The FiveThreeSix

John McCauley “Dead Flowers” (Stones cover) a Rollo...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:37:44 -0600

John McCauley “Dead Flowers” (Stones cover) a Rollo & Grady Session

Dear Rollo & Grady,
Keep posting the McCauley videos. I will be your #1 fan.

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Robin Pecknold “Olivia, in a Separate Bed” Robin...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:23:49 -0600

Robin Pecknold “Olivia, in a Separate Bed”

Robin posted this demo last night via Fleet Foxes Facebook.

Robin is sad. Cheer up, Robin, I love you.

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The Kills “Crazy” (Patsy Cline cover) Live from NYC...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:16:02 -0600

The Kills “Crazy” (Patsy Cline cover) Live from NYC via MTV Hive

The Kills + Patsy Cline + New York City = happy hump day, N.

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Hospitality “Sleepover” Little something for your...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:25:57 -0600

Hospitality “Sleepover”

Little something for your Monday.

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Punch Brothers “Who’s Feeling Young...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:59:47 -0600

Punch Brothers “Who’s Feeling Young Now?”

This is the title track from the new and sensational third Punch Brothers album.
You should buy it.

They’re playing Park West in Chicago March 1st. Tickets here.

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Polica “Wandering Star” Great song from a...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:22:00 -0600

Polica “Wandering Star”

Great song from a relatively new band. Heard about it through the grapevine (hat tip: Heather Peagler). If you’re in the Chicago area on February 29, they’ll be doing a show at Lincoln Hall.

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Fort Lean “Sunsick” My favorite single from these...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:41:41 -0600

Fort Lean “Sunsick”

My favorite single from these gentlemen.

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Jack White “Love Interruption” Today some girls...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:29:26 -0600

Jack White “Love Interruption”

Today some girls want roses or chocolates and the real creeps want stuffed animals, but all I wanted was a video for this song. I win. Jack White is the best valentine ever.

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Artist Name: Nerves Junior  Hometown: Louisville,...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:26:00 -0600

Artist Name: Nerves Junior 

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky 

Touring info: Currently no shows announced except for a support slot in Chicago this week (2/16 @ Subterranean) but keep up via their FB here

Album: As Bright As Your Night Light

Proof: This video for “Swimmer’s Ear” feels like the perfect intro to this band

Website: http://nervesjunior.bandcamp.com/

It has happened, I am completely totally losing it. Exhibit A: I meant to do this months ago and have totally forgotten. Not that big of a deal right? Except all day long I play Nerves Junior. When people ask me for band suggestions, I push Nerves Junior like I am their mother. When I think about 2011, I thank Nerves Junior for releasing As Bright As Your Night Light and therefore making that year so special. So, I have no excuse. I think I’ve actually just surpassed Nerves Junior love to make practical decisions regarding them, such as posting the interview I did with them months ago. I’m like the woman so obsessed with cats that I spend all day cutting out cat pictures from cat magazines and watching videos of cats purring on YouTube that I forget to feed my own cat. (It’s shocking how naturally that metaphor just came to fruition.)

I’m not the only one in love with these guys. They topped the “best of 2011” lists of basically anyone with good taste, which is really impressive since this is their debut album. There is a fine line on incredible debut albums. Most of them make you fear that the artist could ever have another album as good as the first, but some make you ecstatic with what’s to come. Nerves Junior falls into the latter category. There is something so subtly brilliant about their music and this album serves as the simple evidence that these guys are easily one of the most exciting, talented groups we’ve seen in years. With a Radiohead vibe and artsy realization, there is no doubt the next step is just moving closer to genius. I think it is actually physically impossible to make something bad after this- the amount of talent these guys have is so explosive, if they made something bad they could only be trying to mess with us.

The first song I heard of theirs was “Kale”, a drippy and compelling single that made me more intrigued than any other band I can remember in the last five years. Then I heard “Champagne and Peaches” and I reached a stage of turmoiled enthusiasm: could the entire album possibly be this amazing? Should I keep listening or will I be eventually disappointed with buzzy pop songs? I kept listening. I was not disappointed. What’s the opposite of that? Every dream I’ve had for an album last year was executed with As Bright As Your Night Light. Oh you think I’m being dramatic? You clearly haven’t listened yet. My favorite song remains the title track, a song that despite the fact that I have listened to it upwards of a few hundred too many times, still brings me chills to think about how perfect it is.

This band is one of the best things to happen to indie music in years, let this be your invitation to be a part of it. You are so very welcome.

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 Who are your top three influences?

Dirty Electronica, Feedback, Leonard Cohen

If you had to pick one celebrity to represent your whole band, who would it be?

Robert Downey Jr 

How would you describe your sound in five words?

White and shiny with claws and pretty teeth 

 Where do you want to be one year from now?

With my mates hanging out writing new sounds, pressing play on the beat machine while the guitars hummmmmmm 

 What is the first record you ever bought?

The Bodyguard soundtrack   

Life gives you lemons, what do you do with them?

No silly, Green and White Make Limes.

