Oh Ye Denver Birds - I Believe In Love, Kid [Watch]

Check out the video for "I Believe In Love, Kid," the lead track from Oh Ye Denver Birds' forthcoming debut album Good Ivy.

The track is an effervescent treat for your ears with its psychedelic melange of swirling synths, dizzying vocals, and frenetic beats. Not to be outdone, the video is every bit as frenetic with its multi-colored swaths of static and cut out figures.

Watch the video below, and be sure to keep an eye out for future singles from the band's forthcoming album, which is due out in early 2012.

Day 19 - David Lynch

"So here’s a portrait we did of director David Lynch. This was shot for the icon issue of the now defunct project of Shepard Fairey and Roger Gastman called Swindle Magazine. We were told we had no more than 30 minutes with Mr. Lynch, not because he was a diva or anything but that he can’t handle doing one thing longer than 30 minutes apparently. We decided to shoot him with 4×5 film, Kodak Portra 160 to be exact with one soft box (like every 4×5 shot we ever shoot). We shot 4 frames that felt great so we asked if he would like to smoke. He said “I would love to, it’s one of my favorite things to do”. He lit up, we shot this one more frame and called it a day because we knew we had it. 5 frames, have never even looked at the other 4. As we were packing up our gear he said “It was a real pleasure watching you guys work” and he walked off. Thank you Mr. Lynch for your time."

 Via Day 19

Winter Gloves - Factories/Plastic Slides

This is from a bit of a ways back, but I still can't get over how frickin fun this Winter Gloves Take Away Show is.

Check out the video for "Factories" and "Plastic Slides," which is shot at an abandoned theme park, below.

Faye Dunaway, 1977

"Faye Dunaway poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the morning after the 1977 Oscars. The Academy Award she won the previous night, made for a nice center piece on the breakfast table. Her then  boyfriend, Terry O’Neill, captured this moment in time. It’s natural, completely natural."

Via Because I'm Addicted

Seoul – Michael Davidson

Check out the charming folksy pop of Seoul.

Reminiscent of those songs that your second grade class would sing along to while your slightly off music teacher would strum her guitar, “Michael Davidson” recreates that naïve innocence and delirious glee of our childhood.

With wistful lyrics, a shouted chorus full of animal sounds, a jangling melody, and plenty of good clean fun, what’s not to like about this track?

Listen to “Michael Davidson” and “I Was A Fool” below from the band’s debut EP Arrivals/Departures, which is available for free on their bandcamp.

Goodbye Summer, Until Next Year

Mikael Kennedy

AA Loves - The Naked Hearts

I’m rather late for The Naked Hearts wagon, but I suppose it’s better to be a bit late than never.

Consisting of Amy Cooper on guitars and vocals and Noah Wheeler on drums, this Brooklyn duo will have you rocking out, thinking quiet introspective thoughts, making out, and searching for your true love simultaneously. That is to say, they’re a bit of mixed bag when it comes to pinpointing their style, but regardless their stripped down indie-rock/folk sound will keep you coming back for more.

Listen to “Pillow Song“ and “Dark Shade” below.

  Naked Hearts - Dark Shade by popgunbooking

The Art of Scott Pommier (Again)

Just thought to share a few of my recent favorites from the insanely talented Scott Pommier.

Enjoy.

AA Loves: Flat Duo Jets

Nothing like a bit of Flat Duo Jets to get the day started right.

Reeking of rockabilly, early rock ‘n’ roll, and pent-up anxiety, Dexter Romweber is passionate guitar malevolence incarnate. As an early pioneer of the thunderous guitar/drum attack, the Flat Duo Jets have proven to be major influences for the White Stripes, Black Keys, and countless other bands.

Listen to “Crazy Hazy Kisses” and “Frog Went A Courtin'” and understand why parents in the 50s were so afeared of rock ‘n’ roll. With Romweber’s raw emotions surging forth like tidal wave, the band’s dangerous diesel-soaked sound is a stark reminder of why rock was once the “devil’s music.”

Youth Lagoon - Montana

Check out the hauntingly beautiful video for Youth Lagoon’s “Montana.”

Taken from the band’s debut LP The Year of Hibernation, “Montana” is a lovely ballad with sparse lyrics that steadily builds into a cathartic release.

Watch below and keep an eye out for the album which is due out on September 27^th on Fat Possum.

Youth Lagoon - Montana from Tyler T Williams on Vimeo.

AA Blog Crush: Cinabrio

Have a look at the amazing aesthetic style of Cinabrio, my latest Tumblr obsession.

If you like what you see below, head over here to see more.  

TV Girl – Baby You Were There

If drum machines existed in the 1950s, our parent’s old records would sound a lot like TV Girl.

Check out “Baby You Were There,” a jam that harkens back to the golden oldies of a previous era with its saccharine innocence. Although sadly, I can hear this being the new jingle for Old Navy commercials come this winter.

