FoundTrack Podcast - Episode 8 - CMJ 2009 Review

Please join the FoundTrack enterprise on a journey into our new podcast series where we venture into the milky music ways new and old. We will try to keep each podcast short and sweet (roughly 1 hour) comprising of a mix of music sets, interviews, guest DJ's, and some companion material to correspond with our comprehensive weekly event guide. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or submissions, feel free to reach out - Nassir at foundtrack dot com

In this installment of our podcast series we review some of the top bands I witnessed at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon, an annual showcase of the newest talent in music for 5 days in each and every music venue in New York. I got a little happy with my new Flip cam so i did plenty of coverage on all of these and other bands so make sure to check our coverage of over 50 live performances on our CMJ Channel of the FoundTrack Youtube page. Also, for reviews from each day go to www.foundtrack.com/cmj09

FoundTrack Podcast - Episode 8

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FoundTrack Podcast - Episode 8.m4a
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Complete Tracklisting and Liner Notes Below:

Chapter 1
Javelin - Soda Popinski
Jamz n Jemz (CD-R)
Self-Release (New material to come through Thrill Jockey/Luaka Bop)
http://www.myspace.com/hotjamzofjavelin
Notes: Boombox fueled j dilla-like beats from production duo out of Rhode Island ; Remix/interpolation of the theme song from villainous boxer from Mike Tyson's Punch Out. Check out video here. Playing an number of shows in the LA area from now until November 12th


Chapter 2
New Villager - Rich Doors
Rich Doors (single) - Sample/Purchase
Moongadget (believe the full-length will come through IAMSOUND)
http://www.myspace.com/newvillager

Notes: Catchy pop tune from duo with with great vocal range, comparable to Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio).




Chapter 3
Golden Silvers - True No. 9 Blues (True Romance)
True Romance (Sample/Purchase)
XL
http://www.myspace.com/thegoldensilvers

Notes: Imagine a rapping reincarnated Joe Strummer with a chromeo production styling...if you will





Chapter 4
Darwin Deez - Radar Detector
Darwin Deez (Deluxe CD-R for Purchase)
Self-Release
http://www.myspace.com/darwindeez

Notes: Indie rock with a side of calisthenics ; Danceable Death-Cab for Cutie ; Performs at Echoplex 11/10


Chapter 5
Think About Life - Sweet Sixteen
Family (Sample/Purchase)
Alien8
http://www.myspace.com/thinkaboutlife

Notes: Montreal foursome mixes the Friendly Fires, TV on the Radio, Bloc Party, Architecture in Helsinki





Chapter 6
Highlife - F Kenya RIP
Promo (Fader/Pitchfork)
New High (Doug Shaw's own label)
http://www.myspace.com/highlifehighlife

Notes: White Magic guitarist Sleepy Doug Shaw's blissed out safari tune, inspired by African highlife band, Francis Kenya's Guitar Band (Riches Big Sound Band)




Chapter 7 - Identification Interlude
Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel
Fool's Gold (Sample/Purchase)
IAMSOUND
http://www.myspace.com/foolsgold

Notes: Best new live band alive...see videos for evidence. Then go to see them at the Kia Soul Series at Siren Studios 11/7 - RSVP Here





Chapter 8
Real Estate - Fake Blues
Real Estate (Out Nov. '10/Pre-order)
Woodsist
http://www.myspace.com/letsrockthebeach

Notes: Nostalgic lo-fi, suburban beach pop in the style of Kurt Vile ; Live at Spaceland 11/23





Chapter 9
Blair - Kamakazee
Die Young (Out January, 2010)
Autumn Tone
http://www.myspace.com/musicblair

Notes: Sweet soft-rock gem in the vein of Laura Veirs



Chapter 10
Freelance Whales - Generator ^ 2nd Floor
Weathervanes (Sample/Purchase)
Self Release
http://www.myspace.com/thefreelancewhales

Notes: Uplifting Little Ones/Sufjan Stevens-like multi-instrumental/layered folk-tronica ; Opening for Fanfarlo at the Echo 11/23





Chapter 11
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel - Just For Me (But I Thought of You)
Desire and Dissolving Men (Sample/Purchase)
Self-Release (Debut full-length will be out Spring '10 on Rounder Records)
http://www.myspace.com/thewheel

Notes: Voice carries many comparisons : Bon Iver, Paulo Nutini, Bill Callahan/Leonard Cohen,Glen Hansard



