Pictured: We usually only wear two piece suits when doing the show. Shorts count as one “piece.”
Hey guys, we’re almost one year into doing our radio show. It has been a fun ride thus far, filled with good music (that andy picks) and ok music (that I usually pick). We’ve gotten yelled at by an old man, done interviews with some local music scene movers and shakers, and generally made all sorts of musical chaos. There may have been some Randy Newman in there too.

Anyway, this is just to let you know that the show still goes on. If you live in the Eau Claire area, you can catch it at 96.3 WHYS from the 9-10pm slot. If you don’t live around us, you can stream it online for free at www.whysradio.org (same time). We’ve been promising an archive of old shows (of which we have a bunch) for a long, long time now. We can’t talk in certainties, but it looks like we’ll have something cool lined up with Volume One (the magazine Andy and I write for) very soon. Until then, we may put some up, we may not. It’s all sort of up in the air. No radio pun intended.

Anyway, we appreciate whenever you listen/read/whatever. Thanks, and let’s make it another year.

Pictured: Wye Oak. The kind of kids who acted like dinosaurs for the whole third grade.

“You know your secret’s safe with me,” promises Wye Oak’s Jenn and Andy. “If you feel young.” Their new album, If Children, feels like a Sunday morning of frolicking between bed sheets and letting just little bits of light in through the curtains. The kind of shit your too-busy mom tells you is just “wasting time,“ but is probably the best part of your Sunday morning. Simple guitar strums and duo whispery vocals control the songs’ movements with both ease and comfort, a playfulness that offers, above all else, security, in that it wouldn’t know how to harm you if it wanted to.

Wye Oak - I Don’t Feel Young

I Don’t Feel Young is just barely-there for half of the song, but it works itself up pretty well by the end. A real sweet pleaser, this one.

Pictured above: Mystery Jets aren’t exactly NOT sketchy.

Mystery Jets is a band from ole Brittania that draws on The 80’s, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and cool, big hair. Their new album, 21 is equal parts haunting reverb and rockin’ party music. It’s really very hard to explain.

They’re a “prog” rock band, whatever that means nowadays. I’m guessing it’s because they experiment with pedals, vocal effects, etc. If there’s one thing that this band isn’t, it’s high fallutin. All of Mystery Jets’ songs come from a very genuine place, at times it’s so genuine it feels almost retro. Like people from the 21st century couldn’t really feel these feelings anymore.

Enjoy this track, “Behind The Bunhouse”. It’s something out of an Edward Gorey poem. From the bizarre background sounds to the fact that he’s singing about choking someone with love, it’s really quite the track. Enjoy it when the band comes in.

OR, Enjoy this management approved, also great track instead.

Mystery Jets - Flakes

Pictured: Mark Ronson knows your songs better than they know themselves, not unlike music jesus.

Mark Ronson is the producer behind British wunderkinds/absolute fuck-ups, Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse. When he isn’t ruining young girls lives with booze and drugs (to be fair, I think Ronson only hits the booze.) He’s saucing up dance tracks with horns, funky bass, and clavinova.

Ronson’s new album, Version is just that; versions of songs from the likes of Radiohead to The Kaiser Chiefs. They get the full Ronson treatment, from funky trumpet solos, to completely bombastic (bordering on obnoxious) drumbeats. One wonders how some scrawny-ass British dude became the funkiest person on the planet. Maybe Noel Fielding knows.

This track features the good looking dude from Phantom Planet singing, “Just” by Radiohead. I must say, as good as he is, I’ve never heard Thom Yorke croon like this.

Mark Ronson - Just

Pictured:  The Coral not being endangered at all.  Get over yourself Australia.

These guys are good.  I emphasize good.  There isn’t anything here that hasn’t been done before, but sometimes there are just songs that get stuck in your head.  These guys are from across the pond, and specialize in catchy, riffy, sixties rock.  This is one of those songs that won’t leave you.  Please enjoy.  Look for our picks in the next week or two.  Sorry for the lateness. 

The Coral - Dreaming of You

Pictured:  Adam Morrison.  Rest assured, he won’t be going number 1.   

