Happy Halloween from Huoratron

Huoratron is pretty much my ideal Halloween soundtrack: dirty, thumping electro made by a scary looking Finnish man. In my perfect world, Huoratron would have a show in NYC on Halloween, but, alas, he's in Vancouver tonight. (At least they do celebrate Halloween in Canada – I just looked it up.)

So, for all of you not in Vancouver, here are a couple of tracks to liven up your macabre festivities this evening.

$$ Troopers [mp3] (iTunes)

Prevenge [mp3] (iTunes)

The music video for Huoratron's "Corporate Occult" is also fairly appropriate for the holiday, but be warned that it's massively inappropriate for a number of other situations (i.e. NSFW).

CMJ Music Marathon: The Majorleans & Michael Daves

I’m somewhat ashamed to say that this was the first year that I took full advantage of the CMJ Music Marathon, but I’m proud to say that I did it in style. Last week, even more than usual, downtown Manhattan and Williamsburg, Brooklyn, were ripe with opportunities to see live music. (In New Yorker–speak, CMJ “whip[s] downtown Manhattan into a Felliniesque lather, set to a soundtrack by more than a thousand next big things.”) I managed to catch a good number of new artists and drink a good number of $3 beers. I’ll report on the former over the next couple of weeks.

CMJ opened on Tuesday night, and rather than spend a few hours in line for the free Yo La Tengo show at Brooklyn Bowl, I chose to check out some fresher acts at Rockwood Music Hall and the Living Room.

I went to Rockwood to see the Majorleans, whom I’ve caught there a couple of times before. They continue a tried-and-true tradition of rock music that takes pride in its country and R&B heritage.

On their self-titled EP from last year, they took a fairly poppy approach to that tradition. But their current show has a looser, darker approach that I find to be more interesting. I particularly enjoyed a few moments when they ventured into the experimental, with mildly dissonant guitar passages and a less straightforward vocal style. It’s exciting to see a band finding its voice.

Nonetheless, “Keep It Moving,” the EP’s closer, is one hell of a catchy tune, which is hard to argue with.

The Majorleans - Keep It Moving [mp3] (iTunes)

Prior to the Majorleans, singer and guitarist Michael Daves played his regular Tuesday-night gig at Rockwood, although this performance was technically part of CMJ as well (as were, it’s worth noting, pretty much every other musical performance that took place in the city during the week).

I’d never heard of Daves before, but his Rockwood residency has lasted a couple of years now and produced a live album. He draws upon another set of old and rootsy traditions: those of blues and bluegrass. These are certainly not my areas of expertise, but I can say without hesitation that he is a marvelously skilled musician and an intense performer. As for the rest, he ably spoke for himself in a 2008 interview and performance on WNYC’s Soundcheck. And this live performance of the Stanley Brothers’ “I Only Exist” from (naturally) Rockwood Music Hall should seal the deal.

Michael Daves - I Only Exist (live) [mp3]

(Photo of Michael Daves by Julieta Cervantes for The New York Times)

A new April Smith video just in time for Halloween

Creepy... perfect for the upcoming holiday.

Marthas and Arthurs

I came across Marthas & Arthurs at Standon Calling earlier on in the summer and ever since I've had a little plastic-y card telling me I can go to their bandcamp site and download their 'Apes in Aeroplanes' EP for free.
Nearly three months later, and I've finally managed to get around to downloading it, and on an initial listen, I'm kinda kicking myself for waiting so long. Their wonderful whimsical folk songs are just that in fact, and if this wasn't enough, they're advertising on their MySpace 'Dinner Downloads' where if you email them three good reasons, and what you'll cook them, they'll be 'downloaded in the flesh to your home'.

Clamour For a Fudge [mp3]

New music video from Cloud Cult

Always been a big fan of the Minnesota band, and I really like the way the did this video - the drawing on a white board and erasing and redrawing... Very impressive. Also very in tune with the way that painters paint on stage during their performances.

Cloud Cult - You'll Be Bright from Dan Huiting on Vimeo.

Officially Welcoming Keith!

Just wanted to take a post out to officially welcome our new UK writer: Keith!

Keith set off to seek his fortune in London 4 years ago, but in Hackney he found that the streets were in fact paved with concrete and dog poo, instead of the gold he had heard so much about. Undeterred by this setback, Keith enjoys his East London life, and spends his time listening to a wide range of music, from folksy indie loveliness to filthy stomping electro, the only real exceptions are R&B, which, like cheese, make him nauseous.

