Jeff Slate
Birds of Paradox
www.jeffslate.net

Jeff will be performing at The Telegraph this Friday, May 10th at noon. Free. All Ages.
Album features an all-star cast, including members of Wings,  The Byrds, The Who, the Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory Band
“The best Tom Petty album since  ”Wildflowers’” – Dennis Mitchell, DJ, Las Vegas, NV February 17, 2012 (New York, NY) – “It began with an act of charity,” Jeff Slate says in the liner notes to his new album “Birds of Paradox”, due this Summer. “I was the musical director for a charity event and Steve Holley, who used to be the drummer in Wings, was one of the guest performers. We hit it off and I asked him to drum on some songs of mine in the studio a few weeks later. When we got in there it was exciting.
The songs sounded better than I could have ever dreamed. After 15 years making
records and playing live with The Badge a new door had opened and I was excited
again about making music.” Those initial sessions led to an album’s worth of songs with an all-star cast of players, including Holley and former Wings bandmate Laurence Juber, Gary Van Scyoc and Adam Ippolito (John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory Band), Jimmy “Mack” McEggliott (Gene Cornish, Tommy James), Gene Parsons (The Byrds, Flying Burrito Bros.), Simon Townshend (The Who, Roger Daltrey), Josh Phillips (Procol Harum), Susie Collins (ELO, Ace Frehley), Wayne Cobham (Stevie Wonder, The Temptations) and Alex Alexander (Prince, Dido).
In support of the release of “Birds of Paradox” – which derives its name from the fact
that May Pang, whom John Lennon wrote the song “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of
Paradox)” about, introduced the core band of Slate, McEggliott, Van Scyoc, Ippolito and
Holley – Slate will be playing a release party in New York City in Spring, as well as
dates around the Northeast throughout the Summer and Fall of 2012.
With a setlist of songs from “Birds of Paradox”, crowd favorites from Slate’s tenure with
The Badge, and classics that Van Scyoc, Ippolito and Holley performed live with Lennon
and McCartney, as well as hits by Bob Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison and other giants
of the last 50 years of popular music, upcoming live shows are sure to bring the house
down.
“We’ve been rehearsing at the old Hit Factory, which is now the New York headquarters
of Gibson Guitars,” said Slate. “It sounds fantastic. And it’s such a thrill to play these
songs with these musicians. It’s intimidating to think the last time Gary and Adam
played ‘Come Together’ was with John Lennon at Madison Square Garden, but even
more than that it’s exciting.”
Jeff Slate (vocals, guitar) is a singer/songwriter from New York City. He co-founded the
1980’s mod/punk band the Mindless Thinkers, who were mainstays on the Northeast
college circuit. In the mid-90’s he released “The Townshend Tapes”, on which The
Who’s Pete Townshend acted as Executive Producer, and opened for Sheryl Crow on
her “Tuesday Night Music Club” tour. In 1997 he founded the band The Badge, who
released four albums and countless singles, EPs and live “bootleg” sets and went on to
become darlings of the UK/European “mod” scene in the 2000’s. In 2010 Jeff released
the single “Dreamtime”, which featured Earl Slick (Lennon, Bowie) and Carlos Alomar
(Bowie, Lennon). “Birds of Paradox” is his first solo album of original material. Jeff has
appeared on television and radio numerous times and his songs have appeared in
network television shows and major motion pictures. Jeff proudly endorses
Gibson/Epiphone guitars and Vox amps.
Gary Van Scyoc (bass, vocals) and Adam Ippolito (keyboards, vocals) were key
members of John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory Band. They appeared on
Lennon’s 1972 album “Sometime In New York City” as well as at his “One to One”
concerts at Madison Square Garden. In 1973 they appeared with Lennon on Yoko
Ono’s “Approximately Infinite Universe” double-album. In 2010 they appeared in the
documentary film “LENNONYC.” Together and apart they have also appeared on recordings by or in concert with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger,
Gene Cornish, Jerry Garcia, Neil Sedaka, Keith Moon, Paul Simon and Kool & the
Gang.
Steve Holley (drums) was a member of Paul McCartney & Wings from 1978-1981. He
played on the mega-hits “Coming Up” and “Goodnight Tonight” as well as the critically
acclaimed 1979 UK tour and album “Back To The Egg.” Steve had previously worked
with Elton John, and since leaving Wings he has provided some of the most solid and
creative beats for Joe Cocker, Ian Hunter and a who’s who of music, including Julian
Lennon, Dar Williams, Chuck Berry, Jules Shear, Popa Chubby, Denny Laine, Phoebe
Snow, Gary Brooker, G.E. Smith, Warren Haynes, Tommy Shaw, Joe Louis Walker,
Junior Brown and many others. In 2003 he released his first solo album ‘The Reluctant
Dog.’ Steve proudly endorses Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Rhythm Tech
Percussion.
Jimmy “Mack” McEggliott (guitar, vocals) has performed and/or recorded with
countless music legends including Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Gene Cornish (Young
Rascals) and Tommy Ramone, Tommy James (Shondells), Denny Laine (Wings,
Moody Blues), Carlos Alomar (Bowie, Lennon), Will Lee (Fab Faux, Letterman), Dennis
Diken (Smithereens), Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge), Arno Hecht (Rolling Stones), Peppy
Castro (Blues Magoos), Juma Sultan (Hendrix), Ian Lloyd (Stories/Foreigner), John
Ford (The Strawbs), Rob Stoner (Bob Dylan), Marshall Crenshaw and many others.
Jimmy was a member of the 1980’s New York City band The Propellers and appeared
on the television cult classic “Uncle Floyd Show.” His songs have aired on major FM
stations including WLIR & WNEW-FM in NYC.

