Crystal Stilts

Crystal Stilts
Love Is A Wave - 7"
(March 31, 2009 - Slumberland Records)

I just got this 7" in the mail today from Slumberland Records. The Crystal Stilts put out one of my favorite albums of last year and this follow-up single does not disappoint. A perfect two-minute pop nugget.

Tracklisting:
1) Love Is A Wave
2) Sugerbaby

Download Love Is A Wave


Crystal Stilts
Alight Of Night
(October 28, 2008 - Slumberland Records)

Moody, dark, brooding, garage rock at it's finest. Their heavily reverbed sound may be nothing new, but the good and simple pop writing is what makes this album so repeatable. That and the organs. The organs! Oh, and these dudes are from Brooklyn. This album is actually new recordings from older songs from their self-titled EP, as well as new material.

Tracklisting:
1) Dazzled
2) Crystal Stilts
3) Graveyard Orbit
4) Prismatic Room
5) Sinking
6) Departure
7) Shattered Shine
8) Verdant Gaze
9) Bright Night
10) Spiral Transit
11) City In The Sea

Download Alight Of Night

Twinsistermoon

I don't know much about this other than that it is the solo work of Mehdi Ameziane, one half of French ambient/folk/drone duo Natural Snow Buildings. Apparently, their stuff is SUPER-DUPER limited and hard to find. One album saw them release 20 copies, while another 30. So unless you are related by blood, chances are you've never heard it. Ironically, I found some dude from Garden Grove selling a copy on eBay.

MP3: Twinsistermoon - Bride of the Spirits

Tony Conrad

The SF Art Institute is having a three-day special engagement with Tony Conrad. I don't feel like writing too much about Tony Conrad but he was an early member of the Dream Syndicate, or Theater of Eternal Music, which included the likes of John Cale and LaMonte Young.
Tony Conrad is a pioneer of the school of minimalism. His weapon of choice is the violin. He is also an avante-garde filmmaker, which I assume he will incorporate into his live performance.
You can read more about the show and buy tickets here.
Dates are April 3-5.

More conventional posting when I have the time. Enjoy the weekend!!!

Tonight @ Cafe Du Nord

Jeremy Jay does his thang at Cafe du Nord.
Should be good.
I don't have time to upload his album so this teaser will have to do.

MP3: Jeremy Jay - Love Everlasting

True Story of Abner Jay

Abner Jay
True Story of Abner Jay
(March 2009 - Mississippi Records)

There isn't much I could find on the obscure, one-man band known as Abner Jay. He described himself as, "the last great Southern black minstrel show."
This was a description from the Mississippi Records Wikipedia page:

Compilation culled from Abners' self released LPs & 7"s featuring hits such as 'I'm So Depressed,' 'Cocaine', 'Vietnam,' & 'The Reason Young People Do Drugs.' Abner Jay was a one-man band singer/songwriter deserving of a wider listening audience than he received in his day. This is the first vinyl release of his material since the 1970s. Great soulful folk & R&B music. Most (but not all) copies of the LP include a press photo of Abner, transcriptions of his spoken word pieces, a reproduction of an informative pamphlet about Abner & a press statement penned by Abner himself.

The music sounds very soulful and genuine. "Cocaine" is one of my favorite songs--I never knew someone could love cocaine so much. For breakfast!!!! Why didn't I think of that!?!

Download True Story of Abner Jay

Here is a video of him playing his last gig in NY.