Control-S

Martin Roberts and Lee Tyler are a duo, a two-some, with so many lyrics they're frightened to use them. Well, the latter may or not be true, as the track I bring you today from them, Control-S, exclusively for Guilt Free Pleasures, is an instrumental.
They've been together for ages, and as you can see from the picture pull off a damn good Clockwork Orange fancy dress outfit. They have recently changed musical direction, moving away from Garage and into Electro. It's rather good for two boys from Leighton Buzzard, rather good indeed.
Anyway, have a listen, and keep an ear out, as I will do too, they're working on new stuff for an EP and trying to get a live show together for early next year. Exciting times.

Nineteen12Nine [mp3]

Bewitched Hands

The French psychedelic/folk collective Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads release their first full length Bird and Drums on November 2nd, full of shimmery pop rock with 60's catchy sing-along hooks.

Sea [mp3]

I Hate You Just Kidding

From their Untitled EP, I Hate You Just Kidding brings forth indie folk pop guy-girl tracks with plucked ukulele and sweetened upbeat melodies. The duo, Jessi Fulghum and Jeremy Brock, fought a slew of set-backs including homelessness, unemployment and hospitalization while recording the EP. They were recently nominated in the Best New Artist, Best Folk and Best Live Acoustic categories for the 2010 Orange County Music Awards. Give the tunes a listen while out enjoying the crisp fall air. I promise you won't regret it.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes [mp3]
Speakeasy [mp3]
Support the Artist: Purchase their EP on iTunes

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers are a band I've been meaning to check out for a while but just never got around to it until now. Shilpa Ray's strong, raw, richly-textured voice definitely sets her apart from the throng. Her music reminds me of some of the classic early female rockers, but with a hint of blues and an edge that not many current female artists can boast.

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers will be releasing their 7" single, "Venus Shaver," in mid-October 2010. The single and b-side "Natural Selection" serve as a precursor to their forthcoming full-length Teenage and Torture, set for release January 18th, 2011 on Knitting Factory Records. But you don't have to wait to check out "Venus Shaver," because we have it here for your enjoyment. And for those of you attending CMJ, check her out at the Knitting Factory on Oct. 22nd or at Arlene's Grocery on Oct. 23rd.

Venus Shaver [mp3]

The Kites

For my first post, and being the first UK writer for GFP, it may come as a surprise that the band I’m blogging about aren’t exactly local to me. Unsigned Danish band The Kites appeared on my radar last week, with their jangly guitars and boyish “oh ah oh oh”s they have made summers rapid descent into winter a little bit easier to bare.

‘Summer Missus’ is the perfect autumn track, it shy’s away from standard melodies, verses and chorus’s, building throughout with drums, off kilter guitars and vocal harmonies which will have you humming those “oh ah oh oh”s for the remainder of autumn (or the fall I guess…)

Summer Missus [mp3]

If that has whetted your appetite and you’d like to hear more, ‘The Kites Are On’, their debut EP, is available for free download from their website

Dar Williams New Album + GFP Giveaway!

Today pop folk singer Dar Williams releases her eighth studio album, Many Great Companions. It's a two disc set, with Disc 1 being an acoustic collection of her classes updated with help from folk friends Sean and Sara Watkins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Larkin, Motherlode and Gary Louris of the Jayahawks. Disc 2, Best of Dar Williams, revisits the musical journal of Dar's career.

In celebration of this release, we've got two copies to giveaway.

How to win one? Just email us at info@gfpmusic.com by Sunday, October 17th at 11:59 EST with "I want Dar's album!" in the subject and your name in the body. The winners will be chosen and notified on Monday!


As a long time fan of Dar, I jumped at the chance to take a listen to Many Great Companions. I was surprised to hear such a full-grown and husky voice on all the tracks, making the originals recorded many years sound as if they were sung by a teenager. This aged difference is especially noticeable on the revamp of "The Babysitter's Here." Although Dar's childish spark isn't quite gone - she still wonderfully portrays her younger self - her tone sounds more of a mother reminiscing softly to herself than a young 20-something sharing a mostly cute story, which brings the song to an even more melancholy and nostalgic level.

This downtempo of her work is apparent through the album, transforming beloved works into something new, something to be truly revisited. "Iowa" is laden with beautiful new harmonies from Carpenter, Motherlode and the Watkins', adding depth and a relaxed richness. Due to the acoustic nature of the album, the quick kick drums are absent on "Christians and the Pagans" and the track slows a bit with a new incorporation of a sleepy violin, but the additional homespun poppy vocals of Sean and Sara Watkins succeed in lifting this famous song back to the energy level fans are familiar with.

Many Great Companions is a fantastic retrospective glance into the maturing Dar Williams, who has captured the amusing adventures of her youth, pains of college and lessons in life and love throughout her career. The album, with Dar's aged vocals, brings sense of wisdom to these tracks the likes of which had not been heard prior. This is must for any Dar fan.

