A Random Mp3 Trilogy (Castanets, Zach Hill, A Armada)


Castanets

I’ve begun compiling all the albums from this year I have yet to hear, but before I dive into that, I need to address the last few good albums I’ve already heard. The Castanets‘ newest, City Of Refuge, is a weird hodgepodge of electronic bleeps and sounds combined with emotional folk jams. The juxtaposition of seemingly contradictory musical ideas could result in a gimmicky feel in less capable hands, but the original avant-folk record written and recorded by Castanets’ Ray Raposa was tweaked with these digital overdubs by such big names as Sufjan Stevens, Jana Hunter, Scott Tuma, and Dawn Smithson (Sunn O)))). This album shouldn’t be missed and this song is killer:

Castanets : Shadow Valley

Buy City Of Refuge



Zach Hill

It took me a few listens to get into Zach Hill‘s latest album because it doesn’t have much cohesiveness besides his unbelievable stick action. But this sonic kaleidoscope from the Hella drummer, Marnie Stern collaborator is one of epic proportions. The album features guest spots ranging from No Age to Les Claypool, so pretty much anyone who is a fan of music can find something to love here. The track I have for you is basically an eight minute drum solo from Hill, and it is ridiculous:

Zach Hill : Uhuru

Buy Astrological Straits



A Armada

Finally, when A Armada amazed me at Athfest earlier this summer, i picked up a copy of their debut EP, Anam Cara, and totally went bonkers for it. But, since the album wasn’t yet available to purchase anywhere but from the Athens band themselves, I decided to hold off talking about it until later. Well, you can now pick it up online, so you should really go do that. This Cinemechanica offshoot tackles instrumental post-rock and kicks it in the ass:

A Armada : If Only You Knew What The Lost Soldiers Did To Me

Buy Anam Cara

What Up In The ATL?

This is one of the last big weeks for shows this year, and the biggest show is Broken Social Scene Wednesday night at Variety Plahouse. Tickets were still available at the time of this post, but I would suspect this will sell out at any moment. Friday has a ton of great concerts, but I highly recommend catching Castanets at The Drunken Unicorn. And while I rarely mention Athens shows in my listings, the Danielson show at the 40 Watt eclipses anything else going on in this state Saturday night.

Best Shows in Atlanta November 17 – 23:

Tuesday:

Fag Static, The Sunglasses, Drunkdriver, Skin Problems, High Marks @ WonderRoot

Wednesday:

Broken Social Scene, Land Of Talk @ Variety Playhouse

Thursday:

Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Mojave 3), Long Knives @ The Earl

Friday:

Miles Benjamin Anthony Johnson, Castanets, The Meeks Family @ Drunken Unicorn

Noot D’ Noot, All The Saints, Coathangers @ The Earl

Dropsonic, Lay Down Mains, Whores @ Star Bar

Dragonforce @ The Tabernacle

King Khan & BBQ Show, The N.E.C., Barberries @ Lenny’s

Saturday:

Quintron And Miss Pussycat, Carbonas, Hawks @ Eyedrum

Danielson @ 40 Watt (Athens, GA)

Sunday:

Subtle, Zach Hill (Hella, Marnie Stern), Lyonnais @ The Earl


Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) : Cocaine Skin
Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene) : Love Is New
Danielson : Animal In Every Corner
Castanets : Glory B
Zach Hill : Toll Road
Neil Halstead : Oh Mighty Engine

Humpday Randomnimity

I’m going to finish my tour coverage up tonight, but for now you can listen to Kebert Xela‘s Athfest performance at Southern Shelter. He also has a Mastodon show up from 2003.

Grizzly Bear are debuting a new song on Letterman tonight, so set your DVR.

Sunset Rubdown will be at The Earl September 24th. That is the same night as The Mars Volta, so I think I am going to try and catch some of both of those shows. Gogol Bordello will be playing at The Variety Playhouse that night too.

Of Montreal will be at The Tabernacle November 8th.

Magnetic Fields will be at the Symphony Hall at Woodruff Arts Center October 17th.

A Place To Bury Strangers and Sian Alice Group will be at The Drunken Unicorn October 18th.

Ben Kweller will be at The Earl October 24th.

Pinback will be at The 40 Watt in Athens, Ga September 23rd, but no Atlanta date.

Nas is taking on Fox News.

David Gilmour is releasing a live show from 2006 on CD and DVD in September.

Dr. Dre‘s Detox album will supposedly be out by Christmas and feature guest appearances from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Nas.

Deerhoof have leaked a new song as sheet music.

Bon Iver did Daytrotter.

New TV On The Radio album out September 23rd.

Russia is trying to ban Goth and Emo kids.

China has banned Bjork and other “dangerous” artists from playing there.

Built To Spill and Modest Mouse are working on doing a jam session together.

Karen O has a side project.

Willie Nelson will be at Chastain July 27th.

Jay Reatard/Deerhunter split 7″ sounds cool.

Get the new Vera Fang 7″.

And them vids:

New Animal Collective:

“Comfy In Nautica”:

Beck “Orphans”:

Zach Hill “Dark Art”:

Humpday Randomnimity

I just wanted to thank everyone who came out last week for our show at WonderRoot. Royal Bangs, This Piano Plays Itself, and Nomen Novum all put down fabulous performances. We video taped everything and will have that, as well as all the Bonnaroo footage I got, available soon.

Get the new Girl Talk album here.

Silver Jews will be at The Variety Playhouse September 13th.

Dead Confederate‘s CD release show will be at The Earl September 20th.

Fag Static‘s debut LP comes out July 12th.

Tilly And The Wall and The Ruby Suns will be at The Variety Playhouse July 24th. Don’t miss this one!

Wolf Parade will be at The Variety Playhouse July 28th.

Black Kids will be at The Earl September 23rd.

Mogwai will be at The Variety Playhouse September 15th.

Stereolab will be at The Variety Playhouse September 26th.

Dr. Dog will be at The Earl September 6th.

Tegan And Sara will be at The Tabernacle September 30th.

Conor Oberst is touring but the closest he is coming to Atlanta is Tennessee in August.

A Place To Bury Strangers and Sian Alice Group will be at The Drunken Unicorn October 18th.

The Shins are releasing their next album on their own label.

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead are releasing their next album (January 2009) om their own new label.

Smashing Pumpkins are planning a Gish box set re-release and a tour based around it.

Festival Happenings:

Athens Popfest schedule up

All Good schedule up

Lollapalooza schedule up and late night shows announced

Voodoo announced line-up

Austin City Limits schedule up

Zach Hill video (really awesome, watch this one!):

Lil Wayne on Jimmy Kimmel:

HEALTH live at ATJ Fest:

And for laughs Trey Anastasio (Phish) graduating from drug court: