I finally was able to see Cloud Cult last week and just as I expected, it was spectacular.  The band sounds great on record, but coupled with the amazing visual feast that they presented on stage, they are out of this world.  The Forms opened the night and they played a set of guitar-oriented indie rock.  The band didn’t have the most original sound, but they on a pretty good show, the last song was particularly fun, and they threw in a cover of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” for kicks.

Cloud Cult took the stage with to the tune of Meaning of 8 album closer “Hope” while an array of lights and spectacles flashed around them.  They  shot right into their new material with the wonderful “No One Said It Would Be Easy” before playing a couple of older favorites, “Man Jumped Through The Window” and “Happy Hippo” and swooning the crowd with “Pretty Voice” and “Chain Reaction” from 8.  The live painting was a great addition to their set, and didn’t detract at all from the music.  The painters even sang back up on a few songs.

During mid-set the band played mostly new tracks from Feel Good Ghosts.  Out of them, the extraordinarily pretty “Journey of the Featherless” and rollicking “Story of the Grandson of Jesus” sounded the best.  I was extremely impressed with the musicmanship of Cloud Cult.  Whether it was violins, cellos, trombones, or xylophones they not only played it, they played the hell out of it.

The band played my two favorite songs, “Chemicals Collide” and “Take Your Medicine”, back to back.  The performances were incredibly passionate as was the crowd reaction to both songs.  The band really does command a cult following who aren’t in any way afraid to sing loudly or dance around to the music.  It definitely made for an awesome concert atmosphere.

The band closed the set with a few more new songs, namely “Everybody Here Is A Cloud”, “Tornado Lessons”, and an encore of “Love You All” (complete with a voice digitizing microphone) before leaving the stage and putting up the two completed paintings for auction.   For how much I talk about Cloud Cult this should be obvious, but I had a great night and I recommend that everyone in the world see this band’s magnificent live show.

MP3 Everybody Here Is A Cloud
MP3 Chemicals Collide

Make sure to go to Pictures For Kids Who Can’t Read Good to see the rest of my photos from the night.  I snapped some really good ones!

One exam down two more to go. In the meantime I’ve been listening to the absolutely incredible Fleet Foxes upcoming s/t album.  I realize I’m a little behind on this band but I was so bowled over with their album that I couldn’t resist putting my two cents in about the Seattle band.  The songs are some of the most organically beautiful I’ve heard this year, due to Robin Peckhold’s incredible lead vocal, the acoustic chamber pop feel that covers the music, and the intricate harmonies interweaved in nearly every song.

The album’s best track is certainly “White Winter Hymnal”.  The song just slays me.  The acoustics on the song are absolutely perfect, it’s fitting that the title calls it a hymnal as you can imagine that this song was recorded in a cathedral.  The imagery of the lyrics mixed with the warm, understated instrumentation makes this track seem to float through the air.  For some reason the song reminds me of a Wes Anderson movie, which is about the best compliment I think I can give it.

Directly following the song on the album is “Ragged Wood” a masterfully composed folk song that gives a lot of weight to the MMJ/Band of Horses comparisons the band has received.  The song features a wonderfully executed change-up mid song from its shuffling rhythm to a organ heavy midtempo ballad.  Download the two tracks below, this band is worth every second you’ll spend with them.

MP3 Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
MP3 Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood

Pre-order Fleet Foxes from Sub Pop Records.

This is my last week of school for what probably will be the rest of my life. I have 3 more classes and a couple exams then its into the real world for me. Either because I enjoy excessive introspection or just love making lists, here is my musical (both personal and general) history of every year that I’ve been in school, with a bit of personal stuff thrown in. Nothing like a little nostalgia for your Wednesday afternoon, right? Click here to see the whole post.

Me in Elementary (w/ sister and pumpkin)

Pre-Kindergarten (1991)

I don’t think I was listening to music (except maybe Raffi) at this age but if I could go back I’d definitely reach for Achtung Baby, Loveless, Leisure, and Out of Time. I may even treat myself to Use Your Illusion or Nevermind occasionally.

MP3 U2 - One

Kindergarten (1992)

Kindergarden was all about Pavement for me. No not really, but 92 was the year that brought us Slanted & Enchanted, Automatic for the People, Bizzarre Ride II, and the songs “No Rain” and “Friday I’m In Love”.