We’re not immune to “Best of” lists over here at Peervalidated.com.  Sure, it’s stupid and insipid to quantify and measure art (and incidently measuring how it is better than other art), but at the very least it’s a good way to showcase some of what we thought was awesome during the year. 

In an effort to be more scientific, Will Anderson, Andy Plank, Kyle Flater, and I have come up with an advanced draft system to determine the best songs of 2007.  Through a lot of dice rolling and mountain dew drinking we will systematically pick from 10 to 1 the best songs of last year.  Andy will be gone to Texas until next week, but look for that soon afterwards.  No later than Thursday, promise. 

We’re taking bets right now, so why not wire some money to a paypal account. (kidding, unless you want to give us free money)

So far the draft board is looking like this:

Ian - picks 1,8,9,

Andy - picks 2,7,10

Will - picks 3,6,

Kyle, picks 4,5

What could happen?  Who will win the big game this year?  Who is covering point spreads?  Stay tuned and find out!

Here’s a big dumb song by The Hives until then. 

Download audio file (thehivestick.mp3)

Pictured:  Rock Four.  Israelis in denim. 

How could we forget about an Israeli rock band currently on tour with Nick Harcourt.  Rock Four take the best cues from the Strokes and Harcourt (and none of the worst), They have managed to produce an album of medium-great critical acclaim amongst America’s fickle-ass critics. It’s a feet that most American bands can’t do, especially ones who have a guy who looks like a nerdy Nick Cage.  

 Memories of the Never Happened plays with sweet melodies, great back-up vocals, and a sense of never getting too serious.  If Israel has more groups like this, please send them over.  Who knows?  Maybe Gaza is the next Omaha. 

Download audio file (rockfourgoesaround.mp3)

Pictured:  Spoon getting the dewey decimal system some play on pitchfork. 

Sometimes things are so blaringly obvious that you forget to write about them.  Spoon is one such “thing”.  If you don’t know who they are, please enjoy them (you are about to enter a world of hip-as-shitness). 

Spoon’s new album was just as amazing as their last few.  I’m convinced that Britt Daniel can sing whatever he wants and it’ll come out amazing.  I was really into the track, “The Underdog” but for journalistic purposes I thought I’d put up the single.  Here’s “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” 

Download audio file (spooncherrybomb.mp3)

Pictured:  Blitzen Trapper are here to babysit. Yup, even the dude on the right. 

Sure it’s easy to get jaded while doing an mp3 blog.  You’re a hipster, writing about hipsters for hipsters.  It’s easy to lose sight of why you’re even listening to music in the first place. 

Kid music has recently took a turn for the disturbing.  I don’t want my future kids bumping and grinding to pre-teen girls talking about how all the boys want their milkshakes.  Old fashioned, I know.

Indie-kid-comps can go two ways; self-aware-cynicism, or if it does its job, self-aware-amazement.  For the Kids 3 is one of the latter.  With inspired tracks from Anthallo, Of Montreal, and Great Lakes Swimmers, this is more than just a recycled, ass-sounding Beck track. 

Blitzen Trapper definitely has the best song on the whole comp.  Share it with your 10-year-old niece or nephew.  There’s no kinda party like a hyper-kid dance party.  Please enjoy the poppy, dance goodness.

Download audio file (blitzentrappernewshoes.mp3)

Pictured:  Rogue Wave, making Adam Duritz look photogenic. 

 I got Rogue Wave’s last album at the end of ‘06.  It was a good, workmanlike effort.  I remember being upset that their single, “Eyes” wasn’t on it.  At its best it was Death Cab Lite.  At its worst it was… Death Cab Lite.

At Heaven’s Gate is a giant step forward.  Rogue Wave is one of the few bands who seem ready made for high audio quality.  The slick production seems to fit Rogue Wave, and never distracts (ala the new Bloc Party).  Anyway, enjoy the loopy guitars.  This song sounds like it was written by James Mercer after forming an uber band with the remaining members of Harvey Danger.  I think there may be a Star Wars reference in there as well.

 Download audio file (roguewavelikeineeded.mp3)

Pictured above:  Schwartzman in ‘07.  How could we miss him in those shorts? 

It’s not too often that Carson Daily beats us to a cultural punch.  This is one of those few times.  Jason Schwartzman’s new pop side project has at least two of us over at peervalidated bobbing our heads and wanting to make road trips to the OC.  Schwartzman (of Rushmore, and Phantom Planet fame) finally released a solo record after teasing us with lil’ joke songs in movies over the course of the last decade. 

It’s everything you’d hope and want it to be.  Schwartzman’s voice lilts and cracks with Beach Boyish charm over rollicking west coast rockers.  Occasionally getting bogged down in Bright Eyes inspired drudgery, but never getting stuck long enough to ruin the party, Coconut Records is the record that would’ve kept the OC in new music for it’s next two seasons. 

So if you’re all about Mojitos, Rivers Cuomo, and cool-as-hell jangly guitars, this could be your record of the year.  Please enjoy the uber-hit, “West Coast”  It’s got California pop and an ending that is epic in scope.  Listen and see. 

Download audio file (coconutrecordswestcoast.mp3)

P.S.  The rest of the CD rocks as evenly.  Please enjoy it in your car.

Pictured Above:  Hip as shit.

Wes Anderson is the master of all soundtracks.  You can keep your Paul Andersons and your Cameron Crowes, but I’ll bet my buttons that ole’ Wes will always come out on top.  His knack for finding the perfect, seemingly never-heard-before song from that band-you-thought-you-knew is uncanny. 

I’m a huge Kinks guy, and I have to admit, I’d never heard “Strangers” before  it was blaring in the Darjeeling preview (while Adrian Brodey and company struggle against a raging river).  It is the only time I’ve ever felt like crying during A PREVIEW.  Maybe I’m a pussy, maybe it’s just Wes.  Who knows?  

 I’ll add that Darjeeling does the Anderson canon proud.  This isn’t strictly a music opinion, but I’d get out there and watch it.  Regardless of that, here’s the Kinks.   

Download audio file (thekinksstrangers.mp3)

From left to right: Kyle, Andy, Trevor

We have a present for you. Andy and I, along with our roommate Trevor, each recorded a Christmas song at the luxurious ‘my bedroom’ studio. With the purest hearts and balmiest warm wishes we mailed a few cards to friends. Unfortunately, we didn’t bribe the postperson enough not to break almost every disc in transit. Those of you lucky enough to get their card hand delivered are the keepers of a rare treasure.
In an attempt to not ruin Christmas, we now offer the songs here for your consideration. Merry Christmas indeed.

Trevor Carl Ives - Blue Christmas

Andrew Plank - I Saw Three Ships

Kyle Flater - Joy To The World

Pictured: I Might Be Wrong making a big-ass German mess of things.

I Might Be Wrong sort of sounds like Pinback, if the members of Pinback consisted of people that your little sister hung out with. Oh, and that those said friends were also German. Oi vey.

Like the last Metric album, there are some really great moments on this album, and then there are a few (very few to be sure) moments where you have to grit your teeth and bare some sugary pop lyrics/melodies. It’s OK. Mainly because unlike, say, Ashley Simpson or Simple Plan, you feel like these guys are coming from a fairly genuine place. I picked the two best tracks to give you a feel for where I’m/they’re coming from.

“She Knits Lakes” sounds like an outtake from the last Halloween Alaska Album. The Drums and Bass have a subdued energy that effortlessly takes control and drives the song. Unfortunately, the vocals sometimes seem hastily put together and half-thought out. Usually it isn’t enough to take you out of the song, but it was bad enough for me to mention. Look out for the amazingness at 2:23.

I Might Be Wrong - She Knits Lakes

“We Don’t Wear Colours” starts out with an extremely Pinbackian drum/guitar riff and goes through a series of catchy-as-hell-verse-chorus-nonsense. repeat repeat repeat.

I Might Be Wrong - Colours

In the end - although I’m not always into the vocals - I Might Be Wrong puts together a pretty cohesive album. Sure it might not hold up on repeated listens, but who’s to say it won’t? If anything, get this album for your little sister, cousin, or overcompensating guidance counselor. Its hip enough to care, not enough to be dangerous.

So, this is a pretty hot track. Anybody who’s ever heard any of Adam Drucker’s stuff knows you’re gonna be on a bit of a wild ride, at least lyrically. I just read an interview with him regarding the new Subtle album. It started out pretty normal, but about halfway through I was completely lost in his discussion about Hour Hero Yes, and the mythical Two-Beasts or whatever the hell he was talking about.