Here’s the interview/write-up with The Day‘s Rick Koster:

No one has a Rolodex anymore.

Hopefully, though, New London native Jeff Slate didn’t throw his away. As a souvenir, it’s the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of those sign-in registries at famous old hotels, full of the faded signatures of all the big shots who stayed there.

In Slate’s Rolodex, you’d find plenty of A-list musicians ranging from Pete Townshend to Sheryl Crow – not to mention dozens more who’ve played significant roles in an amazing array of bands across decades of rock royalty.

What this means is that Slate, a singer-songwriter now based in New York City, has for more than two decades – on his own and with the indie band The Badge – impressed not just fans but also plenty of musicians who have become friends and collaborators.

Consider Slate’s latest solo album, “Birds of Paradox,” which came out last fall. Various Slate “Rolodex” associates played on the 12-song record, including former members of Wings, the Plastic Ono Band, Procol Harum, the Byrds, the Who, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and David Bowie band members Earl Slick and Carlos Alomar.

“Birds of Paradox” is a timeless record – a tribute as much to Slate’s innate sense of hooky energy as it is to his own status as a joyous fan of 50 years of rock. From melancholy balladry to mid-tempo/midlife meditations to giddy highway anthems, “Birds of Paradox” reflects the vision of a career musician who will always choose rock ‘n’ roll as the finest medium through which to distill life itself.

Slate and his Birds of Paradox band perform Friday in New London’s The Telegraph and Saturday at the Misquamicut SpringFest on Misquamicut Beach in Westerly.

When Slate was younger, the fascination with rock ‘n’ roll took on a more raw, giddy style of adolescent joy and aggression.

“Starting out in New London, just a kid, I was a devotee of The Clash and The Jam and The Small Faces,” Slate remembers. “My friends and I would just stare at their faces on the album sleeves, mesmerized. They were like cyphers to us. You’d look at Steve Marriott and know you’d never get to see or meet someone like that.”

As it turns out, he met plenty. Slate learned guitar and, with his high school band the Mindless Thinkers, rose through the burgeoning New London club scene and quickly established a reputation throughout the region, opening for bigger Boston bands as well as hometown heroes The Reducers.

They also self-recorded and released an album called “Anyone For Anything.”

“We had a great time. It was a glorious 18-month run,” Slate says. “Then we each had to decide whether to carry on or go to college. I thought, ‘I’ll just go to New York City, find a few more guys, and do it all again’ – not realizing how incredibly hard it is to find that chemistry.”

Slate struggled for five years before abandoning the band concept to work on solo songwriting with an acoustic guitar. Along the way, he met The Who’s Pete Townshend at a party. They hit it off, Slate says, and Townshend ultimately produced a demo for Slate. While it didn’t end up securing a major label deal for Slate, his stock was rising.

