I'm So Excited: new albums!

Just tonight I procured two of the most highly-anticipated albums of the year.
First, Department of Eagles' In Ear Park. I've been dying to get some new DoE material ever since first hearing the amazing "No One Does it Like You" about a year ago. Then came along Daniel Rossen's cover of JoJo's "Too Little Too Late" which was equally beautiful [I'm pretty sure it was mentioned somewhere in my FaveSongs2007 series-- yep, sure did-- right here]. You can purchase both songs on a 7" vinyl piece somewhere, I just forget where. If I remember, I'll let you know.

Daniel Rossen is Eagles' lead singer and mastermind. He's also in the little known band Grizzly Bear. I knew Department of Eagles first, somehow. I stumbled upon their awesome "Sailing by Night" while I was dying for any new musics when I was in Saudi a couple years back. "Sailing" piqued my interest because it built slowly, then some faint drum machines were brought in and the song was just overflowing with emotion. Anyway, ever since then they've been on my radar.

Then came along Grizzly Bear and, guess what, Rossen's a part of that, too. Strangely, I didn't get caught up in all the GB hype, but don't get me wrong-- I do of course totally love a few of their songs ["Knife", their cover of the murderous white OJ's "He Hit Me", which was also a FAveSong2007].

Anyway, I'm currently listening to In Ear Park the old fashioned way, like I used to when I got a new record, cassette or CD-- all. the. way. through. I'm not skipping past the couple I've already heard. I'm not fast-forwarding through the boring-seeming ones. I'm not rewinding [yet]. I started 30min ago and I'm on track #8, "Waves of Rye". It kills. The whole album kills. I'm so amazed by it so far.

Second, TV on the Radio's Dear Science. I mentioned that a couple weeks ago, and then [as I mentioned the other day] that post vanished from the internerds. Like I just said, I haven't yet allowed myself to be torn away from DoE's album, or else I'd be geeking out about how much I love it, too. Hopefully.

Check back here soon for an update on just how awesome Dear Science really is.

Without further, here are a few Department of Eagle tracks, old and new. These new ones have already been blogged to hell, so hopefully this post won't be disappeared like the others.

Department of Eagles - "No One Does it Like You", from In Ear Park
Department of Eagles - "In Ear Park", from In Ear Park
Department of Eagles - "Sailing by Night", from 2003's Whitey on the Moon
Department of Eagles - "Forty Dollar Rug", from 2003's Whitey on the Moon
Daniel Rossen - "Too Little Too Late", from Ed Droste's Grizzly Bear blog
Daniel Rossen - "Deep Blue Sea", from the 2007 Grizzly Bear Friend EP
Grizzly Bear - "Knife", from 2006's Yellow House

CSS - "Knife", from Grizzly Bear's Yellow House
Grizzly Bear - "He Hit Me", from 2007's Friend EP
Grizzly Bear - "While You Wait for the Others", from forthcoming LP, recorded live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic

** I had problems uploading most of these tracks-- if you have problems downloading [broken links, etc], please don't hesitate to e-mail me.

Preorder In Ear Park from InSound and-- hey hey!-- get the 7" I mentioned above, with "No One Does it Like You" and "Too Little Too Late" for free!

Preorder Dear Science from InSound and get a limited edition poster illustrated by TVotR's own Tunde Adebimpe.

Otherwise, get the stuffs from here:
Strictly Discs : iTunes : Amazon

.

Oh yeah, and if you haven't already, go download and start using Google's new browser Chrome. It's wicked. Not better than FireFox.... yet.... but I imagine it will be soon.

.

Favorite Songs of 2007, Part Diez

Yesterday after my final exam I treated myself to one of the things I do best: anything but schoolwork. I didn't do anything too crazy, but I enjoyed it more than usual because I didn't have that nagging feeling that I usually do when I write this blog, which is that I should be studying. It was frickin awesome. And then I did like this lil gumper and chillaxed a little.

I uploaded these tunes a few days ago, anticipating some procrastinating digression from studying in the form of blogging, but it never happened. And then I took yesterday off. And I should be cleaning my house right now, because it's turning into Chez de McCormick this weekend as my roommie's family crashes it. But those songs are just sitting out there not being enjoyed, so go enjoy them already.

I'm considering this the 10th and perhaps final Favorite Songs of 2007 post. Some of these are songs I've enjoyed all year, but some are songs I just nabbed off Pitchfork's best of 2007 list last week and I liked immediately. It never ceases to amaze me-- and always bugs me-- that out of the 100 songs they post, there are always at least 30% which I've never ever ever heard of.

Most of the new favorites I pulled from there, however, were from bands like Nick Cave's Grinderman, avant tardesters the Liars, and the Tori Amos-esque Bat for Lashes. I never really felt like giving these bands a chance based on their previous material, hype surrounding them, or just because I don't like the way they look. Well, maybe I should have and maybe I still won't. In any event, before I take another swig of my IPA, I first raise it up and offer a toast for the sake of judging books by their covers [and almost always being right]. Without further..

Daniel Rossen [of Grizzly Bear, Department of Eagles] - "Too Little Too Late" [JoJo cover], from the Grizzly Bear blog
Kelly Clarkson - "Fading", bonus track from import version of My December
Grizzly Bear - "He Hit Me", from Friend
Menomena - "Shirt", unreleased
Liars - "Plaster Casts of Everything", from Liars
White Denim - "All Truckers Roll", from forthcoming Workout Holiday
Bat for Lashes - "Horse and I", from Fur and Gold
Grinderman - "No Pussy Blues", from Grinderman
Deerhunter - "Wash Off", from Flourescent Grey
Gogol Bordello - "Forces of Vistory", from Super Taranta

Check out the rest of my 2007 favorites here.

Gogol Bordello, by the way, is my new obsession. I dismissed them earlier this year as a novelty act, but WOW every song is like a gypsy dance party. I think that if Pale Young Gentlemen started drinking heavily and let themselves go a little, spent some time in a gypsy camp outside Budapesht, they may eventually turn into something like Gogol Bordello.

And holy balls, I just discovered that the lead singer is in fact Alex from Everything is Illuminated. How did I not know this?! I thought of Alex the first time I ever heard Gogol, but never thought they were one in the same. Wicked.

Haven't seen the movie? Go get it now. It's hilarious, touching and just simply all-around amazing.



The band actually appears in the movie in this clip.

Happy holidays to everyone. I truly hope you have a peaceful next few weeks with family and friends. I'll pop in and share stuff when I have the resources and time.

.