I didn’t get anything out of reading that interview, but when Doseone gets on the mic, something special happens every time. Drucker’s flow is one of the more difficult to get used to, but this track is complemented beautifully by a guest spot from Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade. The vocals are simply haunting, and the acoustic guitar harmonic breakdown halfway through is a gorgeous moment in songwriting.

Subtle (ft. Dan Boeckner) - Middleclass Haunt

Purchase Yell & Ice here.

Pictured: I think Life won.

A little band called The Moldy Peaches released a self-titled CD on September 11, 2001. Adam Green and Kimya Dawson recorded the album’s 19 songs in a basement somewhere in Washington, barely managing to play their guitars and bang on drums while trading vocal parts. Of the 19 songs were such hits as ‘Jorge Regula,’ which borrowed one of its main melodies from Low Rider by War, ‘These Burgers,’ whose chorus repeated the line ‘these burgers are crazy,’ over a flute line, ‘Steak For Chicken,’ a quick Western sounding tune where Adam and Kimya sang different offensive lyrics along to the same melody, and a song called ‘Who’s Got The Crack,’ which requires no farther explanation. Also, as an eerie little side note, the album was released on the same day that the World Trade Centers fell and had a song called NYC’s Like A Graveyard. Most importantly though, The Moldy Peaches included a song called ‘Anyone Else But You,’ where the two members took turns singing to each other about how they ‘don’t see what anyone can see in anyone else.’ It was the first Moldy Peaches song I ever heard, and the first low-fi, indie-esque song I ever heard. To this day, I think it might still be my favorite song.

It killed me when I first heard that Adam and Kimya couldn’t keep The Moldy Peaches together, but soon after, Kimya began writing and recording her solo material. While still very pleasingly low-fi, and still using the same delicate vocals, she cleaned her music up quite a bit, writing completely fragile songs mostly about relationships and loneliness. I’d file her right next to Shelby Sifers in the low-fi, cutesy-girl singer-songwriting genre, except that I think Shelby Sifers would probably pee herself if Kimya got too close.

Firstly,

The Moldy Peaches - Anyone Else But You

And secondly, from the album Hidden Vagenda.

Kimya Dawson - Singing Machine

 

Pictured:  On location at WHYS.  Truly.   

Hey guys, thanks to everyone who listened to us as we took our first stab at the world of radio.  It was a learning experience to be sure.  For those of you who missed it (we won’t be archiving this one for obvious reasons) all of the following happened:

- referring to the site as an “internet website”.

- a diabolical CD changer.

- Andy holding it down.

- good music.

Anyway, next week is sure to be a bit more polished, a bit less filling, and a whole lot more informational.  Maybe we can have a “bit” like a police blotter or something.  I’m going to quit while I’m marginally ahead. 

Pictured:  The Technology we are dealing with.  Now do you understand the gravity of the situation?

Hey guys, sorry it has been so long since an update… We aren’t trying to jerk your collective chain.  We’ve just been busy doing some stuff like, oh I don’t know… getting together a radio show that may bust the bloody hinges off of the Chippewa Valley.  Yup, that’s right The Peervalidated Radio Hour will start up this Thursday at 9:00 PM on 96.3 WHYS Radio.  Please listen as Andy and I spin tracks and wax poetic about all things indie and folk and rock and good and magic and sometimes iffy but always coming out and being definitely alright in the end.  You can stream it off of WHYS radio’s website, which is found here:  http://www.whysradio.org/  Just click on the “Listen Now” feature.  Also, we’re going to be archiving old shows on the radio in addition to the snarky reviews you’ve come to know and love.  Anyway, look for new reviews in the next week including The Weakerthans, The Gentle Guest, and a rather good one about the guy who’s in broken social scene.  I could look it up (or capitalize the name of the band for that matter) but I’m lazy.  What’s so great about your life?  Anyway, I’ll leave you with one more song from the A-Sides that I’ve been really liking.  It is called, “Sorry Cloud”.  For real, these guys are the next best thing to inviting things and people into your heart for all of eternity.

