Von's Records

You Already Know This

2012-02-05T11:05:00.001-05:00

The Jealous Sound--A Gentle Reminder
Holy hell. I've waited nine years for this. I'd heard rumors about this album over the years, but I always brushed them off and slipped Kill Them with Kindness back into my boombox and wistfully thought of a sequel, never quite giving up hope that Blair Shehan would come through for me. And he did. Oh my god, he finally did.
A Gentle Reminder sounds a lot like Kill Them with Kindness in certain aspects--two tracks in particular almost seem lifted directly from their debut album--except that Shehan isn't the same upstart cigarettes-and-gin-voiced post-Emo kid he once was. He still has an uncanny knack for phrasing lyrics that could almost seem ridiculous if he didn't sing them the way he does, with a sidelong glance and a sad smile, bitter humor just beneath the surface. But he's grown up in these nine years--you can unmistakably hear it in the deeper pitch he cops to and the wistfulness with which he sings--but it works, and I'm ecstatic. Upstarts take note: this is how you age gracefully.
Confession time: I've actually gone and dug all the albums I got into around the time I first heard Kill Them with Kindness out and have been waxing slightly nostalgic ever since.

I Want to Live!

2012-02-05T09:51:00.000-05:00

Nellie McKay comes to Lafayette,

courtesy of Friends of Bob

Tickets available at Von's, $20 in advance

If You Want To

2012-01-25T16:31:00.000-05:00

Presented without comment. Except maybe a little bitty "Fuck yeah!"

Von's Top 20 for 2011

2012-01-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

Von's Records' Top 20 for 2011 (Better late than never)

It's time again for the annual parade of our favorite albums of the year.
Not necessarily the best, mind you. But things we liked.

20. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

WD: This was a good album. Noel was the talent in Oasis and this album just solidifies that position. Beady Eye was garbage, this is near classic. "If I Had a Gun" might be my favorite song this year. I expected a great album from Noel and he delivered. Spot on, sir. Spot on.

TF: Oasis - Angst = This? I'm digging this for the time being, but I'm not sure that it's one that will stay with me through the years.

19. The War on Drugs Slave Ambient
RR: I was more than a little nervous when I heard that Kurt Vile had left these guys, but this is just as good as "Wagonwheel Blues," if only a little bit less lonely. Slave Ambient is atmospheric and expansive, building up layers of sound into an almost Marfa-TX-like-sky--broad and infinite, filled with space and dust, and bleeding into the horizon.

WD: This is a pretty good listen. There is a mood that permeates throughout that I found to be quite pleasing.

18. PJ Harvey Let England Shake
RR: PJ never ever ceases to amaze me. Only Polly Jean could take a song-cycle this intense, sung purposefully out of her usual range to draw your attention to the horrors and giganticness of war, and not have it fall completely flat. You can feel her being consumed by this, screaming into an abyss that can only be conquered by something as equally as awful as it is itself.

WD: I could have loved this album if not for some of the seemingly misplaced noise. There is a bugle call throughout the third or fourth track that just drives me insane. It seems dumb, but that just ruined this album for me.

17. Smith Westerns Dye It Blonde

TF: Saw these guys at random during Bonnaroo, and they just got stuck in my head. Groovy, T. Rex style tunes.

RR: Vintage pop. Not as lo-fi as their first album, but pretty damn fabulous all the same.

WD: I agree with TF. There is a pretty heavy T Rex thing happening here, and I love it.

16. Wanda Jackson The Party Ain't Over

TF: Elvis's former au pair collaborated with Jack White on the comeback album to end all comeback albums. Rowdy, loud and rockabilly as hell. I hope I'm able to rock this much when I'm old.

RR: I love Wanda. She's still got electricity pouring off of her, and a certain sexiness you wouldn't normally think of with someone in her mid-70's. And I adore how mischievous-little-boy-grinning Jack White gets when he's around her.

WD: I just loved this one. It's hooky. It's fun. It's a party on a 12" slab of vinyl. Wanda and Jack really delivered the goods on this album. Lots of horns, great vocals, and just enough of Jack's guitar to make me grin.

15. Kurt Vile Smoke Ring for my Halo

RR: Kurt always sounds so alone, which has always struck me as a little bit strange because there's always this tiny flame of not-quite anger that isn't exactly passivity either burning in his music. I like it.

14. Wilco The Whole Love

RR: Jeff Tweedy has lost his edge with age, but Wilco still makes good music with lyrics that don't often follow a logical course of action--and I think Nels Cline gives them some of that lost edge back (Hello, track number 1: "Art of Almost"). There will never be another Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, sure, but what can one do?

WD: Wilco has a way of making albums that kind of alienate me on the first couple of listens, but later on I sort-of "get it". This one I "got" right away. It was very accessible. True, it's no Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but it's great. Wilco has settled into making consistently good records, and, while they may not be Earth shattering, that's more than can be said for some of the bands out there right now.

13. Cults Self-Titled
RR: This wears its 60's-Girl-Groups reverence on its sleeves, and I adore it.

12. Bright Eyes The People's Key
RR: Oh, Conor Oberst, you're all grown up now. This album is one of the best he's ever made, I think. The little-boy-lost is now a man adrift, no longer list innocence consumed with love that doesn't exist, but instead a world that seems just this side of burning down, everyone alone. It's almost as if he's finally seeing past himself, and it's all the more poignant because of it.

11. tUnE-yArDs W H O K I L L

TF: This is noisy, strange, and awesome. This bizarre cacophony is laced together with infectious hooks and thick beats. Weird and addictive. Like eating imported exotic animal organs.

RR: This is in my top 3 for the year. Merrill Garbus is insane, and I kinda want to make her breakfast. Loops upon tape-loops, and not all of it makes sense. Plus she looks like she just rolled out from under a Goodwill donation bin. I love it!

WD: I only listened to this album one time. From what I remember, it was pretty good.

10. Adele 21

RR: Music to weep to, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. She is astonishingly talented! And she's gorgeous.

TF: A song from this album is currently playing on at least three radio stations in every single listening area on earth. Usually, this is a bad thing, but every time I come across Adele, I've gotta listen. It's rare that someone with actual talent becomes a pop success, and I'm glad that Adele is getting the attention she deserves.

WD: It's so rare these days to hear a truly talented artist on pop radio. I'm really happy to see Adele on top of the charts. It fills me with hope that real music can still be popular. This was just a fantastic album. She deserves all the accolades she gets. Also, she is super-hot.

09. The Decemberists The King is Dead

WD: This was my pick for record of the year. The Decemberists made an amazing album. They left the epicness and grandiose ideas from Hazards Of Love behind to make a beautiful folk-rock masterpiece. This album was just perfect. I couldn't stop listening to it.
RR: This is a really good album, and a folk-rock masterpiece to be sure. But I miss the days of "July, July!" I just can't help it, damnit. They've left England and whaling ships and gone Oregonian (at last, I suppose. They ARE from Portland, after all) -all flannel and lumberjack beards and ugly shoes.
TF: There was nothing wrong with this album, but nothing that stuck with me either. I prefer The Crane Wife.

08. The Strokes Angles

TF: The Strokes went the way of The Yeah Yeah Yeah's with this album and pulled a more poppy, electronic record. (HIPSTER GLASSES, ENGAGE) Not as good as some of their older stuff, but catchy as hell.

RR: I still can't believe Julian recorded the vocal track for this album on the opposite side of the country from the rest of the band. As I've said before, this is no "Room on Fire," but I really like its pop-leanings.

WD: The Strokes have made better albums, but this was a strong comeback for them.

07. Radiohead The King of Limbs

RR: Creepy and full of doom n' gloom. It's fabulous, and haunts my dreams. But every time I play it, I'm astonished at how short this album really is.

WD: I love that Radiohead seems to be unable to disappoint. This album was as good as anything they have ever done (except maybe "Ok Computer"). I love that they aren't afraid to make albums the way that they want to. It's best to have no expectations when going into listening to a new Radiohead album. You'll be more free to follow them into the abyss.