“I always remember the excitement of being in a band for the first time,” Slate says. “The idea was you were happy to play anywhere, not just clubs but a tennis court or a wine and cheese shop – anywhere you could play. People always say New York City audiences are tough. You know what? They’re tough everywhere. That’s how you learn and get better.”

It paid off.

In 1995, he landed a solo acoustic slot opening for Sheryl Crow on the national tour for her debut album, “Tuesday Night Music Club.” He also continued to write, perform and expand his network of musical pals. In 1997, along with guitarist Marc Teamaker, drummer Nelson Pla and keyboardist Matt Kalin, he formed The Badge, a Beatles-and-Kinks-happy outfit that toured relentlessly. They also released the “…Digital Retro…” and “Calling Generation Mojo” albums as part of a wave of rock musicians that embraced the new freedoms and possibilities of indie labels and do-it-yourself projects.

“You know, the Mindless Thinkers made our first record in New London in a bedroom with a four-track recorder.” Slate says. “The difference between that sort of project and now? You had to have the money to put the recording out on vinyl and then convince someone to buy it. Not anymore. Kids today seem willing to invest a buck to download a song.”

Though The Badge ultimately went on hiatus, the bandmates remain pals and don’t rule out possibilities for future collaboration.

In the meantime, Slate is excited and delighted over “Birds of Paradox.” From the various stellar players on the album, he’s formed a touring band, Jeff Slate’s Birds of Paradox, which includes guitarist/vocalist Jimmy McElligott (The Propellors), bassist/vocalist Gary Van Scyoc and keyboardist/vocalist Adam Ippolito (both members of John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band), and drummer Steve Holley (Wings, Elton John).

“From the outside, people might not think it, but it’s hard work recording and traveling and living in hotels, particularly when you get older and have kids,” Slate says. “But there are no points where I don’t enjoy making music. The songs on the new album just sort of presented themselves. Over time, I’d gotten to know a lot of musicians that I enjoy playing with and that I look up to. I thought, ‘It can’t hurt to ask if they’ll play on this record.’ And no one said no. It’s been such a flattering experience.”

Here’s the write-up on the new album, and don’t forget they’ll be playing at Cafe Nine in New Haven with our own Daphne Lee Martin on March 23rd.

Mount Moriah will release Miracle Temple, their breakthrough second LP and first new album for Merge Records, on February 26, 2013.

Fiercely contemporary yet rich with classic influences, Mount Moriah’s Miracle Temple sports bigger arrangements, louder guitars, bolder vocals, and more soulful rhythms than their acclaimed self-titled debut. Through their artful personal storytelling, the band develops a piercing portrait of a “New South” where progressive traditions are still fitfully breaking free from conservative ones. Mount Moriah’s cathartic vision for their home and themselves is writ large in their lovingly critical negotiation with romantic, political, and gender identities; geographical perspective; confrontation and forgiveness. The drive for change, resolute but tinged with regret, is arrestingly captured in the cover image of a burning barn.

Singer/guitarist Heather McEntire says, “I feel like there’s a lot of confrontation in this record that stems from the confidence we developed doing the first one by ourselves.” That newfound clarity of purpose results in music that balances nervy beauty and resounding force, in beautifully wrought lyrics that compress condemnation and confession into subtle poetry. “Things that were almost questions before are more like answers now,” says guitarist Jenks Miller. “There was a timidity to Heather’s voice on the first record, singing in this naked way without distortion. Now, it’s commanding, which allows the arrangements to do more.”

McEntire and Miller are at the heart of Mount Moriah. Bassist Casey Toll joined the band in 2010, while James Wallace provided drums, organ, and piano on the album. Miracle Temple was recorded over five days at Beech House in Nashville and co-produced by Mark Nevers, Miller, and McEntire; mixed by Nevers; and mastered by Alex McCollough. McEntire, Miller, and Toll wrote the music, with all lyrics by McEntire except for “Union Street Bridge,” co-written with the poet Sarah Messer. Additional tracking was done by Miller, James Wallace, Jeff Crawford, Jaron Pearlman, and Daniel Hart. The expanded arrangements feature an impressive variety of guest stars. Hart provides violin, and Allyn Love plays pedal steel. Indigo Girl Amy Ray sings gospel-tinged backing vocals alongside Bibis Ellison, Ryan Gustafson, and Midtown Dickens’ Will Hackney and Catherine Edgerton.
Recently released on vinyl for the first time, Mount Moriah’s self-titled debut quickly put them on the national radar. They were tapped for a national tour with the Indigo Girls; endorsed by Pitchfork, NPR, The Onion A.V. Club, Stereogum, PopMatters, and others; named the creators of North Carolina’s best 2011 album by Shuffle Magazine; and featured on Bon Iver’s celebrity playlist on iTunes. Much acclaim focused on the riveting stage presence of McEntire, hailed by the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle as the kind one rarely discovers, a sentiment echoed by Paste Magazine’s Shane Ryan who wrote: “McEntire fits into that rarified subgroup of charismatic performers. … When she sings, the transformation begins. The energy is evident in her eyes […] and in her voice, a powerful instrument capable of finding the perfect emotional tone within the lyrics. … I left the venue knowing Heather McEntire will be huge.”

LPs:

DeRobert & the Half Truths – Soul in a Digital World (GED Soul Records)
GED Soul Records is a fantastic new Nashville label pushing out some serious raw soul & funk records.  DeRobert & the Half Truths are so good that, though DeRobert had to miss the show, the band blew the Oasis away and kept the place moving with ferocious instrumentals for 2 hours earlier this year.  With DeRobert in the band, they’re unstoppable.  Keep your ear to the ground for their next visit this Spring. (note: this came out on CD in 2010 and the vinyl was released in 2012)

Menahan Street Band – The Crossing (Dunham/Daptone Records)
Made up of musicians who cut their teeth playing with bands such as the Dap Kings, the Menahan Street Band have evolved into masters of mood.  Their sophomore effort, The Crossing, while never anything less than funky, is filled with subtle treasures and begs to be listened to again and again and again.  The title track will give you the idea …

Lee Fields – Faithful Man (Truth and Soul Records)
Lee Fields’ career dates back to the late 60s (he released his first single, Bewildered, in 1969).  A glance at his Discogs page will tell you that he never stopped! And, while I love his early work (She’s a Love Maker is one of my all-time favorite dancers), I feel he’s only gotten better as time has passed.  Since linking up with musicians in the Desco/Daptone/Soul Fire/Truth and Soul families (look those labels up), he’s found partners with the same musical goals … to create unforgettable gritty funk and passionate soul!  Have a listen:

Dr. John – Locked Down (Nonesuch Records)
While Dr. John himself should need no introduction, this album represents an auspicious fusion of Mr. Rebennack’s generation with that of the bands I’ve described above.  Produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, the band includes drummer Max Weissenfeldt (Poets of Rhythm, Whitefield Brothers), keyboardist Leon Michels (El Michels Affair, Lee Fields), and bassist Nick Movshon (Menahan Street Band, Antibalas, Dap-Kings) … three of the most tasteful and talented musicians in the contemporary soul scene.  The result is a timeless, psychedelic, funky masterpiece.

The Cactus Channel – Haptics (Hope Street Recordings)
Alright … how about a group of high school students from Melbourne, Australia playing a fierce hybrid of afrobeat and raw, heavy funk?  I’ve learned not to be surprised at the places soul and funk music can come out of.  Indeed, Mr. James Brown inspired musicians from Ethiopia to Nigeria to Korea to Turkey and so on.  So 16 year old Australians?  Sure.  But when they’re actually good?  This one deserves a live clip:

That’ll have to do it for the moment.  I’ll probably add a list of some of my favorite 45s of 2012 in a day or two.  Happy New Year!

Honorable Mentions:
Radiation City – Cool Nightmare
Dum Dum Girls – End of Daze EP
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
Suicide Dolls – Prayers In Parking Lots (DAMN.)
Daniel Rossen – Silent Hour / Golden Mile EP
Frankie Rose – Interstellar

Top Most Played Tracks:
Milo Greene – 1957
Summer Camp – Losing My Mind (St. Etienne Remix)
TEEN – Better
Major Lazer – Get Free (feat. Amber of Dirty Projectors)
Alabama Shakes – You Ain’t Alone

WHY DIDN’T I PAY ATTENTION BEFORE:
Future Islands (this Best of List would consist of only In Evening Air if it came out in 2012)
LCD Soundsystem / James Murphy Can Do No Wrong
Talking Heads / Everything About David Byrne

