Don't Forget To Dance

The Recital - “The Head Rhythm”

Ok, so it’s been awhile.  Also, I seemed to have neglected to participate Joe’s theme week suggestion.  Well I’m back and just in time to close out the most unproductive and pathetic theme week we’ve done so far!  And since I’m the only other person to participate, I guess nobody will judge me if I cheat a little and do a band from where I grew up instead.

The Recital was a local Detroit band which I’ve had the pleasure of seeing once or twice.  It recently came to my attention via the bassist’s website, however, that after 10 years of being together, they are now defunct.  Tears of sadness ensued but were soon dispelled by tears of joy when I saw they were giving their final EP away for free.

DFTD’s Favorite Albums of 2009: Handsome Furs Face Control

The combination of Alexei Perry’s synthesized beats with Dan Boeckner’s wailing guitar and unique singing style is enough to make Face Control probably the darkest album chosen for the DFTD: Best of 2009.

Inspired by the Moscow club scene, where a patron can pay large sums of money for a table and still be turned away based on their appearance, Face Control delivers a dark, existential, and machine-like perspective of the life in the 21st century.  Peppered with computer beeps, lyrics like “you twist all over me like you were caught in the wind”, and a guitar so fuzzy you’d think it grew fur; tracks like “Evangeline” are a perfect example of the uneasy ambience prevalent throughout the album.

If “Evangeline” doesn’t do it for you, just watch the video for “I’m Confused” all the way through to the end.  If confused-lovelorn-zombie-bile-projection doesn’t make you uneasy then I don’t know what will.

DFTD’s Favorite Albums of 2009: White Water, White Bloom by Sea Wolf

I’m pretty sure that as mythical creatures go, phoenixes must be in the top ten of the most badassed creatures of all time. A phoenix is a “sacred firebird” known for its beautiful plumage and multiple life-cycles.  It lives 500-1000 years and upon the end of a cycle it builds a nest, ignites itself, and emerges young and renewed from its own ashes.  NOW, WHAT CAN BE MORE BADASSED THEN THAT?!

Answer: A FREAKING SEA WOLF!

Think about it, if a phoenix got into a fight with a sea wolf who do you think would win?  A sea wolf, you idiot!  Phoenixes are just stupid birds and wolves are pretty much one of the ALL TIME most badassed animals of ALL TIME.  Just take a look here.  On top of that, if that STUPID phoenix decided it would pull its STUPID fire stunt what do you think would stop it?  Water, you idiot… like from the sea.  Therefore, a sea wolf is the clear victor.  Hands Down.

That being said, Alex Brown Church has his act together.  He makes good albums (be it whatever band he’s in) and knows how to squash other “DFTD: Best of 2009” albums with not only his song writing abilities, but with the shear force badassedness of the creature for which his band is named.

The Mantles - “Don’t Lie”

Man, it’s been awhile.  Luckily, this blog has some enthusiastic purveyors of dance capable of picking up my slack.  In any case, I bring you a nice little lo-fi song by a band I know nothing about.  Please forgive my wackness.

Sea Wolf - “O Maria”

Though I’ve had a few Sea Wolf jams floating around my iTunes library for awhile, I haven’t really given them as sporting a chance as maybe I should have. I mean I was pretty into Irving’s (same frontman) Death in the Garden, Blood on the Flowers, but I guess the interest died there.  This week, however, I downloaded a few tracks from the new Sea Wolf album set to be released in a few days and I gotta say that shit is soweeeet.

Islands - “No You Don’t”

I’ve been a little slow on my posts lately and I apologize.  Luckily, my office is extremely empty this week so I’ve been able to dedicate my days to workweek boogie marathons.  That being said, one song has really been influencin’ on my footloosin’ and that’s “No You Don’t” off of Islands’ new album Vapours (set to be released a week from today.)

Octoberman - “Thirty Reasons”

Yet another Canadian post and why not?  They got some good things going on… I think.  In any case, they got this song going on… and it’s pretty OK. :)

The Danks - “Who Knows”

Are you afraid of The Danks?  Well, don’t be.  They’re a little The Strokes, a little Tokyo Police Club, and a lot Canadian.  In fact, they’re 100% Canadian and who the hell is afraid of Canadians.  Not me.  Of course I’m not afraid of anything… ANYTHING.

The Dodos - “Fables”

Today marks the digital release date for Time to Die, The Dodos’ latest album.  If you’re the type of person that needs more convincing on whether it’s time to buy Time to Die, then you jump right over to www.timetodie.net and listen to the whole streaming album.

*Note: The player doesn’t seem to show up in Safari so, if you’re a Mac user, use Firefox.

James Brown - “Living In America”

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, FELLOW AMERICANS!