06. Bon Iver Bon Iver

RR: This isn't as bad as I remembered it being. I loved For Emma, Forever Ago, and I hated Blood Bank, so I remember approaching this with trepidation, and then indifference. But this is actually really good--the utter sadsack-ness of FEFA is gone, but Justin Vernon isn't out of his doldrums quite yet.

05. Destroyer Kaputt

RR: I wasn't actually all that impressed with this, though several people have said they love it. I can see what he was trying to do with it, but I find myself indifferent and tuning-out. I've always hated Steely Dan. That said, ten other people voted this on to this list, and it made it into the top 5 on several Best-Of lists, so what do I know?

04. Florence + the Machine Ceremonials

RR: Florence, I love you and everything about you. This is darker than Lungs, and all the more beautiful for it. She goes down the same paths Kate Bush treads, with no real salvation in sight.
TF: This hasn't made the same waves that Lungs did, not yet at least, but this album has a lot of potential. Dreamy and dramatic.

WD: I liked this enough to include it. I liked it better than "Lungs". It has a very grand sound. I like the bigness of this one.

03. Washed Out Within and Without

RR: My album of the year, hands down. But I'm a little biased--I have this thing for fuzz. Their live show is just a little bit boring, but I can live with that if they keep making music like this.

WD: This was pretty forgetable. I liked it when it first came out, but it just didn't stick with me for very long. It's one of those "if the mood strikes" albums, and the mood doesn't strike me very often.

02. The Black Keys El Camino

TF: Loved it. As good as, if not better than Brothers. I'm glad that "unofficial third member" Danger Mouse is back in the fold for this one, and El Camino far surpasses DM's contributions on Attack and Release. "Little Black Submarines" will lull you into a false sense of safety then kick you in the teeth. The Black Keys have worked hard to get to this level of recognition, and it couldn't have happened to a better pair of boys from Ohio.

RR: This is really, really good, but it's no number one. It's almost too calculated, if that makes any sense. That said, I still like this a hell of a lot.

WD: The Black Keys are on one hell of a roll. They just keep getting better, and this album is the proof. It's a rocker with nary a dull moment. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've heard a more consistent album since Elephant by The White Stripes. It's just great .

01. Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues

TF: I'm gonna be 100% honest right now: I didn't even listen to this album. Or, if I did, I didn't realize it and it left no impact on me. Fleet Foxes, I'm sorry, but you just haven't impressed me. Stop being so damn forgettable.

RR: This album is gorgeous, like everything they've ever done. I think the only problem is, they've found the formula that works for them and they haven't deviated. I'm curious as to what else they'll do.

WD: RR is right. This was a beautiful journey. The Fleet Foxes have actually improved on the Portland folk of their debut. I fell for this after the first listen. They don't deviate from what makes them a great band. This was a well crafted album. It's not perfect, but it's pretty damn close.

Live music: Ana Egge

2012-01-13T14:35:00.000-05:00

Friends of Bob presents:

Ana Egge

Saturday, January 21st at 8 p.m.

Tickets available in the Record Section for $10 in advance!

*****

Ladies and gentlemen, she is intense!

*****

Get your tickets while we've got 'em!

Stoop so Low

2012-01-07T01:45:00.002-05:00

Kimbra reminds me of an even sunnier, slightly-less-unhinged Annie Clark, and Gotye--damn. I love that brooding anger just beneath the waterline. Christ, he's intense.

Dominion!

2012-01-06T12:56:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I have problems :D

Good news, everyone! The Black Keys' "El Camino" now avaliable on vinyl!

2011-12-16T09:52:00.005-05:00

You've been waiting for it, and so have we. We now have copies of The Black Keys' new album "El Camino" available on vinyl!

The album is a 2 disk, LP/CD combo and includes a giant fold-out poster for your enjoyment. SO come by and pick up your copy of this awesome album!

Tape-Loops

2011-12-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

I really need to see her live. Holy god.

I am Upside Down

2011-11-28T01:35:00.001-05:00

My two current Obsessions are "What Goes On" from the Velvet Underground's Live Vol. 1 and "And the Glitter is Gone" from Yo La Tengo's Popular Songs.

The wiggy manic jam session halfway-through "What Goes On" gets me every time--goddamned organ noodles that flip back on themselves and change and you don't even notice even when you've got your headphones on and nothing else exists.
And I can't even begin to pinpoint what, exactly, it is about 'Glitter' that burrows under my skin and nibbles on my bones.

To borrow a phrase I picked up flipping through reviews awhile ago, these two tracks are "both harrowing and oddly comforting." And that is as close as I will ever come, I think, to making any sense of it.

Blaaaaack Friiidaaaay!

2011-11-23T12:04:00.000-05:00

Black Friday is almost upon us!

Hold on to your artfully arranged fedoras and scarves, you lucky hipsters, you, and batten down those epic beards. We open at 9A.M. and everything is first-come-first-serve. No pushing, please! (That's what the parking lot's for.)

In addition to all of our lovely Black Friday special releases, take an extra 15% off of any regular-priced Vinyl or CD release, 20% off any Music T-Shirt, and 50% off of our already-discounted epic Clearance section!

Come check out the new store lay-out!

Oh, baby. You know you want these!

I Like to Keep My Issues Strong

2011-11-11T15:18:00.000-05:00

I think I might have a crush on you, Florence.

Wake Up the Neighbors

2011-11-06T13:11:00.001-05:00

Oh, Mark Romanek, you never get old. Light me up.

The Gourds

2011-11-04T13:47:00.001-05:00

The Gourds! (Texas represent!)

Sunday, November 20, 2011
7:00 p.m. at the Lafayette Brewing Co.

Presented by Friends of Bob!

Advance tickets available at Von's, $12 each

Black Friday 2011!

2011-10-27T16:28:00.001-05:00

Black Friday is coming!

We will be stocking certain releases, first come first serve!

As the Barbarian says, "I thought I'd mention that, for the second year in a row, recordstoreday.com is helping out the indie shops on Black Friday. That's right, we'll be getting in some limited editions that you'll only find here. Head on over to recordstoreday.com for a full list of what's going to be hitting the shelves and make up your wishlist. I already did mine."

Carolina Chocolate Drops

2011-10-18T14:17:00.003-05:00

Thursday, October 20th at 7:30 p.m.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops

via Purdue Convocations!

From PC: "The Carolina Chocolate Drops take Appalachian folk and stir it into the modern-day melting pot with more than a dash of soul and sass. This African-American string and jug band uses tradition as its guide to honor the rich musical heritage of the string band. Yet, classic string bands always absorbed other music influences—and it’s no different for the “Drops.” The ragtime, African banjo music, country, and popular music that were folded into Piedmont blues of North and South Carolina are still part of their recipe, yet the Drops sweeten things with new ingredients such as remakes of songs by Tom Waits and the 2001 R&B hit “Hit ’Em Up Style (Oops!).”"

I am super excited for this show!

Featured Album Of The Week

2011-10-15T09:00:00.002-05:00

Ashes & Fire

Ryan Adams

I usually try to highlight a lesser known album for my weekly picks, if only in the hopes of turning you on to something you may not have known about otherwise. This week however, I couldn't resist selecting the new Ryan Adams album, Ashes & Fire. This is Ryan's first solo album since 2007's Easy Tiger, although that's not to say he's been inactive since then. He's put out 2 records with The Cardinals (Cardinology in 2008 and the leftovers album III/IV in 2010) as well as a record from his metal alter-ego Orion. Ashes & Fire was well worth the wait. It's everything you'd expect from Ryan Adams. It's beautiful. It's sad. This record really shows that all Ryan needs to blow you away is an acoustic guitar and a microphone. I wouldn't be surprised to see this album in my top records of 2011 list. It's a really good one. So, if you're in the mood for something quiet and easy to enjoy, Ashes & Fire is a good place to go.

But I already Have

2011-10-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

...and because I love you: "Take Off Your Sunglasses"

New Music Tuesday

2011-10-10T14:15:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon friends and fans of Von's.

If you're anything like me, then you're getting tired of the same-old-same-old pouring out of your headphones.

