Playlist: Blogtimore Pwns Weekend

There are about 30 acts playing this weekend on Friday at the G Spot, Saturday at Sonar, and Sunday at the Ottobar. Listen to 17 above. Get tickets here and here.

The Old Lonesome Sound

Splice Today clearly had an itchin for some good ol' fashioned country jams. The site recently put together a highly recommended free mp3 mixtape of traditional folk songs interpreted by tons of high caliber musicians.

A hefty bulk of the compilation is filled with Baltimore artists. Wye Oak's rendition of "Black is the Color of..." is eerily brilliant and freshly added to my yellow playlist. Other locals include Caleb Stine, Dave Heumann & Stephen Strohmeir, Danny Greenwald, Noble Lake, Walker and Jay, Tommy Tucker, and Payola Reserve. Notable artists from more distant lands include Deer Tick, Phosphorescent, and Headlights.

The mix is solid throughout, but one lesser known artist deserves your attention. Danny Greenwald is hoping to have his debut ready within the month. And if the demos I've heard are any indication, prepare your ears for a feast.

Mr. Greenwald was kind enough to let me stream a sample from the upcoming album. As for the release, College Park's WMUC is broadcasting a live CD Release show of Danny on March 9th at 8 PM. Stay tuned for more details.

Exclusively stream "Thats Not Very Nice of You" below.

Deekee Zjevotneya & Aural States Fest

Music was brimming from Baltimore this weekend as per usual. I'm sure Aural States will have coverage of their extremely well put together mini-fest this weekend, Greg's already got up MP3s of Wye Oak's set compliments of the Baltimore Taper. Sri Aurobindo absolutely killed it, while Wye Oak, Arbouretem, Caverns, and Lo Moda all put forth solid sets.

However Saturday night's bill at the Talking Head had a glaring bright spot. Deekee Zjevotneya are a bona fide rock band with tons of promise for the future. Charlie and Brian have written some ridiculously clever and catchy lyrics, with Brian Adam Ant's folk tune nature getting tossed in the dryer with a load of Pixies.

Ex-Wailsound's drummer Andy Thomas and Jake the Snakemaster each boasted incredible skills, solidfying the bands instantly mind-numbing sound. Looking forward to what the recording process produces from them, surely check back for more deets on these guys in the near future.

Aural States Fest

The Aural States Fest is this weekend. Friday night @ Sonar feautures some of Baltimore's finest: Arbouretem, Wye Oak, and Small Sur. The 2 staged event also boasts Caverns, Imperial China, Lo Moda, Hollywood, Pleasant Livers, Andy Abelow, and Cannot Be Stopped. Hot damn.

All for only 10 bucks, its a pretty ridiuclous and diverse bill all around. Get there early enough on Friday and you might get a free goodie bag with CDs, MP3s, and merch. The fun continues Saturday night at the Whole Gallery with CEX and Craig Sopo.

Click here for free MP3's of the bands.

Top 10 Bmore Albums of 2008

From folk to electro-punk to tribal drum jams, 2008 was another solidly diverse year for local releases. With other mediums bound to be sharing their favorite LPs of the year, thought I would focus on just what Baltimore had to offer.

70% of the list just so happens to be Round Robining at the event pictured to the left. December 18 and 19 at Sonar. Check my list below...

10. Yukon - Medallion EP

9. Teeth Mountain - Self Titled

8. Arbouretem (split 12" with Pontiak) - Kale

7. The Deathset - Worldwide

6. Adventure - Self Titled

5. Wilderness - (k)no(w)here

Originally an accompaniment score to an art exhbit, this is by far the bands most cohesive release yet. Slow-core moans paired with monstrous drums give way to unexpected quiet moments of pure sonic bliss.

4. Future Islands - Wave Like Home

In addition to one of my favorite album covers of the year, the highly anticipated debut full length delivers on sound as well. All in all, it's poppy new wave punk at its best while still leaving room to improve.

3. Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez - Why is Bear Billowing?

I've already compared Lesser to the likes of Nick Drake and early Devandra Banhart, which in my opinion is some pretty high praise. His debut trickles along with simple sounds that elude to complex ideas. An under-the -radar artist that deserves far more of your attention.

2. Ponytail - Ice Cream Spiritual

Themes of pixie stix and finger painting combine with mind-numbing rock and roll riffs to make the band's second LP something unlike anything else. This is an album that needs to be heard in it entirety, which I'm sure is typically not an issue for most who give it a go.

1. Beach House - Devotion

Beach House are epic. Paving the way for even more spacey dream pop gems that were released this year (Fight Bite, Grouper), the duo seems to be making lives more beautiful all over the world. After another tour heading into 2009, Victoria and Alex have hopes to record the third LP this winter.

Thrill Jockey Signs Double Dagger

Local postcore trio Double Dagger just got signed to Thrill Jockey, home to Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, and The Fiery Furnaces. The Chicago based label seems to have taken a recent liking to Baltimore's music, with other representatives of the label including Thank You and Arbouretem.

The follow up to the epic Ragged Rubble is being worked on now, and the label will re-release the 7"s Bored Meeting and Sophisticated Urban Living.

Double Dagger will play "Feet Night" of the Baltimore Round Robin Tour, which is being performed once more at Sonar December 18 and 19. They join the likes of Dan Deacon, Beach House, The Deathset, Adventure, Future Islands, Jana Hunter, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, Videohippos, and so on so forth.

Grab some free Double Dagger mp3s from their site; click the rubble containing drumsets and amplifiers.

Arbouretem & Pontiak to Play Talking Head

Arbouretem will headline the Talking Head September 5th, bringing folk drudge jams to all. You know a band is going to be pretty impressive when they are lead by someone, Dave Heumann, who has played with both Will Oldham and Cass McCombs.

The band just dropped the previously mentioned Kale, a split 12 inch that features originals and John Cale covers from both bands. Pontiak rocks side B of the record, delivering a solid rendition of "Mr. Wilson" to cap things off.

Expect a quality show, with support from The Psychic Paramount and Sri Aurobindo.

Recent Informings

TV on the Radio announced the release of their 3rd LP earlier this week. Much to my pleasantry, it will be released September 23rd right after I go to this out west.

But for those that urn for more instant gratification, a whole lot has come out recently that's in need of your ears. Dr. Dog's newest release Fate is one of which described, and contains guitar pop keyboard goodness.

Menomena's Danny Seim released his 9th LP under the moniker Lackthereof this week. Most of his other releases, including numerous CDR's he passed out amongst friends, have been more sedated folksy endeavors.

Your Anchor displays loads of Menomena-infused jams that float along swimmingly. This is the first one that Barsuk has released of his, and certainly has my strong endorsed recommendation.

Thrill Jockey has dropped lots of love lately. Not only have they debuted the album from Baltimore's own Thank You, They also released Arbouretem and Pontiak's split vinyl action called Kale this week.

In addition to the previous two fine LP's, High Places' collection of singles 03/07 - 09/07 came out on the label Tuesday. This compilation includes experimental fuzz pop gems from 7" vinyls, and some other enjoyable tunes.

The Dutchess and the Duke's debut is also worth your short attention span. The album is full of tracks that sound like an infusion of Exile-era Stones and The White Stripes. Not too shabby.

Also, Bodies of Water's LP, A Certain Feeling, arrived this week. Think Fleet Foxes but infused with opera and soul, and somehow even better than I described. Check out their Daytrotter session right here.