Pitchfork Music Festival

I went to Pitchfork Music festival on Friday and Saturday. 'Twas a great success. I haven't had much time to blog, between starting a big-boy job and catching up on Mad Men, but a quick hit of the festival:

Flanked by a beautiful lady and an old friend on Friday, I watched performances from Daughn Gibson, Mac Demarco, Woods, Joanna Newsom and Bjork.  A late night show of Daughn Gibson/Merchandise capped off the night.

Saturday had me seeing Julia Holter, White Lung, Parquet Courts, Savages, Ryan Hemsworth, Solange and Belle and Sebastian.

Savages and Mac Demarco were the two biggest surprises, as I had no expectations and LOVED  both sets. Two completely different approaches (Savages being raw and aggressive, Mac Demarco being hilarious and fun loving) but both were effective.

Parquet Courts were everything I thought they would be.

Being introduced to Bjork and Belle and Sebastian on a huge stage surrounded by 10,000 fans is a magical thing.

Daughn Gibson/Merchandise was a great, great night cap on Friday. So loud.

Ryan Hemsworth is the reason I have a hurt neck right now. Just too much head nodding.

If it weren't for pesky responsibilities I would have certainly gone back on Sunday but, alas, the kid has to make money.

Merchandise "Who Are You"

Can't wait for this album, which drops April 2.

Milk Music "Cruising with God"

The good news--this new Milk Music song melts and it is on a new LP dropping April 2.
The bad news--they are coming to Boston with Merchandise on June 9 and I will be long gone by then. Dammit.

Merchandise "Anxiety's Door"

New track from the upcoming Merchandise EP:

Daughn Gibson - All Hell

When I first heard the singles from Daughn Gibson's All Hell earlier this year, I wrote it off as too derivative--why wouldn't I just listen to Johnny Cash, I thought.

Oh, younger me. You were so stupid.

All Hell is a hell of an LP. With a voice alternating between Johnny Cash and dude from Merchandise, Gibson puts a modern twist on a timeless sound. (I know that the previous eight words can be used to describe just about every good record this year, but that doesn't make it any less impressive. It's a sign of the times, really. I'm gonna reserve the rest of this thought for a later date)

So, after being so impressed with this album, I began to wonder why I didn't like Gibson initially. He's signed to a label I love, has gotten patted on the back from all of my favorite tastemakers, and even has a great origin story. How could this happen? I have three theories:

1) Sometimes in my musical life, I need a primer. King Dude was the perfect primer for Daughn Gibson. Previously disregarded as too derivative, I listened to Gibson's All Hell with a completely new perspective after listening to Love earlier tonight.

2) Timing is everything. Maybe when I heard some tracks earlier this year, the stars weren't aligned, my chi wasn't centered, I hadn't gotten laid recently, I just wasn't ready for it.

3) The wrong first song.  I have completely written off albums--nay!--musical careers, because the first song I heard left a sour taste in my mouth. In this instance, I believe it was "Rain on the Highway" which, while is great as a part of the album, left me thinking his style was going to be redundant and derivative. Dumb.

Check out "Lookin' Back on '99",which beats out every Chromatics track for my selection of what will soundtrack a montage at the the end of a heist movie when the characters have split up and are trying to elude the police.

Mid-Year Round-Up

If I expect you to listen to anything I say regarding music, it is only fair that I give you some background about my tastes. A mid-year (ish) round-up of my favorite releases:

Beach House- Bloom
Best Coast- The Only Place
Charli XCX-Heartbreaks and Earthquakes
Cloud Nothings- Attack on Memory
Death Grips- The Money Store
Diiv- Oshin
Grimes- Visions
Japandroids- Celebration Rock
JJ- High Summer
Lana Del Rey- Born To Die
Lower Dens- Nootropics
Merchandise- Children of Desire
Moonface w/ Siinai-Heartbreaking Bravery
Polica-Give you the Ghost
Spiritualized- Sweet Heart Sweet Light
Tanlines-Mixed Emotions