With that being the case, then you are in luck, dear friends, for tomorrow is another fantastic edition of New Release Tuesday!!!. Come on in for new albums from Ryan Adams, Björk, Peter Gabriel, Ben Folds, Evanescence, and Thousand Foot Krutch.

Get some new noise for your bored ears.

Til It's Gone

2011-10-09T12:49:00.000-05:00

This is still relevant, damnit! Am I the only one that remembers Janet before she imploded?

Featured Album Of The Week

2011-09-29T11:12:00.003-05:00

Kasabian

Velociraptor!

In a week that will have us seeing new albums from Wilco, Blink-182, and Mastodon, I wanted to highlight a release that might get a little lost in the shuffle. My pick for the week is Velociraptor! by Kasabian. Kasabian is a great little British combo that has put out a few really good albums. In their native Britain, Kasabian have risen to nearly the top of the neo-BritPop scene, often being touted as the next Oasis. That's a tall mountain to climb, but these guys seem to be up to the hike. Velociraptor! is a great listen with plenty to love about it. With plenty of rock snarl and just enough synth to make you want to dance (not that I dance), I found this to be my surprise of the week.

So, when you stop by to get your new Wilco album, be sure to check this one out too. You may be surprised how often it'll make it's way onto your playlist.

Featured Album Of The Week

2011-09-22T09:49:00.003-05:00

Honkey Kong

Boots Electric

When I heard that Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes, of Eagles Of Death Metal fame, was putting out a solo record, I was pretty excited. He certainly didn't let me down. This album is pure, sleazy, sexy rock 'n roll and that's just the way I like it served up. Full of back-seat innuendo, and a decent helping of electro-funk, this one is well worth the price of admission.

First The White Stripes, now this....

2011-09-21T16:53:00.004-05:00

R.E.M.

R.I.P.

After 30 years R.E.M. has called it a day. I, for one, think this is pretty tragic. While R.E.M. may not have been at the top of the alternative rock heap they were consistently good. Collapse Into Now, which came out earlier this year, is high on my list of favorites of 2011, Monster is one of my favorite albums of the '90s, and Automatic For The People is a modern classic. They have been inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall Of Fame, have played for millions of people, and written some of the finest records of the last 3 decades. I shall miss this band.

Featured Album Of The Week

2011-09-15T09:29:00.005-05:00

Blitzen Trapper-American Goldwing

Well, it's finally time for another installment of my "weekly" featured release. This was a very tough week. I had a huge amount of excellent new albums come across the desk. After some deep thought, and a lot of time with my turntable, I have narrowed it down to American Goldwing by Blitzen Trapper. This album, like most Blitzen Trapper releases, just oozes old school Americana. The album was intoxicating, evoking images of dust covered drifters wandering the plains. It was solid throughout. This one is very much worth adding to your autumn playlist.

Things I Should Probably Stop Playing Before I Wear a Groove Into Them

2011-09-12T13:42:00.000-05:00

Oh Little Miss Red, I've got Something for You

2011-09-10T23:45:00.000-05:00

Sometimes those art degrees pay off, you know.

A Change is Gonna Come...to Duncan Hall

2011-09-01T10:44:00.000-05:00

Friends of Bob presents Ben Sollee

Friday, September 16th at 8 P.M.

Ben Sollee's take on pop-tinged folk music is phenomenal, by the way. If you've never listened to him, you need to get right on it. Don't hesitate!

Get your tickets at Von's Records!

Only $10 in advance!

Uptown Jazz & Blues Festival

2011-08-24T14:42:00.000-05:00

Lafayette's Uptown Jazz & Blues Festival is this Saturday (the 27th)

from 5p.m. to Midnight

Mister Heavenly

2011-08-16T09:10:00.005-05:00

Mister Heavenly-Out Of Love

My featured release this week is the debut album from Mister Heavenly, Out Of Love. The band is a side-project comprised of members of Modest Mouse, Man Man, and Islands. Some of you out there may have heard of Mister Heavenly due to Michael Cera's involvement as their touring bassist. Dubbed as "doom-wop", the album lives up to the expectations I would have for that phrase. It's poppy sounding, but with an underlying sadness in the lyrics. I found it very interesting. Fans of Modest Mouse will most likely enjoy this one. I don't really listen to Man, Man or Islands enough to know what their fans will think.

All-in-all, I would say this one is worth a couple trips about the turntable. Very enjoyable.

Check in next Tuesday for my next featured release.

My Heart Explodes

2011-08-14T22:50:00.003-05:00

Electrelane from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Awesome Band!!

2011-08-13T17:58:00.003-05:00

Hello out there in Blog Land. Got you a killer band to check out. The Stone Foxes. They got that boogie blues/psychedelic rock thing down pat. They got two records out and both of them will make your ears all sorts of happy. I Killed Robert Johnson from their second album, Bears & Bulls is just plain undeniably rock 'n roll. So, do yourself a great big huge favor and track down a copy of one of their albums, then stop by the shop and shower me with praise for having made your life better.

Let's Get This Season Started!

2011-08-07T21:14:00.001-05:00

Purdue University's first Convocations event of the year kicks off August 25th at 7:30pm.

Lafayette's own Friends of Bob is co-hosting Grupo Fantasma--an Austin, TX based 10 piece Latin-Funk ensemble with rave reviews AND a Grammy.

Get your tickets at Von's, ladies and gentlemen. Let's do this right!

3 more

2011-08-06T09:08:00.007-05:00

I was surfing through the record collection and found a few more albums worth a shout out.

Rival Sons-Pressure & Time

This is some more of that killer boogie rock that just makes me all happy in the right places. Their singer reminds me very much of Paul Rodgers (he fronted Free and Bad Company and was briefly filling in with Queen). This is their second album and I discovered it because the track Get Mine was iTunes free single of the week. They are starting to get some attention as they have been opening for Judas Priest in the UK and have been featured in the Jeremiah Weed beer commercials. Just a great band with a really apparent love for classic rock.

Interesting side note: The album cover was designed by Storm Thorgerson who has done covers for Zeppelin, Biffy Clyro, Audioslave, Muse, The Mars Volta and, most famously, Pink Floyd.

Dirty Sweet-...Of Monarchs & Beggars

Here is another really great classic rock throwback. These guys owe quite a bit (including their name) to T. Rex. This album was just such a fun listen. It's been on my iPod for a couple years and if you swing by the shop there is a good chance that I'll be playing this one (if I'm not, just ask, I'm almost always in the mood to play it). It's got the groove, it's got a little of the blues, and it's got some sleaze. This one is totally worth the price of admission.

Buffalo Killers-3

For their, fittingly titled, third album, the Buffalo Killers really show what makes them a great band. It's solid throughout. I would expect nothing less from these Cincinnati blues-rockers. In case you can't tell I've got a thing for garage/blues/boogie-rock bands, and the Buffalo Killers are no exception. The album has only been out a couple of weeks but I can already tell it'll be high on my albums of the year list. Another great outing from these guys.

We just got in limited edition purple vinyl of this one. So, hurry and get one before I buy them all.

So, there you have it. 3 more picks worth a trip around the turntable.

These ARE the albums you're looking for.

2011-08-05T15:09:00.011-05:00

So, to get things started for my first ever blog post, I figured I would give you some albums that I have been pretty obsessed with recently.

Gossip-Music For Men

I love the sort-of disco punk thing happening with this album. Beth Ditto has an amazing voice and the groove throughout just floors me. It's funky and just makes you nod your head. It's impossible not to. Just an all around great album.

The Sheepdogs-Learn & Burn

This is boogie rock at it's finest. This band has been around for a little while in Canada and have yet to break in the U.S. That's about to change though as they are the first unsigned act EVER to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. I'm here to tell you, they so deserve it. They have 3 albums out and they are all solid. I was lucky enough to catch them at Bonnaroo this year and they put on a great show. I can't wait to see them do a headlining event.

The Greenhornes-**** (4 Stars)

I have been in love with this album since it came out last year. The Greenhornes are my brand of garage rock. They remind me of The Kinks, The Yardbirds and early Rolling Stones. They also remind me of a simpler time, when all you needed to rock was 3 chords and an amp turned to 11.

I've seen The Greenhornes live 3 times and they really blew me away every time. If they are in your area, get some tickets and enjoy a night of killer rock 'n roll. If they aren't coming to you, head down to your local record store and buy this right away (on vinyl of course).

There are some tidbits to keep your ears watering. Watch out, cuz I've got more coming.

Heh

2011-08-02T14:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Anonymous Google Searcher: You made my day.

The Only Music That Matters: or stuff that I am listening to (that you should be listening to, too).

2011-08-01T17:40:00.018-05:00

Here are my stone-cold locks for the week. Some are a little old, some are a little new, but they are all songs that I've been listening to on repeat.
Band The Head and the Heart
Album Self-Titled
Listen to this Song "Rivers and Roads."
Sounds Like Your basic indie-folk like Okkervil River or Bon Iver, but this album grabs me a little more.
Hipster Rating :-{ :-{ :-{ :-{ Four ironic mustaches. This band has a familiar sound that should be pleasing to most parties, but is still fresh enough to jump on the band wagon before everyone else finds out about them.

Band Vitamin String Quartet
Album Any of the band's "A String Quartet Tribute to ____" albums.
Listen to this Song "Flight of the Robotnik" (a orchestral arrangement of "Robotnik's Theme" from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Sounds Like Your particular band of choice as re-imagined by a string quartet. Pretty straightforward, really.
Hipster Rating :-{ :-{ :-{ Three ironic mustaches. Although these are fantastic arrangements that I could listen to all day long, they are still covers. Your elitist street cred might be damaged if you admit to liking something that people have heard of. Then again, you could always play the "I 'like' them but I don't actually like them."

Band The Boomtown Rats
Album The Fine Art of Surfacing
Listen to this Song "I Don't Like Mondays."
Sounds Like Early '80s new wave, synth pop, but with more sinister undertones.
Hipster Rating :-{ One ironic mustache. This was a number one hit in the early '80s, so it was too popular to be underground and too new to be retro. Personally, I don't care how this song makes you feel more superior to other people, it's a great song. I've only actually heard this one track by this band, but I love it. It's the true story of a California teenager who opened fire on a playground across the street, killing two and injuring nine. After her shooting spree was put down, the only explanation she gave for her actions were "I don't like Mondays; this livens up the day." Pretty heavy stuff for a new wave band, but the song kills it (no pun intended).

So there you have it. Listen to these bands/songs. Enjoy them. Or don't. THERE IS NO OPTION THREE.

I Love Her Thiiiiisss Much

2011-07-26T21:04:00.003-05:00

Misty's Hi-Fi Heart features awesome mixtapes to rock your eardrums.

She hasn't updated since February--which is a huge shame. Her mixes take the best of modern indie pop and older, odder things alike, often filtering her eclectic taste through goofy themes.

Misty, we miss you.

MUTEMATH

2011-07-14T22:48:00.002-05:00

Good lord, these guys put on a good show.

Party Like It's 1542

2011-07-08T21:45:00.000-05:00

I've been wasting my life on Youtube this past month, if my lack of pertinent posts is any clue. Fuck yeah, Zoot Woman!
(Possibly the Best Day Ever at Von's...I found Zoot Woman's OOP self-titled album in backstock. Rock.)

Of Love and Pompadours

2011-06-26T23:02:00.000-05:00

I have not forgotten you, Janelle Monae!

True Loves

2011-06-16T11:34:00.004-05:00

Hooray for Earth: "True Loves"
I'd be inclined to call these guys 'the poor man's Cut Copy'...except that they can definitely hold their own without succumbing to the irritating tendencies that plague other indie-electro/synthpop bands (namely, the desire to emulate instead of innovate--Owl City, I'm looking at you). Yes, they sound kinda like MGMT circa "Oracular Spectacular," with a dash of Depeche Mode thrown in--and I have to admit it took me two listens before I got past this--but in the end it's like following a line of influence rather than watching a crap attempt at identity-theft implode. They can be a little over-blown at times, but over-all I like it. But can someone please tell me what the hell is on the cover? It is keeps looking at me, and I'm starting to get a little creeped out.

Something Old, Something New

2011-06-06T08:58:00.001-05:00

Secret Cities: "Pink Graffiti"

Like a darker cousin to Grizzly Bear's "Veckatimest," this 2010 album rolls along on vocal harmonies and guitar jangle, bringing to mind the first reaches of Autumn--all gray and green and a little disquieting, even in all of its sunny splendor.

(Secret Cities released their second album last month--also worthy of purchase.)

Brian Olive: "Two of Everything"

Brian Olive, formerly of the Greenhornes, releases his second album--produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys--tomorrow. He brings to the table everything from Dr. John to T. Rex, and it somehow all comes together in an insane mix of synth, guitar, and horns. It's a vaguely prog-y mash of garage rock and anything else he could think of--and somehow it works. (I can't even begin to explain it.)

Ear Candy

2011-05-26T12:01:00.000-05:00

Things You Should Be Listening To:

The Wooden Birds: "Two Matchsticks"

Andrew Kenny of the American Analog Set's second release under the Wooden Birds moniker is a lot like anything else he's done: quiet and dreamy with that peculiar picking-style he's obsessed with--but oh how I love it.

Givers: "In Light"

'Weird' is about the only thing I can think of.

(It's a good weird!)

Fleet Foxes: "Helplessness Blues"

There is absolutely nothing I can say that hasn't already been said before.

But this is beautiful.

Happy Birthday, Zimmerman

2011-05-24T11:04:00.004-05:00

Dylan at The Factory, 1965
Screen Test

Follow this link for a selection of old Dylan clips from the Pacifica Radio Archives at Democracy Now!

How Did This Get in Here?

2011-05-14T22:22:00.000-05:00

...What the bloody hell? I cannot look away from this

Lakeville Folk & Blues Fest

2011-05-13T12:37:00.000-05:00

Lakeville Folk & Blues Festival

Get your tickets here!

You Must Never Tell It

2011-05-06T08:37:00.004-05:00

I'd actually heard of Kites Overhead last fall when I'd downloaded an MP3 sample via I(heart)Music. I wish I'd sought out the rest of his music sooner than this.
I've needed this. I've had my Maps CDs on repeat for weeks now, hoping for something similar to get me through. Kites Overhead is Gene Kondusky (of Canada!) layering his way through fuzzed-out, textured loops and a spacey blend of electro-pop and post-rock.
As other people have pointed out, his vocals aren't necessarily strong--but I can't imagine them any other way. They channel the intensity of an emotionally bruised Say Hi and the distance of Mazzy Star (if Hope Sandoval was on a manic up-swing and obsessively listening to James Figurine). This is brilliant.
I only wish he were touring--Gene, if you're reading this, that's a big fat hint.

#1 Hits Parade

2011-04-27T14:56:00.002-05:00

Sonny and the Sunsets-- "Hit After Hit"

Sonny's second full-length release is a throwback to 1960's style garage pop and the travesties of being young. Its lo-fi shenanigans are playfully crossed with an undercurrent of cheeky bravado and ridiculously catchy guitar. Tom Breihan over at Pitchfork says it best: "[Sonny and the Sunsets] know how to convey confused-teenager feelings in smart, adult ways." This is well on the way to being on my end-of-the-year top 10.

Explosions in the Sky-- "Take Care Take Care Take Care"

The indie kings of instrumental post-rock are back with a six-song EP of fairly ordinary musical lines that build upon each other into a complex beast of incredibly subtle proportions (considering). It's organic and rich and seems to go on far longer than the track-list indicates. The artwork is nifty, but crosses the line into obnoxiousness when you realize the 4-fold gate sleeve on the CD and the Vinyl doesn't fit on any shelf known to humankind.

Journal & Courier --Thanks, Tim!

2011-04-19T19:43:00.004-05:00

Head Explodey!

2011-04-18T20:39:00.002-05:00

tUnE-yArDs-- "WHOKILL"

I'd like to thank Sean for making me listen to these guys (this girl?)

Ridiculous, bouncy and almost impossible to really describe.

(maybe if Record Store Day hadn't killed me...)

Suffice to say, I don't dance--but I do when this is on. It's impossible not to.

Generationals--"Actor-Caster"

Why had I not been listening to these guys before now? I've picked up all of their other albums based on the strength of this release alone. They channel Better Than Ezra and Mazarin without being completely college rock-y, and I am totally in love. It's doofy, feel-good indie pop-rock with a modern edge. Get it!

*****

Check back for our

Record Store Day 2011 photo-extravaganza!

We Still have a few RSD releases available!

Record Store Day

2011-04-16T09:29:00.000-05:00

Update: Due to inclement weather, our Outside Show is canceled.

The Inside Show is a go, with slight revisions.

*****

Come on down for live music and limited edition vinyl!!!!!

Record Store Day 2011

2011-04-15T23:11:00.000-05:00

Come for the Vinyl, Stay for the Music!!!

Record Store Day Promo by our friends at Hey, Check Out This Song!

2011-04-12T13:37:00.013-05:00

Friend of Von's Records Mike Reeb and his cohort Matt Scherger host a podcast "Hey, Check Out This Song!" in which the two play each other some new music and comment on their first impressions of the song. In addition to new music, they seek out local events and musicians to interview on their hand-held tape recorder and feature them on the podcast.

Mike was nice enough to come by the store and ask us a few questions about Record Store Day, and our own Tyler Figg gave him a ragged, nervous explanation of the event and discussed the benefits of independent record stores versus the Best Buys of the world.

Von's Record Store Day Promo with Hey, Check Out this Song!

Enjoy the interview and check out Mike and Matt's "Hey, Check Out This Song!" on iTunes or at their site HERE.

Killing it with the Kills

2011-04-05T09:42:00.004-05:00

The Kills--Blood Pressures

The Kills return with Blood Pressures (their first album since 2008's Midnight Boom) and it is a killer. Thanks to Rolling Stone and thekills.tv, I've been able to listen to the album a few times now and I have to say that it is probably their most accessable album to date. Allison Mossheart's voice seethes with smoke-filled beauty, and Jamie Hince's production is spot on. From the opening chords of "Future Starts Slow" to the last ringing of "Pots and Pans" The Kills show that good things come to those who wait.

~Wallace

Show Time!

2011-04-01T09:03:00.001-05:00

Record Store Day 2011 Live Music Line-up

Outdoor Stage:

11-12 High School Girls
12-1 No Hay Bonda

1-2 Gypsy Slam Band

2-3 Fredericks Martinez

3-4 Dino DNA

4-5 Why I Like Robins

5-6 Six Dollar Suit

6-7 Duilliath

7-8 Theophagy

8-9 Narrow House

*****

Indoor Stage:
12-12:30 Mike Reeb

12:30-1 The Prannies
1-2 Mr. K

2-2:30 Seth Benjamin

3-3:30 Mike Golden & Friends

3:30-4 Outdoor Velour

4-4:30 Gordon Wantuch

4:30-5 Koala Yummy and the Dunkaroos

5-5:30 Greg the Can Opener

5:30-6 Paul K

6-6:30 Philosopher Philosopher

6:30-7 Broken Light

7-7:30 Ethan Robbins

7:30-8 TBA

8-9 John Stossel’s Mustache

RECORD STORE DAY RELEASES

Swamp Thiiiiing

2011-03-31T11:54:00.001-05:00

Radiohead--"The King of Limbs"

I went into this album expecting it to be terrible. I didn't like "In Rainbows," and half the opinions I heard before putting this on made it out to be 'boring' and 'ugly'.

But this, ladies and gentlemen, this is wonderful. Say what you want about "Hail to the Thief," songs like Backdrifts still haunt the dark recesses of my brain when I'm awake at 4 in the morning--and "The King of Limbs" takes this blend of "OK Computer" style impending-doom-crooning and the electro-fied, creepy ropes of guitar and synthesizer from "Hail to the Thief" and throws in Pyramid Song just to mess with you. This, I like.

*****

It's COMING!

Record Store Day 2011

April 16th

Hurray for March!

2011-03-23T15:28:00.001-05:00

The Smith Westerns: "Dye it Blonde"

I am totally past the 'fresh' mark on this release, but I love it anyway. It's a vintage-sounding pop extravaganza that plays off of their first CD's lo-fi pedigree while cleaning things up a little bit.

Peter Bjorn and John: "Gimme Some"

As a PB&J release, I'm kinda disappointed. As something completely different, I actually like this one quite a bit.

The Strokes: "Angles"

"First Impressions of Earth" volume 2. For what this is, it's quite good--but deep down I really wanted another "Room on Fire."

That, and the cover looks like it was drawn with crayons.

A Friendly Reminder

2011-03-21T10:52:00.005-05:00

Join us April 16th for the 5th Annual Record Store Day!
Live music will be playing throughout the day!

15% off Regular-Priced CDs, Vinyl, & Music T-shirts!

BOGO Clearance CD Section!

$.50 each or 3-for-$1 Clearance Vinyl!

Over 50 ridiculously fantastic Raffle Prizes!

The return of our special Mystery Vinyl Grab-Bags!

Sound Provided by:

Thank You :)

The Blasters

2011-03-19T18:52:00.004-05:00

Bored?

Tickets to see The Blasters available here!

$10 in advance!

Hosted by Friends of Bob

The Good and the Ugly

2011-03-07T16:06:00.001-05:00

New Releases You Should Be Listening To:

Papercuts: "Fading Parade"

Papercuts' first release via the Sub Pop label is hazy and gorgeous, with muffled vocals sliding underneath.

David Bevan over at Pitchfork says it succinctly where I can't: "Jason Quever breathes more than he sings, as though he isn't sure whether he wants you to hear him at all [. . .] It's the quiet ones you have to watch."

Alexander: "Alexander"

Totally all over the place, and probably recorded in a closet. This is very entertaining, and showcases Alex Ebert (of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros)'s multi-instrument talent with abandon.

New Releases You Should Be Ignoring:

Beady Eye: "Different Gear, Still Speeding"

Dear god, what happened to these guys? With all of the booze-fueled fisticuffs removed, Oasis sounds remarkably similar to Rob Thomas--neutered and boring.

Things I am Inappropriately Excited About:

R.E.M.: "Collapse Into Now"

...and I have no idea what this is even going to sound like.

Fading Captain Bob Gets Some Color

2011-03-01T16:37:00.004-05:00

Lifeguards. Waving At The Astronauts
Label: Ernest Jenning
Released: 2/15/2011

Waving At The Astronauts may be the best and most internally consistent CD's worth of songs that Robert Pollard has highkicked to since 1997's Mag Earwhig! More riff-o-centric than psychedelic thanks to Doug Gillard's crunchy, ass-shaking chord progressions and rhythm guitar, the CD is a joy to listen to from start to finish. Especially once you learn to enjoy lines like, "You're gonna need a gris-gris made from the teeth of lions," instead of wringing your kleenex over what it all means.

Listen to "Paradise is Not So Bad" and "Product Head" on the Lifeguards' myspace page here.

Matt Taibbi: Why Isn't Wall Street in Jail?

2011-02-23T14:28:00.005-05:00

Heigh-ho, sometime Rolling Stone readers. Li'l Bieber's puss my be on the cover, but that shouldn't make you dis the whole current issue as a doo-rag.

"Why Isn't Wall Street in Jail?" by Matt Taibbi (RS Contributing Editor and author of Griftopia: Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America) is an excellent piece of muckraking. Just the sort of piece that should be taped and played on a loop in every public building in the country.

Below is a 30-minute interview of Taibbi by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now.

Why the Hell Haven't I Been Listening to This?

2011-02-21T19:53:00.002-05:00

Clearance Album of the Month:

Gliss-- "Devotion Implosion"

Reverb-drenched shoegaze revival fronted by an icy woman with dreamy, disaffected vocals.

This is the Jesus and Mary Chain meets early Smashing Pumpkins with a shot of the Silversun Pickups and Hope Sandoval.

This is fuzzy and loud and syrupy with that particular heavy '90s bass that makes me love Melissa Auf der Maur despite her crap lyrics.

This is going on my heavy-rotators pile for the next few weeks.

The Soft Province out 2/22/11

2011-02-18T11:55:00.005-05:00

When Bad Covers Happen to Good Albums

Well, you tell me. What the Skinny Puppy-lookin' artwork above has to do with the swirly, bippity-boppity good times of the music below, I got no clue.

Regardless, The Soft Province is a side project of sorts for Besnard Lakes frontman Jace Lasek and longtime pal (some say Besnard Lakes co-founder) Michael Gardiner. Although the usual array of Besnardine effects boxes is toned down in service to the melodies, the My Bloody Valentine guitar pulls peppered throughout are a sweet touch, and the VoCal harmonies are smooth and cleanly produced, with an obvious nod to the Wilson brothers.

Check out their myspace page here. Only don't put a lot of stock in the Bio box horseshit. Let it just be a lesson in how mindnumbingly inane record label one sheets are.

One Was a Lie

Find more artists like The Soft Province at Myspace Music

Lazy Minds Die

Find more artists like The Soft Province at Myspace Music

Who is Arcade Fire?

2011-02-17T15:25:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the masses:

"Who is Arcade Fire?"

Clickyclicky. Probably NSFW

Shelf Worthy

2011-02-14T12:41:00.009-05:00

Shelf Worthy Stuff to Titillate Your Ears:

Yuck: "Yuck"

Viva la 90's college-rock!

Hands down my favorite release this month--it's all kinds of Dinosaur Jr deliciousness.

Cut Copy: "Zonoscope"

Cut Copy's synth-pop returns! The second half of the album drags somewhat, but the stunning opener "Need You Now" more than makes up for any lagging. (My favorite Fabric Live is still these guys)

Telekinesis!: "12 Desperate Straight Lines"

This is what I've been waiting for! You know your recent EP served only to taunt me repeatedly. If you've never seen Michael Lerner live, you need to get on it. There's something so incredibly endearing about a large, fuzzy man warbling into the microphone before running across the stage and diving face-first into a drum-kit and pounding the living crap out of it.

Tommy Guerrero: "Lifeboats and Follies"

Tommy G is ridiculously talented. That is all.

Bright Eyes: "The People's Key"

Thank jeebus Conor Oberst has gotten over his Americana phase. This is by no means "Lifted"--but this stands on its own merits. It's painful and lovely, and the almost-resentful verbal spitting is classic Oberst, if a little more grown-up--after all, he is 31 today, and supposedly this is the final Bright Eyes release.

And I dare you not to choke up just a little bit when you listen to "One for You, One for Me."

Lady Gaga: "Born This Way" EP

...and you can judge me all you want.

*******

Also: Radiohead blindsides the public once again!

"The King of Limbs" everybody.

The CD is available March 28th, with the special heavy-duty release in May.
The download is available this Saturday, if you preorder

Democracy!

2011-02-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

Texas, I don't care what anyone says; I still love you.

I present to you "The Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and Arts."

Originally from The Purdue Exponent, Feb. 4:

2011-02-05T17:30:00.010-05:00

The sun shines a bit dimmer today. Food is tasteless, words sound muffled and flowers have no discernible scent. My world has become a shade more bland as I mourn the passing of an age.

The White Stripes have disbanded.

Surely, this melancholy exposition will seem pointless and unnecessary to many readers, and that's fine. However, I am certain that there are a good number of individuals who will empathize with me on this topic, and to quote Burt Bacharach, I just don't know what to do with myself.

It is no secret to anyone close to me that I have a fondness for the White Stripes that borders on the fanatical. They are my all-time favorite band, and as someone who spends 60-plus hours a week listening to and playing music, this is no small achievement. I am obsessed with White Stripes frontman Jack White at a level that is somewhere past musical admiration and just shy of stalking. Therefore, the news of the band calling it quits is no less traumatic to me than it was for my parents when the Beatles broke up.

Forming in 1999, the Detroit duo of Jack and Meg White played a minimalist form of punk, blues and garage rock that achieved national attention with 2001's "Fell in Love With a Girl." The band's most recognizable song, "Seven Nation Army," has become one of rock's most memorable riffs and can routinely be heard on commercials and at sporting events. Many of the band's influences came from unlikely sources for a turn-of-the-millenia rock band: Southern blues artists such as Son House, Leadbelly and Blind Willie McTell.

Meg's simple drum beats and demure nature provide the perfect contrast to Jack's blistering guitar riffs and larger-than-life personality. Jack has been widely praised for his intense and experimental blues-rock style of guitar playing. He was featured alongside Jimmy Page in 2008's "It Might Get Loud," a documentary about the history and legacy of the electric guitar. (The Edge from U2 was there too, but he had no business sharing the screen with Page and White.)

The news of the band's decision broke this past Wednesday. The band stated that the disbandment was not for artistic differences, nor any of the other excuses that are generally responsible for disbandment. After nearly 12 years together, the White Stripes decided to end their band more for reasons of posterity. The Stripes worked hard to cement a specific musical and aesthetic style over the years, which has spawned a cult following as well as much commercial success. In their break-up statement, the Stripes pointed toward their fan's perceptions and support as the vision of the White Stripes that should be preserved.

"The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want," read the band's statement. "The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful."

Although this means that I will never have the opportunity to see one of the last great bands of true rock ‘n' roll perform, I can't help but feel bittersweet. Why not retire gracefully at the top of your game? After all, isn't it better to go out when you're on top than to descend into mediocrity? Go ask Weezer. If George Lucas truly cared about legacy, rather than being a money-grubbing turd, he would have left "Star Wars" alone back in 1983. I digress.

This does not mean the end of all things White Stripes, however. Jack White is part of two other bands, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, produces albums for other bands and owns his own record label, studio, venue and record store in Nashville. Third Man Records caters to a specific market of music collectors by putting out all of its releases on vinyl and digital format rather than CD. The store routinely puts out vinyl record oddities of Jack's own design, including tri-color vinyl, scented vinyl and a 12-inch LP with a seven inch single encased inside. Additionally, Jack made sure to keep the vinyl rights to every White Stripes album, so he is free to re-release the albums on vinyl as he chooses.

Meg is married to Jackson Smith, son of punk rock legend Patti Smith, so she's got that going for her, I suppose.

Another age of rock ‘n' roll has come and gone, and I will never get to see my favorite band perform, nor hear a new album, but still I will look forward to what the future of music has to offer. So I will pop a peppermint in my mouth and reflect on what once was, while waiting for what's to come.

So long, White Stripes. It was a hell of a ride.

By Tyler Figg, Columnist

2011-02-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

Aw yeah.

Cedric Watson

2011-01-28T13:23:00.000-05:00

Tickets available here: $10

Brought to you by Friends of Bob!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

2011-01-25T15:53:00.004-05:00

Chikita Violenta's "Tre3s"

This is fabulous! Shambly Mexican indie built on piles of guitars and sludge. Chris Martins says it best: “Tre3s” is filled with heavily affected, panoramically epic lo-fi pop”

Iron and Wine's "Kiss Each Other Clean"

I really like this, yes. But someone please tell me who introduced Sam Beam to the saxophone? I'd like to introduce him to my foot.

Fujiya &Miyagi's "Ventriloquizzing"

The kings of shambling, non-nonsensical minimalism-with-a-danceable-beat return, and it is divine.

Say Hi's "Um, Uh Oh"

Not as creepy/intense as I like him to be ("Ferocious Mopes", anyone?), and actually really quite sad-sack--but clocking in at just over half an hour saves this from becoming tedious, and I rather enjoyed it.

Without Further Ado:

2011-01-19T15:19:00.001-05:00

...aw YEAH!

Update

2011-01-14T15:12:00.000-05:00

We now sell Body Jewelry in the Record Dept!

Please excuse the upheaval while we transition between departments!

