I was recently introduced to a folk-rock band called The Headlocks and i’m so glad for this introduction because these guys make some really amazing music. I’m a huge fan of live/folk music and a lot of the songs made by these guys easily fits that description. These guys have a really amazing layered sound that is missing from a lot of new music nowadays. Many would classify The Headlocks as a “jam band” and you definitely get that vibe in a lot of their songs from their latest album because it just feels like these guys really enjoy jamming out together. They have amazing vocals that are backed with a great group of instrumentalists.

One of the best things about this band is they have such an eclectic choice of music that they play. In one song you may hear rock mixed with folk mixed with a little soul sprinkled with some blues and it all sounds great mixed together. The track that sticks out the most to me right now is “Amen to Good Charles” which is a great lively song that wont disappoint if you are in the right mindset and ready to enjoy some light-hearted music. The Headlocks just recently released their debut album entitled Cuckoo Bird and below are a few of the tracks that stood out to me the most. Check them out and check out the bands website and myspace for more.

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Download: The Headlocks – Made Of Fire

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Download: The Headlocks – Amen Good Charles

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This is your Daily 2% – Chilled and Ready to Serve. We will try to bring you one “chill” track every day. This is for when you get home and you are trying to unwind. You reach for that glass of wine or that unlit Black & Mild or maybe you reach for something more herbal. This track is for those times. We will try to bring you at least one a day. We are just your milkmen and I’m here to make a delivery. Chill…..

Today’s delivery is brought to you by Elvis Perkins. I’m a huge fan of folky music if its done right and I have to say I’m a huge fan of any work done by this guy Elvis. One of the main reasons I like his music is because his voice has that “haunting” sound like you would hear from Radiohead or something. The track I’m bringing to you today is called “The Night & The Liquor” and its from his album entitled Ash Wednesday which came out in ‘07. this track is definitely low tempo/chilled-out and the  song really displays that “haunting” thing i’m talking about that seems to chill you out. So sit back and relax…

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Download: Elvis Perkins – The Night & The Liquor

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Ryan William Lynch the San Francsico native blesses us with that of which is Dominant Legs. Ryan mentions how the name came about saying

though the name came from something weirdly blurted at the beach looking at a friend’s sexy gams pre-skinnydipping in Newport Beach, California.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to listen to an infinite amount of artists and bands, however I have yet to come across anything resembling the intoxicating sound of Dominant Legs. If anything you’ll notice it does a faintly familiar sound that makes you think of Arthur Russel, but at the same time making it something all of his own. I’m a sucker for a new sound, anything that’s foreign and I think thats what makes this so immediately appealing for me.. with his melancholic vocals, druggy hand claps and snappy synthesizers. An expected 7″ will be releasing in early 2010, but until then you can catch him currently on tour opening for Girls. Heres 3 tracks that I assume will be on that 7″,  their all labeled with “DEMO” on his myspace, so I’m sure the final cuts will be released shortly, enjoy:

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Download: Dominant Legs – Just Silly Ones

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Download: Dominant Legs – About My Girls

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Download: Dominant Legs – Young at Love and Life

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New York continues to put out great music. I’ve really been into the whole “folk-esque rock band bringing in massive amount of distorted strings” thing lately, and NYC’s HOLLANDS does it up right. Every member of the band has some serious credits under their belt, working with everyone from Jay-Z and Beyonce, to Sufjan Stevens, to Alicia Keys, to Sean Lennon. Recorded during a period of personal turmoil for lead man John-Paul Norpoth the tracks show the lead-singer and songwriter in a drowsy mood. Norpoth sounds a bit clumsy and disillusioned, not only with the American dream but with the possibilities of love and lust.

Hollands second EP, Mother, on October 13th revels one with pounding drums, driving guitar violin and cello parts that are all gritty and distorted up. We got a sneak peek at the release, and decided to drop a few tracks on you to enjoy.

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Download: Hollands – Jackie

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Download: Hollands – Lungs of Steel

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Download: Hollands – Air Conditioned Heart

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Oh Thao.. where have you been all my life. A couple days when talking about Neon Indian, I may have mentioned he was my favorite new artist so far through 2009 and would possibly continue into 2010.. well that was true, until this morning. Portland based Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down is literally like a breath of fresh air, their vibrant melodies mixed with their playful lyrics makes you think of a more innocent time of snowball fights and sleepovers.

What makes me mad though.. is that I’m just now finding out about them, sooner better then never I guess especially with their upcoming album about to be released, which is due to come out October 13th and entitled Know Better Learn Faster. The album actually features apperances from Andrew Bird, Laura Veirs, members of Blitzen Trapper and Horse Feathers just to name a few.

This is the first track thats been released from their upcoming album, the track itself is coincidentally called ” Know Better Learn Faster.” The track features my boy Andrew Bird who graces it with his fiddling abilities and his mean whistling skills. Thao and the gang are actually in mid-tour right now, so I included the rest of the tour dates for you below, along with the cover art of the upcoming album, the tracklist and of course.. songs, songs, songs! I included some tracks off her previous albums We Brave Bee Sings and All and Like the Linen(when they were Portland Cello Project). So of course.. check it out, tell me what you think and enjoy:

P.S. Thao if you read this, I want to drink coffee with you and make snow angels, so get back to me on that. xoxo

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Download: Thao With the Get Down Stay Down – Know Better Learn Faster

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Download: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – Beat (Health, Life and Fire )

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Download: Thao Nguyen – Moped

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Eels has been one of my favorite rock bands for a while. They are a little more mellow than most, which makes me dig them a lot more than what is usually out there. Their newest video “The Look You Give That Guy” features Top Chef star Padma Lakshmi, and of course, Mark Oliver Everett’s (E) mal-formed dog, Bobby Jr.. If you have ever seen anything with the band, you will probably have seen Bobby Jr. before, making appearances in many of the Eels videos, and even singing a solo on “Last Time We Spoke” and the 2005 release “Blinking Lights and Other Revelations“.

Their last album Homre Lobo was released this last June, and it kills. By the way, if you don’t speak spanish, Hombre Lobo means “wolf man” or “werewolf”. If you have ever seen E’s beard you will understand. Epic. This song rules, so does the video. I’m also going to throw in their track “Fresh Blood” and the video also from this album, just because its super gnar and I’m pretty sure if you like music, you will like this. Enjoy.

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Download: Eels – Fresh Blood

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