Of Montreal “Dour Percentage” Oh I don’t know, I’m just getting excited...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:53:28 -0600

Of Montreal “Dour Percentage”

Oh I don’t know, I’m just getting excited because Paralytic Stalks drops TOMORROW.

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Photo Credit: Kate Loehrer Artist Name: Flights Album:...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:51:51 -0600

Photo Credit: Kate Loehrer

Artist Name: Flights

Album: Anywhere but Where I Am

Hometown: Nashville via Wisconsin

Touring info: Check for updates on their FB page here

Proof: www.flightsmusic.bandcamp.com That’s all you get, that’s all you need

Website: www.flightsblog.tumblr.com

When it comes to people surrounded by music, I rank among some of the luckiest. Outside of this site, I have a lot of friends who are in bands but the luck comes in that they are shockingly all good. But this friend’s band is especially special. I mean extraordinarily special. This is the kind of music that would make Justin Vernon cry or keep Sufjan Stevens up contemplating in the middle of the night. (Note: I wrote this before Brian mentions both these people as influences in the interview so I think that’s what you call hitting the nail on the head, Brian. Good work.)

Flights is the collaboration of two insanely talented and equally wonderful people: Brian Holl and Eric Hillman. I have known Brian for some time and I’ve been familiar with his many musical markings but Anywhere but Where I Am is the first full work I’ve heard from Flights. When I played it, I had just touched down from a whirlwind trip to Amsterdam right after the holidays. As I sat down to tend to ignored emails and unpacked suitcases and calendars seeking updates, I wanted some soothing background noise. Brian had just sent over the album and I knew enough about Flights to know this would be a good fit. Within seconds of the first song, the emails and the suitcases and the planners were no longer relevant, even if they were to operate as mindless motions while I listened. I literally became encapsulated in the music and just wanted to hear it all at once. It was that superb feeling of both needing to finish the song and wanting to skip to the next. It’s like when you read a great book and you’re trying to force the words into your brain as fast as possible so you can get further in the plot, but at the same time you don’t want to miss one syllable or one thought, and you really don’t want it to end. There’s never a discussion about whether or not you want it, you’re never trying to force yourself to get invested in the song, there is no fight at all except the battle between “should I stay on incredible or move on to incredible?” It is, in my way of life, the mark of a perfect album.

As I write this I’m a few thousand feet in the air with just a small handful of hours of sleep under my belt en route to LA for the weekend. Let me set the scene for you: in front of me are two children under the age of 5 sitting with their father who keeps sending pleading eyes to his wife across the aisle, behind me is what I can only assume a middle-aged woman’s book club convention and to my left, a non-English speaking girl with hands covered in pink highlighter and an iPad playing flashy Asian movies who has to have taken 50 iPhone self-portraits- flash on. Somehow, I feel surprisingly peaceful and maybe it just makes this story better, but I’m pretty sure it’s this album riding through my headphones that’s making this solace happen. “Fake Arms” is playing and it just feels effortless, a perfect last song to a sensational album.

I always knew Brian and Eric would be successful. They are smart and kind and adored by everyone who meets them; they are the type of people who’s work one never questions, who’s projected path always seems perfect for them no matter how risky it would appear on the average person. I cannot wait for the world to discover this album: beautiful, romantic, simple, sweet, intelligent. We overuse this phrase but this is truly a gift for your ears, an escape into something deeply wedged into the beauty of calm. It’s the type of album you’d think you’d fall asleep to, but in a way it really awakens you, to absorb the words and to feel the emotion as they, themselves work through them. This album will haunt you for the rest of your life. You cannot listen to it and not feel and see things. It invokes a sense of movement and visual, like with each note pictures are riding past you, desperate to be seen by someone who can understand or appreciate them. Some music makes you think, some music makes you cry, some music makes you dance, this music paints visionaries before you as if you’re lost in a Woody Allen daydream. Seriously, “Where the Willow Tree Died” could have it’s own full-length film.

One of my mother’s favorite sayings is “you can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” I am bringing you to water, PLEASE drink. This album is precious and worldly; it’s simple and elaborate. It feels easy to understand yet impossible to really know. It’s easily my favorite thing I’ve heard in 2012 (and we all know January was generous to us), and while I would typically never bet on this, I can 100% guarantee I’ll feel the same way about come December.

You can get it for free, but you should pay for it. It’s worth a million times more than that pop song you bought last weekend because the drunk kid in your apartment insisted it be played before he went to a bar. On track 8, the boys beg “keep us in mind.” They are clearly losing their faith in humanity; with an album like that, you don’t need to beg at all.

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Who are your top three influences?

Since our band consists of only two people, we’ll give you both of our lists (ok…actually it’s based on disagreements regarding dubstep).

Brian: Sufjan: When I’m thinking “Can this still be a good song?”, I think of Sufjan and how he somehow always balances great songwriting with the unique sounds he creates. Bon Iver: I know, this is an easy pick today…but I actually think he was able to pull out what was inside of me for so long. His music is natural to me, the sounds he creates are as simple and stunning as wind. I try to create only things I want to hear, and I think Justin is on the same page. Andrew Bird: Very similar to my Sufjan inspiration. Andrew Bird seems like someone on his own path. Both artistically and industry-minded, he often steers clear of the mainstream. Who else is playing theaters outside of major cities…with a demographic that stretches 18-80 year olds? I guess Chris Thile is, but your question reserved only three spots.