Disco Cake

2011-01-12T15:17:00.002-05:00

Cake, you've changed.

You're older and a little bit less sarcastic.

But I still love you.

Tapes 'N Tapes!
Bringing back the slightly unhinged lo-fi sound of their first album,
one creepy album cover at a time.
Delicious!

Cage the Elephant in one word:

Rowdy!

(I never got behind their last, self-titled release. But this, I like)

Live Music!

2011-01-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

Advance tickets available at Von's Records!

Friends of Bob throws a great party!

Von's Top 20 (Or: Things we kinda dug)

2010-12-24T15:46:00.011-05:00

The Annual Von's Records Top 20 Countdown:

20. The Walkmen: "Lisbon"

RabbitRabbit: We all know how I felt about this one--my marriage proposal is still out there.

19. Vampire Weekend: "Contra"
Tyler Figg: Good album, but I was really hoping for more. "White Sky" is my favorite track, even though Ezra Koenig's falsetto may border on irritating.
RR: I liked this one quite a bit, but I never sought it out. I still find myself reaching for their self-titled debut.

18. Sufjan Stevens: "The Age of Adz"

TF: Stevens is the closest thing we have to an indie-pop composer. Ornate and complex.

RR: Me and Sufjan, we're still getting to know each other. It's a tentative process, but I think we'll be friends.

17. Titus Andronicus: "The Monitor"
TF: Love this band, loved this album. I don't know why no one has written an alt-punk album about the Civil War until now. Get on your shit, blink 182!
RR: I....still haven't listened to this yet.
TF: You know you work in a record store, right? With music and stuff?
RR: David really liked it. Does that count?

16. Caribou: "Swim"

RR: Is it wrong that I didn't care for this album? I prefer the Chemical Brothers and El Guincho.

15. El Guincho: "Pop Negro"

RR: Speaking of...I'll just come right out and say it: I love this album. It's lovely and breezy tropical electro-pop you could shake it to with champagne in one hand and a palm fan in the other.

TF: ...and a shirtless Puerto Rican pool boy in your lap.

14. Ratatat: "LP4"

TF: Oh Ratatat, how I love thee. One of the few bands that can make this lanky white boy want to dance.

RR: Layered repetition at its finest. (If you like this, give Holy Fuck a spin.)

13. Kanye West: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

TF: THIS JUST IN: KANYE WEST IS NOT A BIG DEAL. WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES PERSONALLY CALLS YOU A JACKASS, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO GET OVER YOURSELF.

RR: I would like to add that while this is a good album, and technically very interesting, I just really can't see why everyone is so completely gaga over this. He may be a pop genius, but he still couldn't carry a tune in a bucket if his life depended on it.

12. Hot Chip: "One Life Stand"

RR: Deliciously dark (or sometimes, at the very least, sad) electro-pop . I kinda want to break out the knee boots and green lipstick again.

TF: Simultaneously sad and peppy. It's hard to say whether this is a home alone album or night out album. Either way, worth a listen.

11. Janelle Monae: "The Archandroid"

RR: Aw hell yes. Janelle is just so wide-eyed and fragile looking in her (incredibly attractive) suit jacket...and then she opens her lips and you know exactly why your first assumption just shattered into a thousand pieces. She just kicked your ass.

TF: Aggressive and surprising: bad for a bus ride, great for an album.

10. The Dead Weather: "Sea of Cowards"

TF: The Dead Weather is sexy, no matter how you look at it.

RR: Dirty, yes. Sexy, a bit. Overdone? Yes.

TF: ...which is why I didn't vote them higher. Great album, very rocking, but I hold Jack White projects to a very high standard, and compared to other albums, this didn't hold up quite as well. Still better than most things this year.

RR: I tolerated "Horehound," but I just can't get behind this one. I like Jack White, and I like the Kills...but this is so overwrought and stylistically forced that it--quite frankly--bores me.

9. Gorillaz: "Plastic Beach"

TF: Perhaps this is more my fault than the band's, but I expect better work from the Gorillaz. It's hip and fun at points, but it isn't consistent.

RR: Yawn. The second half picks up, though.

8. Deerhunter: "Halcyon Digest"

RR: I've never really liked their releases. But this is good--some of it is tedious--but overall I really like it.

TF: I just wish the text on the album's cover was more legible. It took me three code-breakers and four days to figure out the title of the damn thing. Other than that, it's pretty fun.

7. Beach House: "Teen Dream"

TF: Mournful and beautiful. Listen to this album alone in your room with a tear in your eye and an empty pack of cigarettes.

RR: This album sent me on a Galaxie 500/Feelies/Luna bender.

6. The Chemical Brothers: "Further"

RR: This is the first Chemical Brothers album I've just HAD to have since 1999's "Surrender". Feel it, love it, buy it. (P.S. Lauren: Neeeeigh!)

TF: And I dance, dance, dance, and I dance, dance, dance.

5. The National: "High Violet"
TF: This album was boring. This is the perfect music for a night spent tying and untying the same knot in a piece of string, over and over again.

RR: If The Great Gatsby somehow came to life, wrote an album and then drank himself to death, it may have sounded something like this.
. Is this TF's audition for 1 Girl and 5 Gays? Dance 'n' Dish! Dance 'n' Dish! Dance 'n' Dish!

4. LCD Soundsystem: "This is Happening"

RR: James Murphy is so intense sometimes I can feel my capillaries bursting under the strain. He's manic and brilliant--and startlingly sad and in-depth--and I do so adore him.

TF: Spacey and electronic, dancey and infectious.

3. Broken Bells: "Broken Bells"

TF: Danger Mouse doesn't know how to make a bad album, and this is no exception. Groovy and gorgeous.

RR: One of the weirdest collaborations I've yet seen, and so completely brilliant that adjectives fail me. It's broken in all the right places, buoyed along on deceptively upbeat indie-pop sensibilities.

2. The Black Keys: "Brothers"

TF: What did the hipster paleontologist say about the Cretaceous period? "Meh, the Triassic was better."

There is often the trend where a band tends to lose their signature sound with each successive album, but this is not the same for The Black Keys. They have not only held onto their original sound, they've managed to evolve and grow with each album.

It's groovy, rocking, and bluesy. My personal favorite for the year.

RR: I have a hard time really liking the Black Keys--you can blame my coworkers for rocking every album all the time I suppose--but this was brilliant. It's bruised and spitting teeth and smiling all the while. Cheeky bastards.

1. Arcade Fire: "The Suburbs"
TF: Suburban life hasn't seemed so equally depressing and iconic since "The Wonder Years." Arcade Fire don't make albums, they make melodramas in music. "The Suburbs" is emotional and vibrant. This album feels alive.
RR: What Figg said. <3

*****

Other Things We Liked:

Toro Y Moi

2010-12-23T09:18:00.000-05:00

Toro Y Moi: "Causers of This"

So weird, I like it. (Even the cheezy 80's keyboards)

...I've linked you to an amazing review, by the way. You should be clicking it as fast as your little fingers can

Another Blow to Weirdness Everywhere

2010-12-18T14:15:00.000-05:00

RIP Captain Beefheart

January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010

Best Sellers 2010

2010-12-17T11:50:00.000-05:00

A few of our best sellers this year:

Tis the Season to be Odd

2010-12-16T12:02:00.000-05:00

You should totally check out our bizarre holiday music section!

Also, we sell gift-cards. You know you want one.

Helping you sort through all of the Holiday Schlock

2010-12-11T20:57:00.000-05:00

Cover Me saves you the trouble of sifting through the rubbish pile.

Happy Holidays, y'all

Heavy Rotators II

2010-12-10T14:33:00.001-05:00

December, I'm kinda disappointed in you. So far you've been an amalgamation of everything I hate about modern music. Flyleaf? Hinder? Ridiculously terrible Christmas carols sung by pop-hacks? Yarg.

That being said, here is some old stuff that keeps popping up on the store speakers:

Pink Mountaintops: "Outside Love"

Placebo: "Sleeping with Ghosts"

Nine Inch Nails: "Pretty Hate Machine"

Telekinesis!: Self-titled

Electrelane: "No Shouts No Calls"

Black Friday

2010-11-26T10:26:00.000-05:00

We've got Black Friday exclusives!