Favorite Live Shows of 2012:
Brown Bird – 2.25.12 – The Oasis Pub, New London, CT
King Khan & the Shrines – 7.23.12 – Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
Grizzly Bear – 9.22.12 – Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA
Dum Dum Girls – 2.09.12 – The Space, Hamden, CT
Langhorne Slim – 10.23.12 – The Telegraph, New London, CT / The Space, Hamden, CT
The Head and The Heart – 7.30.12 – Toad’s Place, New Haven, CT

Best of Moon Cheese Baby on WCNI Radio:
Sleep Deprived Audible Hangover/Best Abuse of Host/Best Hair – THE FIELD RECORDINGS- 6.24.12
In Studio Live Performance- The Sea The Sea – 10.14.12
Raunchiest Comedians- M.T. Bearington – 10.28.12
Public Service Announcers aka PSA Theater Group – Goodnight Blue Moon- 9.16.12
Future Job of Radio DJ: Mercy Choir – 11.11.12
Sexiest: Daphne Lee Martin & Bill Readey – 7.08.12
Most Passionate Performance: Sidewalk Dave – 6.10.12
Sexiest PSA Singers: Fake Babies – 9.30.12 (busted out BBD for the Poison PSA. Perfection.)

2. David Byrne & St. Vincent ‘Love this Giant’ (4AD)
Always loved the horn arrangements on David Byrne’s ‘Music for the Knee Plays’.  St. Vincent takes those charts and bangs them into crack pop jams with all the mundane/universal lyrical greatness we always expect from Sir Byrne.

3. Lee Ranaldo ‘Between the Times and the Tides’ (Matador)
Finally a full collection of song forms from the influential and groundbreaking Sonic Youth guitarist (and poet and visual artist). Occasionally owes more to mid-era R.E.M., Grateful Dead and folk than his other band’s output.  Looking forward to more new material in 2013.

4. Spiritualized ‘Sweet Heart, Sweet Light’ (Fat Possum)
Strongest collection from Spaceman in a few outings.  It’s just good to still have him around after some major run-ins with morality over the last many years (all of which makes for great lyrical fodder). No one addresses the holy trinity of love drug and religion like J.

5. Dr. John ‘Locked Down’ (Nonesuch)
Old skool is cool especially when its new school too.  Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys produces swamp legend Dr. John and the results are a piece for the ages that ranks with anything the Doc has done.

6. Cat Power ‘Sun’ (Matador)
Chan Marshall swerves away from the “musico” trajectory of her last few releases and goes largely solo in this exploration of the state of music, herself, the community and the country. It’s a living breathing piece full of mood, beats and incredible vocal layering.

7. Friends ‘Manifest’ (Fat Possum)
Sam Urbani and crew explore the nooks, crannies and crevices of lower east side meets manchester uk white funk and soul from the 70s and 80s. Hints of early Factory records, Blondie and krautrock.

8. Band of Horses ‘Mirage Rock’ (Columbia)
Grand 70s countrified pop rock.  A great American band growing wise before our eyes.

9. Dinosaur Jr ‘I Bet On Sky’ (Jagjaguwar)
And then there were three. Again. And there was noise and melody and volume and we rejoiced and basked in the glory of it all. Nice.

10. Suicide Dolls ‘Prayers in Parking Lots’ (self-released)
Proudly wearing their influences on their sleeves, the Dolls plow through an impressive debut that deftly executes and delivers on all fronts: power, sonics and surge.

11. Bob Mould ‘Silver Age’ (Merge)
Sounding inspired and reanimated, Bob Mould delivered an out of nowhere return to form that celebrates his storied past (Husker Du, Sugar) while addressing the complexities of now.

12. Elison Jackson ‘I Do Believe She Flew Out the Drain Pipe’ (Telegraph Recording Company)
Sam Perduta writes modern ghost songs and this Fuzzy Rainbow produced EP easily crosses genres and sensibilities while remaining hauntingly whole.

Honorable Mentions:
Titus Andronicus ‘Local Business’ (Matador) – Simply put: smart punk for the masses.
The Shins ‘Port of Morrow’ – Miss the band, still love the songs.
Sidewalk Dave ‘Hard On Romance’  (Telegraph) – A moody missive on lust love and loss.
Jack White ‘Blunderbuss’ (Third Man Records) – It’s great. Of course it is. It’s just….
Hospitality ‘Hospitality’ (Merge) – Literate rock at its best. flash back to some of the great female independents like Jenny Toomey, Juliana Hatfield and Kristin Hersh.
Ferocious Fucking Teeth (Safety Meeting) – Metal rock attack with screamo poetry and two drummers.
Aimee Mann ‘Charmer’ (SuperEgo) – There’s a simple easy grace that is impossible to deny.

Best Reissues:
Smashing Pumpkins ‘Gish’, ‘Siamese Dream’, and the must-own ‘Melancholie & the Infinite Sadness’ box
The Sea and Cake ‘The Biz’
Luna ‘Romantica’

Best of 2012

Favorite lyrics:
“I’m free but I’m keeping my clothes on” in The Forest Awakes from Love this Giant by St. Vincent and David Byrne. Of course I would love this song, it pulls lyrical content form Walt Whitman. Boy, am I predictable…

“I’m not complaining, I got a better set of knives now” in Lost from Theatre Is Evil by Amanda Palmer. She has an uncanny ability with conversational lyrics, and loves to poke at the difficulties that she’s had trying to claw her way into a raging career with really niche music. I love everything about it, and there are few days that go by that her example doesn’t talk me off one self-pitying limb or other.

Happiest surprises:
Morning Benders becoming Pop Etc and killing it with a completely catchy record. I nearly painted my whole house listening to this record over the summer. Don’t hate me.

Cat Power coming out with something way more fun than I would have guessed. I love her, but I didn’t know what the one would be like and she just blew my mind.

Wish it was better:
Fiona Apple, Feist. Ladies, what happened?

Can’t stop listening:
Lana Del Rey, Born to Die. Ridiculously Sexy.

Band of Horses, Mirage Rock. Perfect combination of retro ‘America’ style folk rock and indie dream.

Cory Branan, Mutt. (the man can do no wrong. ever. I didn’t include him in the fave lyric category, because he would have just dominated it, wouldn’t have been a fair fight)

The XX, Coexist. Angels makes my throat close up the way it does when I’m writing. Like my whole body is vibrating with something much bigger than me and I can only stare off into it. The video is also gorgeous, but I recommend the whole album.

Favorite discovery of old stuff:
Lovage. How did I not know/love this band before?! Holy shit.

The Good the Bad and the Queen. Never spent enough time with it the first go round. Making up for lost time.

Best drumming:
Max Weissenfeldt on Dr. John’s Locked Down.

Best arranging:
The horn band on David Byrne & St. Vincent’s Love This Giant. This vid gives you a sense of it.

Best Live Show:
DOM at I Am Festival. In the pouring rain. It’s so sexy.

Crazy Catchy Local Release That I Can’t Get Enough Of:

Honorable Mention:

Mynabirds and King Tuff. Good stuff.

by Zac Critchley

Here we are, on the eve of the apocalypse. It’s been a decent 2012 for me and, I think, a
pretty good year to finish the world on. At least, there were some pretty rad albums released this
year and, really, what more could you ask for? I think it’s only appropriate that I write up a list of
my favorites of 2012. Now, keep in mind I’m no music critic. I’m not necessarily listing the best
albums of 2012 from a critical viewpoint, just my personal favorites. These 10 guys are the guys
that happened to end up on my turntable or in my headphones or blaring at an annoying volume
out of my car way more often than anything else this year.

Also, I can never rank these things, so they’re in the order which I thought of them.

The Two Man Gentlemen Band – Two at a Time

This album sounds like it was recorded in 1956 at the absolute latest, and it was intended
to sound that way. By blending a great vintage style and aesthetic with some reasonably tongue-
in-cheek lyrics and really quite impressive musicianship, the Two Gentlemen have put together
one hell of a top-shelf album.

Top Tracks: Pork Chops, Tikka Masala, Cheese & Crackers, Prescription Drugs

Caravan Palace – Panic

The electro-swing group Caravan Palace has yet to tour the States, which is awful. This
album, however, is anything but. Building off of their previous self-titled album, Panic never
quite beats the pure sonic candy that is “Suzy” but, overall, is a much more consistently
awesome album than its predecessor.

Top Tracks: Rock it For Me, Clash, Dramophone, The Dirty Side of the Street, Panic

Holy Ghost Tent Revival – Sweat Like the Old Days

I’ll admit it, I was pretty disappointed the first time I heard this album. After a mild line-
up change since So Long I Screamed, HGTR has changed the singer, gained a guitarist and
changed their style significantly. However, after a few listens, I’ve really begun to love the
dense, multi-layered music. There’s a lot going on, a lot to keep you interested. Play it loud.

