Pasta Primavera

Monthly Archive for December, 2008

New Music: Abraham Levitan’s “Speak, Memory”

Abraham Levitan, lead singer/organ player of the band Baby Teeth, has put out a new solo album entitled Speak, Memory.  This release has Levitan tackling a range of sounds from slow ballads to prog rock to the funky LCD Soundsystem-esque sound that I’ve come to enjoy with Baby Teeth.  My favorite track is the chilled breather “Sarah (The German Song) whih features the guest vocals of Chicago’s Bobby Conn.  The duet hits the right spot.

mp3: Abraham Levitan – Sarah (The German Song) (ft. Bobby Conn)

Buy Speak, Memory

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The Run Down – New Years Eve 2009!!

Most likely you already you already have plans for this night of all nights, but just in case….here’s a small list of parties going on at the area’s clubs.  Here in Baltimore the big ticket is Wu-Years Eve at Sonar featuring Method Man, Rza, Gza, Ghostface, Raekwon, Masta Killa, U-God, Cappadonna and Inspecta Deck.  If you don’t like that sound just wall two steps over to Sonar’s club stage to check the Taxlo Dance Party with Sri Aurobindo, Simon Phoenix, Cullen Stalin, Chris O, and Emily Rabbit.  If that doesn’t float your boat then travel over to Sonar’s VIP lounge to see Saleem & The Music Lovers, Wendel Patrick, Ogun, Brown Fish, Skarr Akbar, Kage, and DJ P-Funk.  Wow is right!  Three shows in one place is pretty amazing.   Also in Baltimore is a grand event at the Ottobar.  Gilded Lilly Burlesque and the American Music Jamboree present a night of dance and music featuring The Country Devils, Whale Show, Labianca, Cold Cold Heartbreakers and more.  Also in town is a great party at the Wind Up Space with DLake and Napspace and another celebration over at the Metro Gallery with Snacks, AK Slaughter, Baby Venom, and The Agrarians.

In DC there are also an abundance of quality NYE shows.  The 9:30 Club has Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Justin Jones and The Driving Rain.  A complimentary champagne toast included!  The Black Cat has a NYE Ball with Peaches O’Dell and Her Orchestra, Tony Anthony and his Malvivants plus DJ Mark Zimin on the backstage.  The Rock and Roll Hotel has a night of rock and DJing going on with Pash, Loderunner, US Royalty, Chris Burns (Disco City), Austin (Garutachi), AutoRock (Mass Appeal), Gavin Holland (Nouveau Riche), Cale (Brightest Young Things), and an Exactly DJ Set (Adrian & Cole w/Jesse Bishop as MC).  Also don’t forget about DC9 who has a New Years edition of their Liberation Dance Party.

In Virginia there happens to be a couple of noteworthy shows to bring in the new year as well.  In Arlington, Iota kicks the night into gear with Last Train Home and the Justin Trawick Group.  In Fredericksburg The Third Floor has Rocky’s Revival, The Red Light Effect, and Tereu Tereu.

If you’re heading up north to Philly for the final countdown, then keep these events in mind.  The Fire has Cowmuddy while the Electric Factory has Gogol Bordello.  The Khyber has No Tight Pants, Dj Lexx, DJ R’N'G, Moshpit Rainbow, DJ Vertigo, Headbanger, DJ Jesse Merlin, and Stakeout.  Spend New Years Eve with Dada at the North Star Bar (they’ll be performing a three hour set) or check out Steve Bloodbath at the M Room.  It’s going to be pure fun at the Fillmore at the TLA with They Might Be Giants and Corn Mo.  Finally Johnny Brenda’s has a nice year closer show with Pattern Is Movement and The Mural and The Mint.

Holy crap!  That’s some serious partying.  Enjoy!  Have a happy new year!!

mp3: The Rza – Certified Samurai (Feat. Talib Kweli, Lil Free, and Suga Bang)

mp3: Method Man/Buddha Monk – PLO Style (Ratatat Remix)

mp3: Gza – Sparring Minds (feat. Inspectah Deck)

mp3: Ghostface – Holla

mp3: They Might Be Giants – I’m Impressed

mp3: Pattern Is Movement – Bird

mp3: Pash – Palindrome

mp3: Cowmuddy – Fire Warms Everyone

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New Music: The Wandas “New Wave Blues”

Boston has a new band that has caught my attention and they might just grab yours.  The Wandas.  I know…not quite a tantalizing name.  They’ve just put out a new LP, New Wave Blues, and it’s teaming with pop melodies that send me overboard.  On the first listen their sound reminded me of Eulogies, but as the album wore on I found their style was much broader and deeper.  A pop sound reminiscent of the Beach Boys and Elvis Costello at times.  The echoed vocals of Keith McEachern are the key.  They can be fragile one second (“Please Come Home”) and down right infectious the next (“Bending Over Backwards”).  The band as a whole is diverse in its influences and that leads to a rewarding and complex album.  Take the song “Trepidation” which has a classic indie rock sound by all standards.  Complete with a simple yet catchy guitar lick and powerful chorus.  The folowing song “1 in 4″ is a song that clearly shows props to the Boss and the E Street Band.  Quite a transformation between songs, but it works.  New Wave Blues is a well rounded explosion of an album and The Wandas have just made my new favorites list.

mp3: The Wandas – Trepidation

mp3: The Wandas – 1 in 4

Name your price and buy New Wave Blues here.

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Video: Franz Ferdinand perform “Ulysses” In Studio

There’s been a video of those Franz Ferdinand boys performing a track, “Ulysses”, from their upcoming album.  It’s in the studio and it kicks ass.  Enjoy!