As Cool As I Am (Acoustic Version Revisited) [mp3] (iTunes)

CONCERT: Also, if you're in the NYC area, Dar Williams will also be playing City Winery Oct 15 and 16!

Sacred Animals

Sacred Animals just released a debut EP Welcome Home as a limited edition handmade package and it's a pretty listen. Taking inspiration from the likes of Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear and Midlake, Sacred Animals has put forth a reverbed lo-fi journey laden with soft Thom Yorke croon-like vocals and bells that's both light and bewitching.

Chosen Seed [mp3]
Support the Artist: Purchase Here

Glasser

Glasser is the one-woman orchestra of Cameron Mesirow. After touring with the likes of XX and Jonsi, she released her debut album Rings at the end of September. Her multi-textured arrangements have received the unusual genre placement of "witch house" and her ethereal organic sounds have garnered favor from many. If you haven't heard of her yet, take a listen below.

Home [mp3] (iTunes)

Jeremy Messersmith Wrote A Star Wars Song

And it's pretty stellar, complete with adorable paper animation.

1000th Post!

This is our 1000th post! It's hard for me to believe that I started this blog more than 3 years ago. We've had almost 300,000 visitors to this site from 176 different countries. We've grown from just me writing to a blog that has 6 writers spread out over the US. We've featured music by more than 2000 different artists - writing about some of them before anyone else was. We've covered 150 concerts all over the country - occasionally even other places in the world. It's been quite a journey! So let's take a trip down memory lane...

First, I should start out by saying how much I love New York City and the music scene here. So many great venues and amazing local artists. It's hard for me to imagine New York City without thinking of The Antlers heartwrenchingly tragic lo-fi; St. Vincent's complex, dissonant rock 'n' roll; Regina Spektor's awesome word play and playful piano; The White Rabbits' thundering drumbeats; Ravens & Chimes' dramatic melodies; Julius C's high energy rock and sexy funk; Locksley's frenzied retro dance pop (pictured left); Elizabeth & the Catapult's charming, frolicsome diddies; Ra Ra Riot's jaunty electro-orchestral sound; Kaiser Cartel's beautiful harmonies; April Smith's powerhouse voice; Sxip Shirey's imaginative, experimental instrumentation; Emanuel & the Fear's epic orchestral music, and so many more.

Even if I didn't have this music blog, I still would have discovered most of these people because I was introduced to most of them through my friend Laura (a Michigan native) anyway, but Michigan continues to produce some stellar artists. Long time readers of this blog have seen me write about them many times: the whimsical and genius Matt Jones, the rowdy rock and roll of The Hard Lessons, the haunting harmonies of Frontier Ruckus (saw player pictured right). These are just a few of the amazing bands coming out of Michigan these days, and I feel privileged to have been able to watch their careers grow over the last few years.

Then of course, there are so many great artists from all over the world that I've enjoyed throughout the course of writing this blog: Scandinavian singer-songwriter Ane Brun (pictured left) whose emotive, unique voice I never get tired of hearing; experimental looping wizard tUnE-yArDs, whose powerful, complexly-layered music has pretty much been on repeat on my iPod since it came out; fiery, dark Brit songstress Florence & the Machine; adorable Irish twins whose moniker comes from one of my favorite '80s movies, Heathers, remind me of Tegan & Sara in their early days; rising pop star Janelle Monae, who is everything a pop star should really be; and the playful, never afraid to be silly, sci-fi piano-powered Jukebox the Ghost.

And let's not forget my other all-time favorites that I knew and loved since before I started this blog, but have continued to impress me over the last three years: The Dresden Dolls' (and of course Amanda Palmer on her own) theatrical cabaret puts their concerts (see right) at the top of my favorite experiences of all time and I would pretty much pay to see them every day if I could; The Dandy Warhols' psychadelic rock (I will finally see them live for the first time in November! So excited!); and then there's my fellow Arts High School alumn, who I have literally been a fan of since I saw her perform in high school, the viola-rocking Anni Rossi.

So that about sums it up. Of course there are tons more artists that I love, but these ones I think are a good reflection of my time spent on this blog.

New These United States single

Just a very quick update today: here's a frenzied fast country rock song to get you through your Tuesday. It's These United States' 2nd mp3 that they've given away from their new album, What Lasts.

Water & Wheat [mp3] - ( Amazon / iTunes )

Lost in the World

 As the weekend rolls in we're sending you Kanye's recent genius mix, Lost in the World. Building off of Bon Iver's Woods, this song is less about the auto-tune and more about blending genres and bringing beats. And I think that we can all agree that samples of Gil Scott Heron make every song better. Kanye is definitely redeeming himself here. Listen and love.

   Kanye West - "Lost In The World" by Thisis50