MP3 Blind Melon - No Rain

1st Grade (1993)

When I was in first grade I was in the middle of a big move from Galveston, TX to Peoria IL, so I didn’t have much time to be listening to music. If I had though I would definitely be picking up some Wu-Tang, In Utero, Siamese Dream, Zooropa, Transmissions for the Satellite Heart, and Pablo Honey. Also I probably would be jamming out to “Whoomp! There It Is”, “Twin Princes” and “I Saw The Sign” on a daily basis.

MP3 Spin Doctors - Two Princes

2nd Grade (1994)

1994 was a great year for music. Unfortunately I was too busy watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and learning phonics in Mrs. Gullet’s class to pay too much attention. Anway, the year brought us Parklife, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Blue Album, Grace, Definitely Maybe, and Bee Thousand as well as debuts from Elliott Smith, The Sea and Cake, and Sunny Day Real Estate. The one song I remember listening to this year was Beck’s “Loser”.

MP3 Sunny Day Real Estate - In Circles

3rd Grade (1995)

3rd grade was all about Pogs. If you had an awesome slammer you were soooo in. Meanwhile Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, What’s the Story Morning Glory, Blur’s The Great Escape, Liquid Swords, and Elliott Smith’s s/t were hitting the shelves. Belle & Sebastian, Neutral Milk Hotel and Wilco released their debuts this year and Radiohead created The Bends.

MP3 Elliott Smith - Needle In The Hay

4th Grade (1996)

I really got into music this year. Unfortunately it was Christian Rock like DC Talk and the Newsboys. If I knew anything about anything I would have been jamming to Odelay, Pinkerton, Being There, Jeremy Enigk’s Return of the Frog Queen, and of course, If You’re Feeling Sinister. I did have quite a thing for No Doubt though.

MP3 Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away From Here I’m Dying

5th Grade (1997)

In 5th grade, I was obsessed with the Chicago Bulls, everyones hormones were going out of control as puberty set in, and I spent half of the school year playing Axis and Allies in Mr. Wallace’s class (for a “WWII assignment”). Musically It was one of the best years ever. OK Computer obviously was the big one, but also: Blur, Urban Hymns, Homework, Either/Or, I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, The Lonesome Crowded West, Of Montreal’s debut. Personally I was totally into Third Eye Blind’s s/t.

MP3 Radiohead - Karma Police

Click below to see the rest!

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Here’s Cloud Cult’s new music video for their first single off of Feel Good Ghosts, “Everybody Here Is A Cloud” (you might remember they had a casting call for the video early this March).  I saw the band last Friday, and the video was played on the video screen in the background while during the song so I had to scope it out.   It’s very well done.  It’s a cool concept and very well done (other than some minor lip-synching problems).  I really enjoy the ending.

MP3 Everybody Here Is A Cloud

My show review will be up by the end of the week.  Enjoy!

Jamie Lidell is one iPod commercial away from becoming the breakout artist of 2008, and with this amazing of a record that he’s putting out, he honestly deserves it even more than Feist did (not saying I’m not happy for the gal). Lidell’s follow up to 2005’s Multiply, simply entitled Jim, is one of my most consistently listened to records of the year and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon (especially with it’s very good-time summery feel). The man has been picking up comparisons left and right to Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, Otis Redding, you know all those 60’s/70’s soul artists that your parents probably love. Lidell has modernized his free-flowing melodies with a snazzy production and packed it with layers of pianos, horns, hand-clapping and gospel choirs, along with some subtle electronic beats (not to distract you from the retro feel).

The album starts off with “Another Day”, one of the breeziest and repeatedly listenable tracks I’ve heard of the year. Lidell’s soulful croon would put to shame any number of American Idol contestants. The breezy piano melody and the call-and-response with the backing gospel choir running through the song brings the song to the next level (and that’s not to mention the light spanish guitar, trumpets, and flute). “Where D’You Go” uses many of the same elements that make the man great, except this time it’s put to an upbeat jam. Jamie sings about how he’s “gonna have to get along without you” while the song bounces up and down the octave scale. I have no doubt that it’ll get you moving and put a smile on your face. Here’s a two-song sample of Jim. Make sure to pick it up tomorrow.

MP3 Jamie Lidell - Another Day
MP3 Jamie Lidell - Where D’You Go

“Another Day” Music Video
Stream Jim on Myspace

After seeing the totally hilarious Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I headed over to the Independent Media Center (aka The IMC) to catch Canadian indie pop heroes, Islands. We were in for a big surprise when we got there and Headlights were playing. I had no idea they were on the bill and it was awesome to see them play their Some Racing, Some Stopping material again. The songs seemed much tighter than last time I saw them at the CD debut, which undoubtedly came from their ridiculous touring schedule.