As a bonus here’s a new remix of the track:

mp3: Franz Ferdinand – Ulysses (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Re-Animation)

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New Aesop Rock “Tomorrow Morning”

Definitive Jux and Aesop Rock recently were nice enough to give all who traveled to their site a free download of a new unreleased track from Mr. Rock entitled “Tomorrow Morning”.  It’s part of the Ghost Of the Barbary Coast project that coincided with an art opening from Jeremy Fish in San Francisco.  Everyone who attended the opening were given a USB stick with the new track, an instrumental of it, and some sweet video.  Seeing how only 2,000 people went to this shin-dig, it was pretty nice of Aesop Rock and DefJux to release it to the rest of the world.  Check it out:

mp3: Aesop Rock – Tomorrow Morning

Aesop Rock has always been an acquired taste for me.  It takes a couple of runs by the old eardrum before his flow truly sinks in.  Thanks to Pretty Much Amazing for turning us on to this.

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Pasta Primavera’s Favorite Albums of 2008

pasta

Before I start this thing off let me just say that I hate making lists.  I’m more of a pile person.  So you won’t see any numbers in the list of albums, rather my top five followed by my other favorites.  So here it goes.

Nada Surf has been a favorite band of mine since their first album (that was a ways back).  It’s amazing how much their sound has matured since then, and Lucky truly shows that they’re on top of their game.  It’s indie pop rock at it’s best.  And they’re killer live!

mp3: Nada Surf – The Fox

Buy Lucky (bonus track version)

For a while there Department Of Eagles’ In Ear Park was all I was listening to.  Daniel Rossen and friends put together a gem of an album that took elements of Grizzly Bear and mashed them up with some McCartney-like pop.

mp3: Department Of Eagles – Herring Bone

Buy In Ear Park

The Walkmen’s You & Me took them from a band that I casually enjoyed from time to time, to a full on wonder that I try to set aside time to listen to when ever I can.  The Walkmen have always had an interesting sound that travels from a dark alleyway to an extravagant cathedral, but You & Me magnifies it even more and leaves me in awe.  It’s powerful.

mp3: The Walkmen – On The Water

Buy You & Me

It’s rare that an album or person lives up to the hype.  Lykke Li and her album Youth Novels does just that.  I fell in love with her sound quickly then pushed over the edge with her amazing energy that she puts into her live performances.   Despite the insane amount of remixes and radio plays, Youth Novels still hasn’t grown old to me and that’s also rare.

mp3: Lykke Li – Little Bit

Buy Youth Novels

I can’t quite explain why I took to Glasvegas’ debut S/T album his year.  Perhaps it was the Beach Boys/Earth Angel/Smiths halo surrounding their black and white sound that enamored me.  It might not have a struck others the same way, but for me this album made an lasting impression.

mp3: Glasvegas – Daddy’s Gone

Buy Glasvegas

Those were the main highlights for me, but these albums also brought much joy to me throughout the year:

mp3: Eureka Birds – The Still Life

Buy Eureka Birds

mp3: Beck – Walls

Buy Modern Guilt

mp3: Mates Of State – My Only Offer

Buy Re-Arrange Us

mp3: The War On Drugs – Taking The Farm

Buy Wagonwheel Blues

mp3: Ratatat – Mirando

Buy LP3

mp3: Wye Oak – Family Glue

Buy If Children

mp3: Cadence Weapon – real estate

Buy Afterparty Babies

mp3: Arizona – Ghost

Buy Glowing Bird

mp3: The Uglysuit – Happy Yellow Rainbow

Buy The Uglysuit

mp3: TV On The Radio – Golden Age

Buy Dear Science,

mp3: Fredrik – 1986

Buy Na Na Ni

mp3: El Guincho – Palmitos Park

Buy Alegranza

mp3: Friendly Fires – In The Hospital

Buy Friendly Fires

mp3: Takka Takka – Lion In The Waves

Buy Migration

mp3: The Little Ones – Like A Spoke On A Wheel

Buy Morning Tide

mp3: Mason Proper – Lock And Key

Buy Olly Oxen Free

mp3: Tobacco – Tape Eater

Buy Fucked Up Friends

mp3: Arms – Kids Aflame

Buy Kids Aflame

mp3: Ra Ra Riot – Ghost Under Rocks

Buy The Rhumb Line

mp3: MGMT – Time To Pretend

Buy Oracular Spectacular

Of course there was so much good music flowing out this year it was hard to narrow it down.  What were your faves?


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The Run Down – December 29 & 30, 2008

Today and tomorrow are fairly light before everyone’s big New Years Eve bashes.  Tonight there is a great show in town at Fletcher’s featuring one of my favorite local bands of the year, Eureka Birds.  They’ll be playing with Vinny Vegas, Oddzar, Gate 1, and Playground Etiquette.

mp3: Eureka Birds – Now They Rise

Tomorrow night there’s a Philly show that’s worth hyping featuring the great Steve Goldberg and The Arch Enemies at the M Room.  Also performing will be Anders Manly and DJ Captain Ridiculous.  Enjoy!

mp3: Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies – February Third

Photo by julie massimini

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The Run Down – December 27, 2008

Now that all that holiday cheer has begun to thaw out a bit perhaps it’s time to rock?  If you’re in DC it sure is.  The 9:30 club has New Rock Church Of Fire’s cd release show and features performances by The Dance Party and Crash Boom Bang.  Also in DC at the Black Cat, Olivia Mancini & The Housemetes take the stage with Tereu Tereu and Revival opening.  Finally up north in Philly Johnny Brenda’s has a great one with The Brakes and Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka.  Enjoy!

mp3: Tereu Tereu – Don’t Be Sore, Farmer John

mp3: The Brakes – Into The Ground

mp3: New Rock Church Of Fire – Death Truck

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