Download audio file (theasidessorrycloud.mp3)

 Oh, and if you really can’t wait for more writing from me or andy, check the new Volume One or try picking up a copy of the Durand Courier-Wedge where I am now the sports editor.  It is full of Pepin football scores that I’m sure you will enjoy.

Pictured:  It doesn’t really seem fair, does it?

There are about a million reasons why I shouldn’t post this.  It treads dangerously close to Weird Al territory.  It’s a rap song.  It’s about a big, stupid Laker.  It seems like something Will would’ve posted. 

That being said, this is a brilliant diss.  Skillz is smart, and this would work even if it wasn’t a parody.  Let this be a lesson to rapping basketball players, don’t get in a war of words with Skillz.  You may start it, but he’ll always end it.  Word.  I mean “word” in a semi-ironic way, and not in the fully ironic way that I usually type it.  Stay tuned for more real reviews this week and possible radio show updates.

Download audio file (skillzshaq.mp3)
 

2) Interviews with people you care about (musically, not, you know, emotionally or whatever)

3) In studio performances from other people you care about.

4) Plenty of Ian and Andy general frivolity, with a less frivolous Kyle thrown in once in a while.
WHYS has been great about communicating with us thus far, and we’ll be sure to keep you guys updated as more news becomes available. If you’re at all interested, please check out their other programs. It’s 96.3 on the radio dial, or you can stream it at www.whysradio.org

Look out, because I heard the air contains a shark.

Oh, expect a Do Make Say Think review from me as soon as my life isn’t in shambles. Radio can take a lot out of a guy. Literally and figuratively. Well, mostly just figuratively.

Pictured:  Exactly what we aren’t going for.

Hey guys, we got a radio show.  Sort of.  Anyway, we’ve been approved for a radio show.  Starting this fall, you’ll be able to hear us, in real, warm, and human voice through the magic of radio.  If you like things that are good, you’ll probably want to listen. 

The time is still up in the air at this point, but we’ll keep you all updated.  Here’s what we know so far…  The show will feature good music.  The show will feature interviews and in studio performances from local/regional musicians (if it helps, think the sort of albums we review) and people who just generally keep our music scene going.  The show will feature Andy and me letting you down when you hear how goofy our voices actually sound.  I’ve been practicing my baseball announcer voice, so if I ever have to say, “The wind up, the pitch, iiiiiit’s outta here!”  I’ll be aces. 

It’s going to be on 96.3 WHYS in the Eau Claire area.  If you’re outside of the massive tower, you can stream us at www.whysradio.org  Check out the cool other programming they have.  They build communities, strengthen marriages, and add vitality and vigor to old folk.

So, in a few days I’m moving out of my parents’ house, finally, finally. I don’t really have anything else to say about it. Without further ado, here is a song I’ve been listening to a lot lately.

Download audio file (xyzaffairallmyfriends.mp3)

No fighting.

Wear shoes.

Love, Will.

Buy A Few More Published Studies by The XYZ Affair here.

Pictured:  Guys being almost as sorry as us.  and as hairy. 

Hey Guys!  Sorry for the long hiatus.  There has been change in all of our lives.  Will is moving to Canada, Andy and I have very rich and fulfilling lives, and Kyle is, well… making more cut-offs and promising reviews that don’t happen.  Anyway, there should be plenty of new stuff in the upcoming weeks.  Look for some local stuff to be mixed in with the big ones. 

upcoming reviews from this guy:

Breakestra, The Mercies, The Stills, Red Fox Grey Fox. 

Anyway, thought we should let you know.  You know, so we could keep the lines of communication open.  C’mon baby, you know we’d never leave you. 

Highlights include an attempt to describe our general alcoholism, “I know for fact that Eau Claire has a bar that on Thursday Nights (all night-long) you can roll a pair of dice and pay whatever comes up for a PITCHER of MIXED DRINK,” and short reviews of Bon Iver, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Amateur Love and Meridene, along with mp3s for each band.

Leave me the fuck alone. Let me like that fucking record. How is it hurting you?

Tiny Mix Tapes posted a really great interview with Martin Freeman from the UK Office. It’s about record-collecting, the evils of the mp3 format, The Band…a bunch of stuff. Read it here.