Tag Archive for 'wye oak'

Remix: Mickey Free takes on Wye Oak’s That I Do

Published on August 16, 2009 in Remixes. 0 Comments Tags: mickey free, wye oak.

mickey free

Wye Oak have announce a sweet and sugary mega fall tour with Blitzen Trapper (they stop by Baltimore on October 10th to the Ottobar ->more dates after the jump). To help celebrate Baltimore’s own hip hop artist Mickey Free (of Height With Friends fame) did a GREAT remix of Wye Oak’s “That I Do” off of The Knot. I was initially nervous about this endeavor since “That I Do” is such a favorite of mine (though it really is hard to pick favorites among all the stellar tracks on The Knot). But Mickey Free throws down some Construction Time Again mashed with Love and Rockets mashed with 808s aka CRAZY GOOD musicness to embrace Jen Wasner’s vocals. It works is what I’m trying to get at. And the brief rhyme and police sirens are dope as well. Check it:

mp3: Wye Oak – That I Do (Mickey Free Remix)

mp3: Wye Oak – That I Do

Photo of Mickey Free

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Live Audio from Wye Oak’s CD Release Show @ Ottobar July 21, 2009

Published on July 22, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: wye oak.

wye oak

An extremely big thank you to the Baltimore Taper for getting this fabulous recording of a equally fabulous show so quick. As you know Wye Oak’s CD Release show for The Knot was held last night at Baltimore’s Ottobar. BT was able to record their entire set and here it is. Enjoy!

Mp3s:

01 Milk and Honey
02 For Prayer
03 Take It In
04 Siamese
05 Talking About Money
06 Mary is Mary
07 Untitled
08 tuning
09 That I Do
10 Sight, Flight
11 audience
12 Family Glue
13 I Don’t Feel Young

And of course you can download all the mp3s in one fell swoop here as well as high quality FLAC files here.

Greg from Aural States also took some great shots of the whole shebang. Check them out on flickr here.
Purchase The Knot from Merge Records here (as well as stream it).

ALRIGHT! An Interview With Andy Stack Of Wye Oak

Published on July 1, 2009 in Interviews. 0 Comments Tags: wye oak.

wye oak

One album that should be on everyone’s radar for the summer is local band Wye Oak’s The Knot out via Merge on July 21st. I had the pleasure of chatting with Andy Stack of Wye Oak just last week. Andy and Jenn (Wasner) were in Brooklyn heading over to do a recording/practice session with another artist, Flanagan Smith, for his upcoming album. Talk about timing, right before I made the phone call I found out that Michael Jackson had just passed. Unfortunately I was the first one to break the news to Andy and Jen and received the appropriate response in, “WHAT?!!! HOLY SHIT!!”. We spoke about how much of an influence and icon he was (probably one of the most recognizable faces/brands in the world). Andy was clearly at a loss for words (as was I) and simply stated. “What can I say. He’s a legend. A complete nut job, but a legend.” Agreed. After sharing our thoughts on that legend I moved the questions towards their band Wye Oak and their history.

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In Review: Wye Oak and Pomegranates at Metro Gallery May 16, 2009

Published on May 18, 2009 in Concert Reviews. 1 Comment Tags: cakes of light, pomegrantes, wye oak.

Pomegranates

This past Saturday at the Metro Gallery here in Baltimore was one of those shows I really didn’t know what to expect…so I decided to expect the unexpected. The first unexpected thing was discovering that Cakes of Light and Ari and the Shanks had been added to the bill. So the already solid line up of Wye Oak and Pomegranates just got a little more interesting. Why you ask? Because both of the newly added bands turned out to be pretty great. Ari and the Shanks went on first and played a strong set of heavy folk/punk/bluegrass/bluesish rock that just sounded good all around. Hear more from them on their myspace. Next up was North Carolina’s Cakes Of Light. I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Cakes of Light a little over a year ago, but that line up way back then was just lead singer guitarist Jay Dunbar and a drummer. This time ’round Jay came with a full crew and his soulfully twisted rough around the edges country folk experimental songs really came to life.

Cakes Of Light

On to the main event. Cincinnati’s Pomegranates already have me hooked on their new album Everybody Come Outside! so I was very interested to see how it would all play out in their live show. This 5 piece were tight, lively, and definitely rocking! I was sitting there bobbing my head as they played and thought to myself, “Wow these guys are really baring their soul with their performance is full of so much energ—HOLY CRAP THE GUITARIST JUST CLIMBED ONTO THE SIDE WALL AND LEAPT ABOUT 8 FEET INTO THE AIR!” After that I was pretty much sold on these guys. Pomegranates have a soaring psychedelic live sound that starts and stops on a dime – worth every penny – go see them live if you can. If not I strongly recommend picking up their album.

Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak

The final act, Wye Oak, were happy to be home after what seems like a long tour. Andy and Jenn seemed in awe at times that people were clapping and hollering so loud after each song. Well they deserve it. Their live show is nothing short of amazing and Wye Oak proved it again with this performance. Jenn Wasner has such a profound and moving presence when she performs. She sucks you in with the voice and sleepy eyes then blasts you away with a rip of her guitar. Andy Stack sits a few feet away from her working his own world of magic with organs and drums. Watching him perform – you can see the complex arrangements passing through his eyes meeting you in the face full force. They ended their set with a two encores. You could tell they just were not used to playing encores that often, but they didn’t want to stop playing and the crowd didn’t want them to stop playing…so they kept playing…at least for tow more songs. When it was all said and done I was still greedy…I wanted more. I guess I’ll have to wait until summertime when they go out in support of their new album in July. If you get a chance definitely check them out. I promise you you won’t be disappointed.

A blurry photo of Andy Stack from Wye Oak

Another blurry photo of Jenn Wasner from Wye Oak

Our pal Greg from Aural States took a slew of awesome photos of the show that put these photos I have here to shame. Go check them out here. Also check their review of the show here.

mp3: Pomegranates – Corriander

mp3: Wye Oak – I Don’t Feel Young

New Wye Oak – “Take It In”

Published on April 16, 2009 in News. 0 Comments Tags: wye oak.

Baltimore’s Wye Oak have just announced the release of their new album The Knot. On July 21st Merge Records will release this follow up to the outstanding If Children. They were nice enough to give us the first single off of the album entitled “Take It In”. Why don’t we do that now:

mp3: Wye Oak – Take It In

Pretty wonderful, huh? This song envelops you, then calms you, then burns you…by the time it reaches the climax at the end – when Jenn Wasner is singing that lovely descending harmony and the distortion and noise rise to your ears like you’re being submerged into the abyss – you realize that The Knot is going to be a winner. Damn 2009 is a fine year! Wye Oak started a new tour yesterday with Pomegranates. Baltimoreans take note – they’ll be playing the Metro Gallery on the last date of the tour May 16th – we’ll be there. Check the rest of the dates after the jump.

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Save The Senator Show Tomorrow Night!

Published on February 12, 2009 in News. 2 Comments Tags: us royalty, wye oak.

There’s not too many classic movie theaters left ’round these parts these days, but luckily for me and the residents of Baltimore The Senator Theatre is still up and running. Its the place I go when I want to see an awesome movie because there’s no place like it. I remember waiting in line to see the remakes of the Star Wars trilogy. I remember going to see Hairspray for the first time there…and Crybaby…and most of John Waters’ movies there. I could keep going, but unfortunately these tough times might prevent The Senator from keeping it’s lights on. So if you’ve got some time and want to see some good music, why not come out tomorrow night for a superb show to help out the Senator. There will be performances by Wye Oak, Jana Hunter, Payola Reserve, The John Hardy Boys, US Royalty, Nathan Bell, and more. There will also be local short films, photography, and performing arts. You can buy tickets here, read more about it here, and the doors are at 8pm. Enjoy!

mp3: Payola Reserve – 200 Years

mp3: US Royalty – Every Summer

mp3: Wye Oak – Keeping Company

The Run Down – January 30, 2009

Published on January 30, 2009 in The Run Down. 0 Comments Tags: annuals, lykke li, small sur, thievery corporation, wye oak.

Tonight if you are in Baltimore you should n0t be anywhere but our friends Aural States’ One Year Anniversary Festival at Sonar. The line up includes a slew of stellar local acts including Arbouretum, Wye Oak, Lo Moda, Small Sur, Sri Aurobindo, Andy Abelow, Imperial China, and Caverns, Pleasant Livers, CANNOT BE STOPPED, Hollywood, Title Tracks (John Davis from Q and Not U/Georgie James). If you are not in Charm City and in DC instead then perhaps you’d like to check in on the next saga of Thievery Corporation in their week long take over of the 9:30 Club. If you’re up in Philly then you’re probably aching to see Lykke Li at the First Unitarian Church with Wildbirds & Peacedrums. If you can’t manage to swing that one, you’re in luck because there’s another fab show over at Johnny Brenda’s featuring Annuals, Jessica Lea Mayfield, and What Laura Says. Enjoy!

mp3: Wye Oak – If Children Were Wishes

mp3: Thievery Corporation – The Cosmic Gate

mp3: Small Sur – Sea Stones

mp3: Lykke Li – Let It Fall

mp3: Annuals – Carry Around

Pasta Primavera’s Favorite Albums of 2008

Published on December 29, 2008 in Artist Reviews. 1 Comment Tags: arizona, arms, beck, cadence weapon, department of eagles, el guincho, eureka birds, fredrik, friendly fires, glasvegas, lykke li, mason proper, mates of state, MGMT, Nada Surf, ra ra riot, ratatat, takka takka, the uglysuit, the walkmen, the war on drugs, tobacco, tv on the radio, wye oak.

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: