Here is a little Christmas mixtape for all you good little girls and boys. Included in the ten tracks are a couple of decidedly non-traditional spins on old standards, two original favorites, and a few newer ones that come from this free compilation, and this free compilation. Click on the smoking Santa to download all ten songs at once. Happy holidays!
Monday night curious fans flocked to The Scoot Inn to see for themselves if Mister Heavenly was worth all the buzz. Fans overflowed into the street while chatter concerning Michael Cera rushed through the crowd. Undeniably a good portion of the crowd was obviously drawn by the allure of the awkward star of Superbad, but Cera may just be filling in as a touring bassist for the new supergroup's first tour.
About the song:
Drummer Roberto Sanchez and his family took a trip to Ireland earlier this year, and he was inspired by the landscape enough to write a beautiful sketch of what was to become "Seabirds". Upon returning to Austin, the band layered upon Rob's sketch in the studio and then added lyrics. It became clear that the one thing missing was a voice. Sinead O'Connor's voice to be exact. One thing lead to another, and the song found it's way back to Ireland, where Sinead graciously contributed her vocals to the song, and the vision of the original sketch was complete.The "2010 Recordings" are FREE downloads until December 31st, but may be released as a collection for purchase in various formats at a later date. The current Monahans lineup includes Ramble Creek studio engineer/producer Britton Beisenherz, Roberto Sanchez and Greg Vanderpool (both former Milton Mapes members), and longtime Spoon bassist Joshua Zarbo.
1. Twin Sister, Color Your Life — like a spring fling that unexpectedly lingered through fall, I’m completely smitten by their sophomore EP. Breathy vocals & soft, shuffling beats. I’m way into it.
2. The Black Keys, Brothers — what else can I say? Dan & Pat have an amazing, minimalistic chemistry built on gritty rock n’ roll. Sure they invited a couple other dudes along for the ride this time around, but the dynamic duo remain the focus while consistently keeping things raw & bluesy. Simply put, it’s soulful & sexy.
3. Beach House, Teen Dream — lofty vocals & soothing melodies. I’m pretty sure the comforts conjured by this album are the equivalent to having an actual beach house. Sweet escapism.
4. The Morning Benders, Big Echo — this album really won me over through the year. Eventually, I fell hard & I remain completely captivated by the large orchestrations & full harmonies.
5. Dum Dum Girls, I Will Be — These broads are all about quick, throwback hits. They deliver with sassy style & sultry, layered sing-a-longs. Their “blissed out buzz saw” strikes an irresistible chord of nostalgia.
6. Sleigh Bells, Treats — this duo produce hard-hitting, energy-packed tracks that combine elements of ferocity & femininity. This album may be the perfect pick me up; the musical equivalent to a strong cup of coffee.
7. Yeasayer, Odd Blood — Weird & wonderful. Completely unique & somewhat overwhelming, but shit, sometimes you just need to get your mind blown.
8. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor — I’ve always been a sucker for bros killin’ it with sweet harmonies. Their structure is simplistic & solid.
9. Magic Man, Real Life Color — I’m still fascinated by this debut production. Their music is intimate & endearing, with a gentle quality I can’t deny.
10. Arcade Fire, Suburbs — this is an amazing concept album that just can’t be ignored. They’ve created songs that are huge, yet accessible, with content that taps into the human condition. Don’t get me started.
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…and honorable mentions, because fifteen is easier than ten —
Tom Caruana - Enter The Mystical Chamber, Adam Haworth Stephens - We Live On Cliffs, White Denim - Last Day of Summer, Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt, & LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
NEW YEARS EVE @ CHEER UP CHARLIE’S
The Sour Notes put together this free, all ages New Years Eve party and show at Cheer Up Charlie's on East 6th, featuring a collection of some of Austin's most promising up and coming local bands. Specifically, Follow That Bird!, Zorch, Marmalakes, Cartright, No Mas Bodas, Missions and Mermaid Blonde.
