Sunday, January 18, 2009

the best compilation. ever.



I am very pleased to write about a new two disc compilation coming out on February 17th. It's entitled Dark Was the Night. Here is the official info:

Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National produced the album, and John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization was the executive producer. A total of 32 exclusive tracks have been recorded for the compilation. It will be available as a double cd/triple vinyl/download and will benefit the Red Hot Organization - an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Red Hot was founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease – and music is a great vehicle to raise money and awareness for it. This is the 20th year of Red Hot, and this is the 20th release!

Tracklisting--

THIS DISC (DISC ONE):

1. "Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
2. "Cello Song" - The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
3. "Train Song" - Feist and Ben Gibbard
4. "Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver
5. "Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear
6. "So Far Around The Bend" - The National
7. "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
8. "Feeling Good" - My Brightest Diamond
9. "Dark Was The Night" - Kronos Quartet
10. "I Was Young When I Left Home" - Antony with Bryce Dessner
11. "Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12. "Sleepless" - The Decemberists
13. "Stolen Houses (Die)" - Iron & Wine
14. "Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear + Feist
15. "You Are The Blood" - Sufjan Stevens

THAT DISC (DISC TWO):

1. "Well-Alright" - Spoon
2. "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
3. "Mimizan" - Beirut
4. "El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket
5. "Inspiration Information" - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
6. "With A Girl Like You" - Dave Sitek
7. "Blood Pt. 2" - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8. "Hey, Snow White" - The New Pornographers
9. "Gentle Hour" - Yo La Tengo
10. "Amazing Grace" - Cat Power
11. "Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps
12. "Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch
13. "The Giant Of Illinois" - Andrew Bird
14. "Lua" - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch
15. "When The Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead & Devastations
16. "Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew

Look above and two of the songs above are linked to MP3s for your previewing enjoyment. The compilation's MySpace will be streaming a new track from the double disc set every day:

http://www.myspace.com/DarkWasTheNight

I encourage everyone to buy this compilation. It's going to a great cause and has so many phenomenal tracks!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Thursday, January 8, 2009

I just want to write...

New Animal Collective.
New Animal Collective.
New Animal Collective.
New Animal Collective.

And an inauguration. And an inauguration party. What a splendid month.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Strawberry Jam. Granted some of the songs (at least one of them) could be my favorite AC song of all. For some reason I just didn't feel on it. There is still time. But Merriweather Post Pavilion seems so grand so far. It is time for a really good record to enter my life. Something needs to fill up these great wide gaps and spaces.



Snow blows about here in Ohio. And this is my favorite song off of the new release. It is the very first song.

Animal Collective - In the Flowers


I have been trying to listen to a lot of new things recently. A new favorite is this little tune by The Essex Green. I'm from Ohio and I went to school in Pennsylvania. I have visited Pittsburgh several times... So it is fun to hear Ohio mentioned in this song. Rust belt.

The Essex Green - Sin City


Enjoy. Happy 2009!