Listen to “Baby You Were There”  as well as “Benny and the Jetts” below and download your free copy of their EP Benny and the Jetts using the download link.

  Baby You Were There by TV Girl

  Benny and the Jetts by TV Girl

 

The Art of Graciela Iturbide

Have a gander at the hauntingly surreal photos of Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, who seems to have a thing for birds.

Oregon Bike Trails - Cayucas

For those of you still clinging to the last scraps of summer like I am, then Oregon Bike Trails’ “Cayucas,” will certainly be a welcome addition to your playlist.

With the bouncy innocence of the Beach Boys, “Cayucas,” will have you nodding along as you float about in a dreamy haze of 1960s inspired pop-goodness. Light, airy, and delicious, the ephemerality of summer will suddenly seem like it’s a distant memory as soon as the first notes hit your ears.

“Cayucas” is the B-Side off Oregon Bike Trails’ upcoming 7” release for “High School Lover,” an equally breezy track. The 7” drops September 19th via Father/Daughter Records, but in the meantime you can pre-order now on bandcamp.

Class Actress - Weekend

Check out “Weekend,” the latest cut from Class Actress.

Taken from Class Actress’ forthcoming album Rapprocher, the track is saturated in lush 80s synths and Elizabeth Harper’s voice is as scantily clad and alluring as ever.

The album drops October 18^th via Carpark.

Weekend by Class Actress

Lee Frieldander

 

Lee Friedlander - Butte, Montana

Napoleon In Rags – Empty Promises

Check out “Empty Promises,” the latest single from the up and coming Napoleon in Rags.

Hailing from Swindon, UK, these British lads navigate the dark waters of moody rock with the studied melancholy of Joy Division and Interpol. The driving melodies and the pulsating beat on “Empty Promises” creates an ambivalent ambience that wavers between rousing and sullen, but the brooding vocals lend it an unmistakable air of murky grayness.

“Empty Promises” is out September 9^th via Humming Records. In the meantime, stream it below or head over to SoundCloud to download your free copy along with two remixes.

Swoon

The Magnetic Fields - Two Characters In Search Of A Country Song

Pure ear sex.

"You were Jessie James
I was William Tell
You were Daniel Webster
I was the devil himself

Two characters in search of a country song
Just make believe, but so in love
Two characters been listin' all night long
for voices from Nashville above"

Charlotte Gainsbourg – Terrible Angels

Check out the latest single from Charlotte Gainsbourg “Terrible Angels,” off her forthcoming double album Stage Whisper.

The lead single is a bit of a stylish stroll through the dark electronic side of things.

Have a look at the video below and keep an eye out for the new album which is scheduled to drop November 7^th. In the meantime though, the Terrible Angels EP hits stores today.

Big Deal – Lights Out Album Stream

Big Deal's debut album “Lights Out” is finally here!

So I’ve had a bit of a band crush on these two Indie darlings for quite some time now. Their initial EP immediately drew well deserved comparisons to the XX, but with the release of their debut album, they’ve shown that they’re much more than just that.

Stripped down lyrics, melodic duets, and warm guitars infuse their sound with an intimacy that makes it seem as if they were simply playing a set in your living room with the kind of honest sincerity that makes  your chest ache.

Stream the album below, courtesy of NME.

Big Deal - Lights Out by Mute UK

A Conversation with Nicholas Maggio

I recently got the chance to interview one of my favorite photographers, Nicholas Maggio, for Pluck Magazine.

I got to ask him why he's so frickin awesome and other similar intellectual and incredibly well thought-out questions that blew his mind.

Here's a snippet of the interview:

"PM: In your opinion, what makes your photos unique?

NM: I'd like to think the purity. Not so much in the digital or post process aspect, but in the subject matter. I guess the above question speaks to this as well.

PM: Of your work thus far, is there a particular image that stands out in your mind as your favorite or most memorable? Why?

NM: A few Christmases ago my nephew got a space suit. He promptly tried it on and I asked if I could take his picture in the front yard. The image became one of my all-time favorites. The sense of innocence in the bare-feet and excitement of a new toy; the candidness of the image; the textures; the light; and the fact I took it on my phone are all reasons why I love it. I've sold prints of it and a huge retailer out it on a shirt and sold it in over 850 stores across the U.S. I still love it."

Head over to Pluck to read the rest and be sure to check out his portfolio here.

Jelly Jells – It is What It Is

Producer extraordinaire Jelly Jells is back with another jam, just weeks after his last single “Beautiful” had the Interwebs all abuzz.

Check out “It Is What It Is,” which is a bit like Vampire Weekend meets Sister Nancy but with surprisingly candid lyrics like “I do recall the fast black robin and chokin my mother out at the Hotel Carter” and “He was her pimp/See I never met my actual father.” Not to mislead you, the track is entirely uplifting with its jubilant beats fit for a festive island street parade.

Have a listen below.

  Jelly Jells- IT IS WHAT IT IS by jellyjells