Autumnal

I am still very excited about Kings of Convenience's new album coming out in October, which is why I added another new track of theirs in this mix.

However, I am also equally as excited for Letting Up Despite Great Faults, whose self-titled debut LP comes out in the same month. Be on the lookout for this one, because I have a damn good hunch that it will steal the hearts of many this fall.

Empire of the Sun is a fun and funny band...

...from down under, and generally I like the groove that Aussies produce (ie. Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts). They also love Bali, so that's another thing I like that we have in common.

This last part I've been wanting to get out in public, but somehow never have since summer. As much as I like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart on record- actually, I kind of extremely enjoy their album- they are terrible live. How they were able to headline summer festivals this past year, it beats me. And really, how nice (!) that they have a token Asian girl who sings only four words in every song and dances behind a keyboard that she doesn't really play. I really appreciate the added (dis)value to our image. I really wish I could have more respect for the band for their live shows, but for now, I'll stick with listening to their mp3s, particularly this one, and maybe I'll just forget that I ever saw them perform.

Autumnal (click to download)

1. Letting Up Despite Great Faults - "The Colors Aren't You Or Me" [Letting Up Despite Great Faults, 2009]

2. Empire of the Sun - "Half Mast" [Empire of the Sun, 2009]

3. Kings of Convenience - "Freedom And Its Owner" [Declaration of Dependence, 2009]

4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Higher Than The Stars" [Higher Than The Stars EP, 2009]

How music should be - Kings of Convenience 9/10/09 @ Bowery Ballroom

I was one of the lucky audience to experience "The Build Up" and "Know How" performed by Kings of Convenience and Feist live yesterday at the Bowery Ballroom. Below is a short video of the tail end of the latter, just to give you a taste of what it was like. However, the best part was Feist joining in from the balcony in the unplugged no-mic version of "The Build Up". Thankfully, this amazing performance silenced even the muttering audience near the bar in the back of the room.

Kings of Convenience will release their junior album titled Declaration of Dependence sometime in October. The show last night consisted mostly of a preview of the new songs (including "Mrs Cold" from my previous post) and some older songs ("Cayman Islands", "Homesick", and "Little Kids" to name a few) and although I'm neither a concert nor album reviewer, I feel compelled to say something about their performance last night and upcoming album: the sound braver and more honest and mature, this album is proof that Kings of Convenience, perfect as they may be before in Quiet is the New Loud and Riot in an Empty Street, is still crafting a sound that continually outdoes their previous without going completely astray in direction. Declaration of Dependence is definitely a candidate for 2009's best album.

Resurrection

My return to music.

Resurrection

1. The xx - Intro [xx, 2009]

2. Reverie Sound Revue - You Don't Exist If I Don't See You [Reverie Sound Revue, 2009]

3. The Durutti Column - Sketch For Summer [The Return of the Durutti Column, 1979]

4. Kings of Convenience - Mrs Cold [Declaration of Dependence, later in 2009]

And my great thanks to those who have made this summer my most expensive and most satisfying one yet.