Islands took the stage dressed in all black (but sans white makeup) and immediately went into the sprawling epic “Vertigo (If It’s A Crime)” which they then transitioned into “The Arm”. The six-member band did a wonderful job of recreating all the sounds from the album whether it was violin, keyboards, crazy tropical percussion, or clarinet. The band’s set consisted mostly of new songs which was perfectly fine with me since I’ve been jamming to Arm’s Way ever since it leaked a few week’s back. The two Asian violin/keyboard players (aka The Chow Brothers) were fun to watch, as they really got into the music and did some cool looping with their instrumentation.

The band threw in a couple of some old favorites such as “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby”, “Volcanoes”, and “When There’s A Will, There’s A Whalebone” during the main set which brought much joy to the crowd. I was really expecting “Rough Gem” which Nick teased during one song but they opted not to play the song or “Jogging Gorgeous Summer” which is a personal fave of mine. Other than these slight setbacks the set was great and I loved seeing the new favorites like “Creeper” and “Pieces of You” live. The IMC turned out to be a great video for the band (especially with all the colorful paintings) and Nick even pointed out how much he liked the place.

Islands ended the main set with their previously-Unicorns-now-Islands song “Abominable Snow”. They nailed the punchy guitar and squeaky violin combo on the song, and although the the track hasn’t ever been officially released most of the crowd where I was standing knew all the words. The band couldn’t have picked a better encore in my opinion, they played a full 10 minute version of Swans (Life After Death) which I still think is band’s masterpiece. So overall I had a really fun night and Arm’s Way was cemented as one of my favorites of the year. You can pre-order Arm’s Way now at Insound or just grab it on May 20th when it’s released.

MP3 Swans (Life After Death)
MP3 The Arm
MP3 Creeper

Check out Pictures For Kids Who Can’t Read Good for my full set of photos from the night.

Mates of State is just about the best thing ever, just putting that out there. The band debuted their new single today, “Get Better” in video form and I think it’s easily one of best things the band’s ever done. The band hasn’t abandoned it’s core sound of keys, drums and wonderful harmonies but they are definitely continuing to expand their sonic boundaries with absolutely gorgeous use of strings and layered vocals. The sing-a-long build-up at the end of this song is absolutely euphoric. Holy flip, I love this band.

“Get Better” audio is below (low quality for now, sorry) and you can head over to youtube to watch the ultra-cute video (which may or may not be a sequel to that Bat for Lashes video from last year). Also, Is it just me or does Jason look a whole lot like Buddy Holly in that picture?  Re-Arrange Us is out on May 20.  Check here for more info.

MP3 Mates of State - Get Better

There’s a lot of bands doing ambient punk shoegaze thing out there but none of them are doing it as good as No Age. The band released a EP compilation album, Weirdo Rippers, last year on Sub Pop records to considerable acclaim and they are currently gearing up to release an album of completely new material entitled Nouns for the label. The album is full of noisy wall-of-sound guitars, crashing drums, mumbled punk vocals (that are still quite listenable), with some crazy good melodies mixed in with all that noise. There hasn’t been much music that I can truly rock out to this year (British Sea Power notwithstanding), so this album has been a very welcome shot of adrenaline for me.

The first three tracks on Nouns are all spectacular, I especially like the contrast between the heavy fuzz and jangly guitar on “Eraser”, but it’s the next track, “Teen Creeps”, that really does the best in showing the band’s potential. The song sounds like a lost mid-90’s classic except way noisier and better. The song takes the cake for sharp production and amazing guitar work and just overall kicks butt. “Brain Burner” is another killer track that shoots through the roof in terms of intensity level. The song is less than two minutes but it completely knocks you flat for that short time. Give it a listen, you’ll see what I mean.

MP3 Teen Creeps
MP3 Brain Burner

Pre-order Nouns here.

I have the latest Judd Apatow film starring a former Freaks and Geeks castmember and an Islands concert on my plate for tonight so I’m going make this a quick post and then jet out of here. Annuals released a fantastic EP earlier this month called Wet Zoo and the band released a video for the lead-off track last week.

It’s a CGI-animation type video that’s like Apocalypto if it was done by Pixar (even has a heartwarming, family-friendly ending). Might be a bit sappy and the animation isn’t quite at Wall*e level, but I think it matches the song quite well. Take a look and then download the song below:

MP3 Annuals - Sore