' material?

Vinyl girl ... in the works

Vinyl girl, the illustration I posted earlier this week, is a work in progress. Finished product will be posted soon.

J

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Alice?


Tavo Ponce's vision of the Red Queen
In Print Magazine's latest issue, four motion-graphics artists were asked to storyboard their favorite scenes from the circa 1865 classic, "Alices Adventures in Wonderland," recently revisited by Tim Burton in IMAX 3D. The results were quite peculiar.

Check out the videos here

Check out the work of motion graphic artist Tavo Ponce here

Some more examples of his work:

Monday, April 26, 2010

More Band of Horses downloads

Band of Horses have released more songs off their upcoming album, Infinite Arms, which I will be in my paws upon its release on May 18. The two songs the band has released on the band's official website, "Laredo" and "Factory," will be sure to please those who didn't like previously released "Compliments," as it is more in line with their sound people have come to know.

Like the song "Islands on the Coast," off Cease to Begin, Laredo is bright and driving from the first chord. It reminds me of a scene from a movie where the camera pans fast above a frontier, then the land suddenly drops and the camera soars over an ocean bluff. How's that for imagery. Powerful stuff.

Factory is one of those BOH songs that seems to slow down time. The string accompaniment only adds to this effect.

Stream or download Laredo, Factory here.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Dr. Dog's Shame, Shame in stores tomorrow


NPR has offered up a first listen of all 11 songs on Dr. Dog's new album, Shame, Shame, which hits stores tomorrow.

Today is your last day to preview the tracks before you go out and buy the new album, which I know you will do. It will be at Target for $7.99, but please support your indepentently owned record store if possible.

Here is a link to the NPR story and the tracks

Sunday, April 4, 2010

The Earth Day ambassador

I want to give props to my buddy Nick, who was so incensed by the litter on a hiking trail in Scheelite Canyon (Southern Arizona), he decided to take it upon himself to do something about it.

All said and done, Nick filled three backpacks with trash he found strewn about and skewered on cactuses.

Check out his trash booty:


He said the trash could be attributable to illegal immigrants crossing the nearby border.

Nick reminded all who received the e-mail that April 22 is Earth Day, and encourages all to pick up a piece of trash, or, better yet, do as Nick did, and devote some time to cleaning a hiking trail or park.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Band of Horses "Compliments"



This is almost as exciting as the 75 degree weather in Upstate New York today!

Here's a link to a video for the new song, "Compliments," off Band of Horses upcoming release Infinite Arms, due out May 18.

It's tough to hear one song off an album and judge it out of context. I'm far from a hater, so I won't be the one saying "it sounds like Kings of Leon," because that's just ridiculous. Not to mention, most people think KoL have one album called "Sex On Fire." So I'm not going to over-analyze the song. "Compliments" definitely kicks ass and makes me want to hear more.

One thing I learned about Band of Horses with their last album Cease to Begin, is each song has a rare quality to it that makes it fun to listen to over and over. Hopefully Infinite Arms delivers in the same way. Compliments is a damn good start.

Here's the official track listing for Infinite Arms:

01 “Factory”
02 “Compliments”
03 “Laredo”
04 “Blue Beard”
05 “On My Way Back Home
”
06 “Infinite Arms”
07 “Dilly”
08 “Evening Kitchen”
09 “Older”
10 “For Annabelle”
11 “NW Apt.
”
12 “Neighbor”

Infinite Arms is out 5/18 via Brown Records/Fat Possum/Columbia.