We Get Letters

An email from occassional blogger here Jeff M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey M [mailto:JMXXXX@XXX.XXX]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 11:30 AM
To: The DP
Subject: telekinesis

Friday night i baked some brownies and put on the Telekinesis album in my kitchen. talk about perfect baking music... the dude is so earnest and hopeful and in love... these brownies are going to turn out fantastic! (and they did). Mr telekinesis doesn't stand in the doorway, he just barges right into the room with his 3-minute pop songs about how he much loves you and then quits the mic. when the last song on the album played, i knew it was the last song. i didn't even want to check the ipod to confirm. i was right.

coast of carolina is a hit. that song should be blaring out of every car this summer.

ps. woke up with the song "Awkward Kisser" in my head:

when i woke up/
you were by my side

and it was true. awesome.

jgm

Jeff M.'s Best of 2009 So Far

Like Zak, my best-of-2009-so-far list has been a long time coming. There's plenty I haven't checked out yet that I hope to add to this list by the end of the year.

Albums/Songs
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Not quite as good as It's Never Been Like That, but then again, not much is.)

Future of the Left - Travels with Myself and Another (They got angrier and edgier; I didn't think it was possible. They are a lean, mean, insulting-people-you-don't-know machine.)

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Bat for Lashes - Two Suns

White Rabbits - It's Frightening

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Tim Hecker - An Imaginary Country (perfect headphones record for your commute)

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (mainly for "Two Weeks" and "Foreground")

Live Shows
Glenn Kotche (of Wilco) with Bang on a Can All Stars @ University of Maryland (March 29)-- What an amazing and disciplined drummer Glenn is. Completely zen and in full control of his surroundings. Incredible.

Dirty Projectors @ 9:30 Club (June 8) -- By the time they were done, I had completely forgotten that TV on the Radio were on next.

Des Ark & Trophy Wife @ DC Mini Gallery (June 18) -- The space (a storefront converted into a minimal thrift store/gallery) gave me the DIY warm fuzzies. The gallery's wood floors allowed Des Ark's rhythm section to lay down a stomp & hand clap accompaniment to Aimee's acoustic guitar on a couple songs. This would not be possible at most clubs in D.C. Note to city permit people: please keep allowing 20-somethings to open and run music venues.

Sonic Youth @ 9:30 Club (July 6) -- I can only hope I rock this hard when I'm 50.

Space Tigers @ Velvet Lounge (June 14) -- First show by locals from College Park, MD. Reminded me of Mazzy Star, except with drone-y Jesus and Mary Chain guitars on top. Why didn't I think of that?

Rock n Roll @ Studio Theatre -- Ok, it was a play, not a band. But the soundtrack of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground, and the Plastic People of the Universe (who knew?) was so good it made me forget how much I hate the boomers. Hi Mom and Dad!

808

It's about time...

So I've waited until August for this...but here you go anyway! I need order and I need ten. So here are Zak's top ten (in order) from the fine year of 2009 (so far)...

1. Harlem shakes--Technicolor Health
2. Phoenix--Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
3. Cymbals Eat Guitars--Why There Are Mountains
4. Bon Iver--Blood Bank EP
5. Various Artists--Dark Was the Night
6. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Vally Band--Outer South
7. Maria Taylor--Ladyluck
8. Telekinesis!--Telekinesis!
9. The Dodos--Time to Die
10. Yim Yames--Tribute to George Harrison

You can expect this to change (perhaps quite drastically) in the next few months. We shall all behold the amazingness of the new Avett Brothers and the Monsters of Folk (Oberst, Ward, James, Mogis) records. And if that Yo La Tengo lives up to it's hype (Boston bars anyone?) then we are all in for a good second half (or in my case last third) of 2009!

Peace Out Girl Scouts!
Zak

I can not lie. Day three of Merge XX has been plfucking phenomenal lineup. Each band brouth it harder and better than the band before.

However it was Lambchop that stole the entire show, setting the bar so unbelievably high that no one after even came close. I wrote them off for thei mellow vibe after two amazing sets by The Essex Green and Spent.

But then they justbuilt and built and built until the incredible crescendo of their 'Once In a Lifetime' cover.

That my friends is music magic. The crowd went INSANE. it was such a solid performance I think Polvo was scared to come on next.

Right now we're awaiting Spoon. And by awaiting, I mean the lights just went dim.

We will talk more later. I am about to rock.

So far we've seen The Broken West (very awesome), Richard Buxkner (a little intense) and Guv'ner (nice but not worth the wait).

Guv'ner apparently hasn't played in 10 years. It shows, but it's a true testament to Merge Records that so many bands that haven't played together in years would come out for this.

Happy birfday Merge! Here's to another 20 years!

We're here at Day Dos of Merge XX. My companion in all of this, Adam R., had the foresight to get us close to the stage so here we are , dead center.

We have no idea who's showing up tonight. We're a little more certain as opposed to yesterday, but still in the dark nonetheless.

It also seems we've met some cool people tonight near the stage with us.

Keep following. We'll update at the breaks (just so you dorks don't think I'm not watching the show).

Also, if there is some merch you want, email me and we'll setup a paypal or something. They got some good swag.

We're here at Day Dos of Merge XX. My companion in all of this, Adam R., had the foresight to get us close to the stage so here we are , dead center.

We have no idea who's showing up tonight. We're a little more certain as opposed to yesterday, but still in the dark nonetheless.

It also seems we've met some cool people tonight near the stage with us.

Keep following. We'll update at the breaks (just so you dorks don't think I'm not watching the show).

Also, if there is some merch you want, email me and we'll setup a paypal or something. They got some good swag.