Top Tracks: John Addams Family, Po Jenny, Telephone Wire, Walk You Home Again

Jack White – Blunderbuss

I have a feeling this is going to be on most lists. And there’s not really much I can say
that most people haven’t. Sooooo… yay! Blunderbuss! It was good!

Top Tracks: Freedom at 21, Love Interruption, Sixteen Saltines

David Byrne and St. Vincent – Love This Giant

This album is sort of responsible for destroying my last relationship. My sister invited me
to see David Byrne and St. Vincent in concert in Boston this September, and the date happened
to be the night before my girlfriend’s birthday, which I thought (in an apparent endless stupidity)
would be fine. It was not.

But hey, it was a great concert! And a really great album, too. I really loved this one.
Totally worth it.

Top Tracks: Who, Lazarus, I Should Watch TV, I Am an Ape

The Taxpayers – “God, Forgive These Bastards”: Stories From the Forgotten Life of Henry
Turner

This is the new album from jazzy-and-folky goofpunx, the Taxpayers. Musically, this is a
fantastic folk-punk record, with a blistering energy crackling off of every song. Lyrically, it’s a
journey through the life of Henry Turner, a former up-and-coming baseball player who injured
his hand and ended up as an alcoholic bum in Portland. It really does paint a great picture and
tell a great story.

Top Tracks: As the Sun Beat Down, Atlanta’s Own, Raised in the Shadows, I Love You Like
an Alcoholic

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – Live From the Legendary Sun Studio

Damn, Grace Potter can sing. I haven’t listened to any of her other music, but this album
of bluesy tunes does a great job of showcasing her voice and the talent of her backing band. I
picked it up on Record Store Day earlier this year and it didn’t leave my turntable for at least a
couple of weeks. It’s got my highest recommendation.

Top Tracks: Outta My Tree, Sugar, One Short Night

Langhorne Slim & the Law – The Way We Move

I saw Langhorne Slim in concert last January, accidentally stole one of his albums, and
since then I’ve been a huge fan. I saw him again this fall, paid him back for the album, and
became an even bigger fan. The Way We Move manages to capture the man’s energy and
sincerity from the title track through to the end. I also recommend seeing this guy live, as his
shows are always consistently high-quality and high-energy, and his psychotically devoted
fanbase is always fun to hang out with.

Top Tracks: The Way We Move, Fire, Song for Sid, Salvation, Coffee Cups

George Barnett – 17 Days

17 Days gained internet fame when it became the first album to be released primarily on
famed torrent site The Pirate Bay. For a week or so, the homepage had a banner announcing this,
with Barnett’s floating head letting you know that if you felt like paying money for it, you totally
could on his bandcamp, but otherwise you can just go ahead and torrent it, since he uploaded the
torrent himself. The album itself ended up being a great, high-energy pop-rock affair with funk
and psychedelic influences. It’s highly enjoyable!

Top Tracks: Apocolade, Superhero in a Ball, Lone Rose, Cassi, the Other Girl

River City Extension – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger

I love River City Extension. Love, love, love them. This is another great album from
them, their followup to 2010’s The Unmistakable Man. I’m not yet sure if I prefer one over the
other, as they are both hella fantastic. River City’s indie-folk-rock-Americana-other stuff also
blend really shines through on this record, and you need to buy this one. And their other ones.
And then go see them live. Like, three times.

Top Tracks: Glastonbury, Slander, Ballad of Oregon

Honorable Mention: Man… or Astro-Man? – Analog Series Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

In 2012, Man… or Astro-Man? released their first new material in years in the form of
these two 45s. They are amazing and fabulous and wonderful, and I love them. It’s a true return
to form, and it holds promise that the future will be a nice place to live in, if these guys are back
from their hiatus.

The staff here are prepping their Best Of 2012 lists- and I can’t help but share one of my favorite videos- from one of my favorite new finds of 2012.

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to stand about 5 ft away from the fellas in Grizzly Bear at The Orpheum Theatre in Boston. That magical night now lies somewhere in my Top 10 favorite shows of all time. Enjoy their newest video for “Yet Again” off of the recently released album Shields.