Eric: Bjork: No one inspires me more as an artist than this woman. Bjork is constantly evolving as an artist and that is something that I will always aspire to do. Whenever I worry about wandering too far in some strange direction or over-conceptualizing a song, I think of her. Would she ever be afraid to take things farther? Son Lux: Son Lux (Ryan Lott) is a huge influence to the way I produce and arrange. He always finds a way to surprise my ear somehow in every song. His blending of electronics with chamber instruments is flawless and one of a kind. Sigur Ros/Jonsi: No one creates music that makes me feel as strongly as Sigur Ros does. Raw emotion. Music’s purest function.

If you had to pick one celebrity to represent your whole band, who would it be?

I think Bill Murrary would be a great choice.

How would you describe your sound in five words?

Never ending ethereal folk songs.

Where do you want to be one year from now?

Well, ideally, on a tour through Europe. You do know that we’ve been featured in many German blogs already, right?

What is the first record you ever bought?

Brian: It might have been Green Day’s Dookie Eric: “New Age Wolf”…embarrassing, but very telling.

Note: Along with the interview, they sent me a track from New Age Wolf called “Tiger Attack.” You’ll want to watch it here.

Life gives you lemons, what do you do with them?

We’d like to say lemonade, but we’re much sadder than that. I think we’d be happy to have lemons as a precautionary resource for any wounds that may arise. That or garnish for a homemade bowl of pho (oh, you haven’t had mine yet?).

Lia Ices “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd cover) via Fader You’ve done it, Lia,...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:29:54 -0600

Lia Ices “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd cover) via Fader

You’ve done it, Lia, I adore you.

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Fanfarlo “Shiny Things” How long have I been...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:33:40 -0600

Fanfarlo “Shiny Things”

How long have I been waiting for a new Fanfarlo album? Too long. The time is now!

Rooms Filled with Light drops February 27th. Oh, and they’re coming to Chicago in March. Merry Christmas, Nora!

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JMSN “Something” I met Christian, the mastermind...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:38:47 -0600

JMSN “Something”

I met Christian, the mastermind behind JMSN about a year ago while he was touring. My friend was managing the tour and though I couldn’t make the show, I invited them all to crash at my place. Most of his band were people he had grown up with in Detroit and one was nicer and cooler than the next. After a fun night with them, they hit the road but left with me with a CD of a ton of tracks Christian had recorded under his then-current moniker Christian TV. I was a bit surprised after meeting him to find the songs to be such radio-friendly, pop dance hits. While these tunes weren’t really my thing, the hook was apparent: Ryan Seacrest would have a field day with this music.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I hear what Christian has been up to with his new project JMSN. Jack.Pot. THIS is exactly the music I would expect from someone like Christian: cool, sleek, vibe-y. (Can I pull of saying “vibe-y” without being obnoxious?)

Reminiscent of The Weeknd and like a darker, deeper Justin Timberlake, this the edgy, r&b influenced pop I am ecstatic to see Christian making. He is an unbelievably huge talent-involved in every aspect and details of his music, image and videos- and the worlds of r&b and pop music are a better place with him in it.

Watch the amazing and dark video for “Something” and click here to read his well-crafted video explanation. His debut JMSN album (which he also produced), †Priscilla† is out now on iTunes and Amazon.

Enjoy the video, and try not to have octopus nightmares tonight!

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Jack White “Love Interruption” If somehow you have...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:06:26 -0600

Jack White “Love Interruption”

If somehow you have yet to hear, Jack White is releasing a solo album.
JACK WHITE IS RELEASING A SOLO ALBUM.
2012, you are so good to me.
JACK WHITE IS RELEASING A SOLO ALBUM.

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Jeff Buckley “Yard of Blonde Girls” Jeff Buckley...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:39:16 -0600

Jeff Buckley “Yard of Blonde Girls”

Jeff Buckley Monday.

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Blonde Valhalla “Inspiration” Someone give me what...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:34:49 -0600

Blonde Valhalla “Inspiration”

Someone give me what I want.

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John McCauley “Out on the Weekend” (Neil Young...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:28:11 -0600

John McCauley “Out on the Weekend” (Neil Young cover) Rollo & Grady Sessions

This just made my whole week.

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DAYTONA “Undertow” I love Harlem and I would be...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:44:00 -0600

DAYTONA “Undertow”

I love Harlem and I would be devastated if this new “side project” was the end of them, but at least this new music is pretty amazing.

Check the rest of the EP here: http://daytonapals.bandcamp.com

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Cass McCombs “The Same Thing” Few people in the...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:51:48 -0600

Cass McCombs “The Same Thing”

Few people in the world are as talented as Cass McCombs.
Which makes it everyone in Chicago’s luck day. Because Sir McCombs is playing at Lincoln Hall THIS Sunday (1/29).

Buy tickets HERE.

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