Chapter 12 - Identification Interlude
FOUND - Tenoripin
Fidelities EP (Sample/Purchase)
Aufgeladen Und Bereit, DE / Fence Records, UK / US (Unsigned)
http://www.myspace.com/foundtheband


Notes: Nice low-key instrumental from Scottish electro-experimentalists




Chapter 13
FOUND - Let Fidelity Break
Fidelities EP (Sample/Purchase)
Aufgeladen Und Bereit, DE / Fence Records, UK / US (Unsigned)
http://www.myspace.com/foundtheband

Notes: Ingredients: Mix 1/4 cup of Beta Band ; 2 teaspoons of Apparat/Ellen Alien and four bite-sized Hot Chips ; careful not to burn your tongue



Chapter 14
Phantogram - When I'm Small
Phantogram EP (Sample/Purchase)
Self-Release (Full length will come through Barsuk Records)
http://www.myspace.com/phantogram

Notes: Like the XX with predominantly led female vocals a la Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins)





Chapter 15
ZAZA - Sooner or Later
Cameo EP (Sample/Purchase)
Kanine
http://www.myspace.com/warofzaza

Notes: Jim James/Wayne Coyne vocals beneath a spectral shoegaze pop





Chapter 16 - Identification Break
Washed Out - Feel It All Around
Life of Leisure (Sample/Purchase)
Mexican Summer
http://www.myspace.com/thebabeinthewoods

Notes: Warning, this music will make you enjoy sitting or moving equally. Extremely blissful, discolightful.

CMJ 2009 - Final Round with FOUND

On my final day in NY, I woke up bright and early to catch my flight back home but made sure to load my ipod with the promo cd's given to me the night before from the Scottish group FOUND so i had something to listen to on the way to the airport. I was really caught by the first track and i began to notice a great range in their repertoire from glitchy electronica in the form of Apparat and Ellen Alien to the rock underpinnings of the Beta Band and Field Music. I tried to read as i was listening but i just couldn't stop paying attention to the sounds. Finally, as the last stop approached for the JFK airport, i heard track 10 of 10. It was "Let Fidelity Break", the best of the lot and i then made an impulsive decision at the Jet Blue counter to cancel my flight plans and extend my stay through Sunday.

Once my gut had steered me back to the city, my only concern was finding out the details of their show in the vast region known as Central Park and making sure not to miss out their performance once again. I emailed the guys in the band from the airport and found out that they were playing at a Pumpkin Festival for the Kidrockers showcase at Bandshell Park in Central Park.

On the day of the show, the sky was full of clouds and the weather was looking bleak and so unpredictable all week so I worried that the rain, which was forecast, would prevent the performance from happening since the park is outdoors. No matter what i was determined to get there rain or shine and do my dilligence in seeing the band. Upon arriving at the event, I ran into the guys and we had some good banter while watching a Best in Show poodle circus performance with live acrobatics on stage...then their was a nice performance from the band Pretty Good Dance Moves, who challenged the kids to a dance-off battle...their was even some drama for their mamas after the show as a little trivial pumpkin pursuit turned sour and might have scarred this kid for life...watch and learn.

As Rosie Perez says in the classic tale, White Men Can't Jump...

"sometimes when you really win, you really lose and sometimes when you lose you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie you actually win or lose"

...and sometimes when you go to CMJ you see a 4ft talent who may take over the world one day. Ladies and gentlemen, i present to you Guishailo.



That's right! Don't forget where you saw lil' Guishailo first... Just how would FOUND follow up an act of this stature you ask? Well if you can't beat 'em..join em and FOUND did just that by inviting all the kids to come on stage and jam with them as they performed my favorite cut, "Let Fidelity Break." For your viewing pleasure.



Finally, i wanted to interview the band to make sure everyone in the states gets a little more information about my favorite Scottish lads, but the kids once again beat me to it. Go to the FoundTrack's CMJ Channel of our Youtube Page to find out more about these guys like if they can really rock and roll and if the Lochness Monster actually exists?

FOUND after performance with real American Cheese

CMJ 2009 - Day 3

Not too much to report on Day 3 due to extreme fatigue but I had to represent/support my favorite LA music blog, Aquarium Drunkard, and their day showcase at Fontana's. I got there in time to catch the last couple songs from Blair, a sweet female-led four-piece from New Orleans who put out an impressive debut last year and now have been added to the Autumn Tone roster (label of Aquarium Drunkard chief Justin Gage). Look for a new release from Blair in January 2010. Also of note at the showcase was the dark trip-hop duo Phantogram from upstate NY...They reminded me of The XX but with more layers and primarily female vocals. Look for more material to come through Barsuk Records.