You know you want them

Things I Have Missed

2010-11-07T17:09:00.001-05:00

Collections of Colonies of Bees' "Birds"

I'd been looking at this promo since we first got it way back in 2008, but I never quite got around to actually putting into the stereo and trying it.

That said, this is something I should have been listening to years ago. It does post-rock wank to a certain extent, but I can let that slide. It's textured and fuzzy, with guitars that fade in and out; all tracks inevitably build to a crashing finale a la GSYBE. It's brighter, I think, than many other post-rock instrumentalists--but it's nothing really new.

I need to find their earlier albums.

November Attempts to Make Up For Last Week

2010-11-02T18:48:00.003-05:00

Things You Should Be Listening To:

Warpaint's "The Fool"

Oh my lord, this may be on my top ten list (the first half, anyway). If Melissa Auf der Maur and Karen O had a three-way with Jessikca Fodera, and then locked themselves in the studio with a bottle of vodka this might be the accompanying soundtrack. It's dabbling in dark places without drowning.

Bleu's "Four"

This reminds me of Ben Folds and Harvey Danger. This might get on my nerves later in the week, but for now I'm enjoying the change of pace

Matt & Kim's "Sidewalks"

Dance-y and quirky and snare drums and tubas and candy and...

You know I totally adore these guys, right?

Violens' "Amoral"

It's like a gigantic wall of Erasure and bass guitar.

Atlantic/Pacific's "Meet Your New Love"

Soft and sensitive pop (without channeling Chris Carrabba)--perfect with the weather we're having. Atlantic/Pacific is a semi-supergroup (maybe a Super B-Group?), and I really like where they are going with this. It's the Radio Dept minus the Scandinavian Fuzz.

*****

I'm sorry to say The Autumn Defense's latest, "Once Around," put me to sleep. Maybe I just have questionable taste, but meh.

Utterly Flushable:

Danbert Nobacon's "Woebegone"

and

Black Dub's debut.

...I don't even want to talk about it.

Diversions

2010-10-23T22:29:00.000-05:00

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Fingertips Music

(one of the best damn music blogs around)

Mike Golden

2010-10-22T00:49:00.000-05:00

Remember this guy? Mike Golden was one of our walk-ins the very first Record Store Day we hosted. He said he wasn't so good, but would we mind if he played a few songs? Naturally, he was awesome--he climbed on the stool with his guitar and played a few covers and one or two tunes of his own--and we loved it. He contacted us this past Record Store Day and asked if he could play again, and of course we said yes. He drew so many people into the store that you couldn't even move. He's released an EP, and his first music video, and plays all over Chicago. So here's to you, Mike--we're glad you've made it! <3

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears

2010-10-19T23:20:00.001-05:00

Live Music this Friday at 8!

Tickets available in advance at Von's ($15)

Friends of Bob, ladies and gents

I am a terrible, terrible person

2010-10-15T09:37:00.001-05:00

New Music XXII 1/2

2010-10-14T09:02:00.001-05:00

Other Things I'm Enjoying This Week:

Badly Drawn Boy's "Photographing Snowflakes"

(Part 1 in his trilogy "It's What I'm Thinking")

Lovers' "Darklight"

(Gloriously melancholy Tegan-&-Sara-with-a-drum-machine Oregonian synth-pop. I love you Carolyn Berk! Call me?)

Hot Panda's "How Come I'm Dead"

(I can't even pin this one down--it's all over the place. I hear Art Brut, the Lovely Feathers, Spinto Band, the Lupin soundtrack and who knows what else. I love the basslines, though, and I kinda sorta maybe wanna makeout with Chris Connelly)

Black Heart Procession's "Blood Bunny/Black Rabbit"

(Dismal, dark, depressing...with saws! I always dig the creepfest. "Amore del Tropico" is still my favorite, though)

Also, those of you who still haven't listened to Janelle Monae need to get with it!

(I love a woman in a tuxedo)

Local Music!

2010-10-13T20:01:00.003-05:00

Jurassic Park

2010-10-13T13:39:00.000-05:00

Our friend Jeff's Jurassic Park is a "DIY Music Venue" in West Lafayette.

You should totally check it out!

(Jeff is awesome)

I am

2010-10-11T12:05:00.000-05:00

The new Belle & Sebastian album "Write About Love" is glorious! It's cheeky and happy and everything I've been missing since they took a break back in 2008, mod-pop and all. It's ridiculous how happy this album makes me.

New Music XXXXII

2010-10-05T10:19:00.002-05:00

Shelf Worthy This Week:

Apache Beat's "Last Chants"

Katie Costello's "The City in Me EP"

Soars' self-titled debut

Clinic's "Bubblegum"

Let's see: dark, minimalist indie-pop; earnest avian chanteuseing; dreamy shoegaze; and, well, Clinic. Life is good.

********************************

Shelf-Worthy Last Week (in case you missed it):

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby: "Lonely Avenue"

Neil Young: "Le Noise"

Deerhunter: "Halcyon Digest"

David says to tell you all that Deerhunter's latest is his favorite so far this year.

List Time!

2010-09-23T21:16:00.003-05:00

Somebody in the record store today reminded me that I should start planning my "Top 10, 2010" list.

...crap!

What?

2010-09-23T11:54:00.002-05:00

(Older) Stuff You Should Be Listening To:

Stereolab: "Switched On"
Broken Bells: "Broken Bells"
Zoot Woman: "Zoot Woman"
School of Seven Bells: "Alpinisms"
Say Hi to Your Mom: "Ferocious Mopes"
Lesley Gore: "20th Century Masters, Best Of"
The Like: "Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?"
Flunk: "For Sleepyheads Only"
Filter: "Title of Record"
Preston School of Industry: "Monsoon"

*I should add that the Like, Filter, School of Seven Bells and Lætitia Sadier from Stereolab all have pretty recent releases...although if you want my honest opinion, the Filter album was garbage. Everything else was pretty fab.

Beards

2010-09-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe I missed this. Chief's "Modern Rituals" is awesome! It reminds me of the bastard child of the Walkmen circa "A Hundred Miles Off" singing their cover of Mazarin's "Another One Goes By" as channeled through some of the Decemberists' more normal moments. ...Did that even make sense?

Hold On!

2010-09-21T10:26:00.015-05:00

I love the self-titled debut from the Hundred in the Hands! It's electronic guitar pop with a dance-able beat that ranges between Tiger Baby and School of Seven Bells, with occasional forays into Sleigh Bells staccato (without being obnoxious and discordant).

I'm also digging Shit Robot's 'debut' "From the Cradle to the Rave." It's all kinds of LCD Soundsystem-style dance (which shouldn't be at all surprising, considering Marcus Lambkin and James Murphy are BFF...all together now: Awwww!) Both Murphy and that one dude from Hot Chip lend their vocals to a few tracks, and it is fabulous.

Tired Pony is Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol with members of REM and Belle & Sebastian playing sleepy Americana-ish. Betty Clarke over at the Guardian says it best: "Tired Pony ends up sounding like Snow Patrol with slide guitar." I want to like this, and maybe after a few listens I will...but honestly the first three tracks kind of bored me and I moved on.

Also Shelf-Worthy this week:

Margot and the Nuclear So-and-Sos: "Buzzard"
John Legend & The Roots: "Wake Up!"
Mavis Staples: "You are Not Alone"

Elvis Lives

2010-09-21T10:16:00.001-05:00

"It's like: 'I know that you're Santana, and that you play guitar, but you dont have to play lead throughout the entire song'. It was alright up until he played over everything on 'Riders on the Storm'--has he ever even heard the original? You were already on shaky ground having Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) sing lead vocals. I was kind of excited about Santana doing these songs...but he didn't do Santana versions of them. It's a Vegas album; it's like he was doing Showgirls covers."
~Wallace

2010-09-20T14:43:00.000-05:00

Brave Combo tickets available here!

$10 in advance

Brought to you by: Friends of Bob