Upstairs at the Brooklyn Vegan day party at Pianos, I heard a delightful number from Freelance Whales, a very cute 5-piece from Queens, playing happy folk-tronica which could have fit nicely in the "Where the Wild Things Are" Soundtrack. Speaking of Brooklyn Vegan, they get kudos for hipping me to an under the radar electronic music night at the Rose Jazz club in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). I listened to one of the bands on the bill,FOUND, on myspace and it pretty much clinched my commitment to make the trek, especially since they were from Edinburgh, Scotland and i doubt i would have another chance to see them. Unfortunately, i got there just after they had finished their set, but somehow managed to meet the lead singer of the collective who gave me a few promo copies of their cd to listen to. < --- more on these guys later. I ended the night at the Paradigm Showcase at the Mercury Lounge to see LA's Local Natives. Believe it or not, i had yet to see them in my own backyard in LA and after hearing so much praise over their music, i had to witness it in front of an un-local audience. Was most impressed by the bearded lead singer, who was very efficient at multi-tasking his yearning vocals with keyboards and one-handed drum strikes. The rest of the natives sported magnum PI moustaches and delivered pretty percussion-friendly pop. I don't know why but i can see these guys making a nice christmas record that we can all tolerate. Make sure to give them a warm homecoming reception after their long tour comes to an end in December.

I was able to capture snippets of the live performances from all of these bands through my new Ultra HD Flip cam, so make sure and go to FoundTrack's CMJ Youtube page to check out our extensive coverage.

CMJ 2009 - Day 2

Unlike my first day of CMJ, which was well-thought out, Day 2 had no agenda and hoped to pleasantly collide into something good and that i did. Starting with Brooklyn's Zaza at the Cake Shop for the Terrorbird showcase. The trio's shoegaze impressed many in the basement including LA's very own Warpaint, who were on deck to go next. Zaza have just been signed to Kanine Records, who has been very active in signing many of the finest artists at the festival this year, including buzzed artists Surfer Blood, The Depreciation Guild, and local LA faves, Princeton, who are currently touring with Art Brut. After the cake shop, i ventured early to see a free show from one of my favorite new artists this year, New Jersey's Real Estate. No need to get the government involved to help bail out this Real Estate. They are amazing live and will prove to be a permanent fixture in the lo-fi psychedelic indie rock property.

I then went over to the Babelgum/Hype Machine party at the basement of the Santos Party House to catch charismatic young electro-soul emcee Theophilus London. He was pretty captivating on stage, supplemented by sharp production work including a remix of Amadou and Mariam's "Sabali" and Jack Penate's "Pull My Heart Away"..both available for streaming on his myspace page. Midnight Juggernauts, the headliner of the show, were pretty explosive, showcasing a lot of their new material.


If i were to pick another label that is poised for a huge run this year, I'd go with IAMSOUND. I therefore made a sure bet to finish the evening at their showcase at the Bowery Poetry Club, opening the night with New Villager, an unlikely pairing from bedstuy NY, who produce very catchy pop with a great vocal range, comparable to Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio). The rest of IAMSOUNDS hot new signings followed with Apache Beat, a five piece NY dark art-rock outfit in the vein of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who will be featured in their debut release in 2010 and following them were Brooklyn experimental punk rockers Suckers, similair in style to the shower of shouters Wolf Parade. Although this all had made an evening defly worth the price of admission, the last two acts stole the show. London's Golden Silvers won the gold and silver prize for best new act at CMJ thus far. The showcase rightfully finished with LA's very own Fool's Gold, who've been the subject of much talk at the conference. A very patient crowd of hundreds filled the poetry club, withstanding over one hour of sound setup past 1am with over a dozen different mics ensuring the sonic fidelity of the 8-piece afrobeat ensemble. They were in such a groove that they played only a handful of epic jams for over one hour, the last of the bunch culminating in a march through the crowd and onto the streets. This was the final show of their first tour before they return home to LA. Many of the people i had talked to in the crowd has said that this was their second time seeing them in a various opportunity costs. Another new bright star on IAMSOUND's roster, Florence and the Machine were busy on their own tour but will be traveling through NY and LA before the end of the month so be sure to catch them as well.

I was able to capture snippets of the live performances from all of these bands through my new Ultra HD Flip cam, so make sure and go to FoundTrack's CMJ Youtube page to check out our extensive coverage.

CMJ 2009 - Day 1

Unlike the past few years before, this year's CMJ music marathon seems to have less of the established bands and brands. The biggest band at the marathon appears to be the long-awaited return of the UK act Broadcast, who's touring with the Atlas Sound. Otherwise, the field is wide open to the 1200+ young, talented acts that serve the heart of the festival's purpose, enlightening the future collegiate tastemakers as to what's coming soon to a venue near you. Among the most anticipated are Australia's Midnight Juggernauts, the UK's The XX and hometown heroes The Antlers and School of Seven Bells as well as the east coast debut of Belgium's Aeroplane.

Since i don't have the means to fork $400+ for a CMJ badge, i've been doing CMJ as a recessionist should/would. Taking full advantage of the numerous FREE day parties all over the city, curated by the top NY music movers and shakers from bloggers to labels and bookers and so forth. At night, all shows are open to the public at a great value if you act fast and purchase tickets before they sell out. Therefore, i say to my pal CM to the J..."We don't need no stinking badges."

Started Day One at the cake shop, which is a great little cafe/record store in the heart of NY's lower east side. Downstairs in the basement they had a clutch lineup of bands curated by one of the top music blogs, aptly titled, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted. Was impressed by the opener, Brooklyn's Dinosaur Feathers, who had nice high-pitched harmonies sort of like the indie-pop version of the Fleet Foxes. Next, i walked a wopping 20 yards to go to the Sneak Attack Media/Music Slut day party at Pianos. Upstairs, I saw the highly touted Javelin, a boom box-fueled crunk tropicalia duo who played a plethora of electronics and samples in front of a projection of lost and found garage sale footage mashing up anything from the Revenge of the Nerds to Shaq's rapping debut in the early 90's. "Soda-Popinski" is a personal fave (interpolated from the venerable villain from "Mike Tyson's Punch Out") and their sea floor urchin dance video is defly worth your consumption. Downstairs i hit up the dance hall and heard the easy snappin' indie-reggae of Sean Bones, formerly of the group Sam Champion. You might have seen his starring role in the acclaimed film, "Wat Do Dem" co-starring Norah Jones.

In the evening i bounced to Brooklyn, for the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at the Music Hall of Williamsburg for stellar headliners The Antlers, Fanfarlo, and Laura Marling but i was rather peculiar of the lesser known talents of the awesome Montreal band Think About Life, a meeting of the minds of Architecture in Helsinki/Bloc Party/and The Friendly Fires/TV on the Radio. The lead singer seemed a little awkward with his banter between tracks but it was easily forgiven for their dancetastic tunes, dominating all the inertia in the music hall and delighting the small crowd of early-comers. I went downstairs to the bar between bands and ended up meeting the members of Denver's Nathaniel Rateliff and The Wheel, possibly and personally one of the most anticipated acts i had heard in my research. Nathaniel's songs are simply sweet and earnest folk songs, conjuring my other faves Bon Iver and Paulo Nutini, the latter of which he has opened for. This night was also a celebration of their new signing from A&R chief Dave Godowski of Rounder Records so look for a debut release in Spring '10.

It was a difficult decision but i opted out of the great headliners of the rest of the showcase to catch a set from HIGHLIFE at the recently opened Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. This is a project from Sleepy Doug Shaw and features vocal assistance from Mira Billotte (White Magic). "F Kenya RIP" (available for streaming on their myspace page) is the whole reason why i fled to this show so i hope you will agree that it is one of the most beautiful tracks of the year. The track pays tribute to Francis Kenya Guitar Band.

Last destination was to the Cameo Gallery to see 8-bit beasts Anamanaguchi. The showcase was curated by Popgun Booking, who i hear is quickly making a name for themselves out here showcasing a variety of good bands. Anamanaguchi were very impressive, playing music out of a re-programmed sound card in a donkey kong cartridge to produce the best of a growing pattern of the many backing tracks i've heard throughout the day. Darwin Deez had the pleasure of culmination and he did a great job despite a diminished crowd. He and his bandmates had maneuvered 4 amazing dance skits as interludes between his infectious dance pop with a side of calisthenics. For fans of Throw Me the Statue or danceable Death Cab For Cutie.

I was able to capture snippets of the live performances from all of these bands through my new Ultra HD Flip cam, so make sure and go to FoundTrack's CMJ Youtube page to check out our extensive coverage.