My Favourite Albums of 2008

March 20, 2009 – 19:31

It has really gotten so far into the next year that it’s about time I either forgot about bothering to mention my favourite albums of last year, or just got it out of the way. I really enjoyed the countdown episode I did last year, but honestly, making it was kind of a pain in the ass because of the work involved. Especially because in lists like this things are always changing all over the place. I know some commentary on these albums would be nice, but I just don’t have the time to bother getting into that and I’d just second guess my selections again, and I want to be done living in last year. If you are shocked, apalled or curious please leave a comment and I’ll explain myself. So here, unadorned, are my 20 favourite albums of 2008:

20. Gang Gang Dance – Saint Dymphna
19. Plants and Animals – Park Avenue
18. Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
17. Quiet Village – Silent Movie
16. Bonnie Prince Billy – Lie Down in the Light
15. Lykke Li – Youth Novels
14. The Walkmen – You & Me
13. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
12. Shearwater – Rook
11. DJ/Rupture - Uproot
10. The Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Graves
9. Lindstrom – Where You Go I Go Too
8. The Bug – London Zoo
7. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns
6. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus Dig
5. Fleet Foxes
4. Portishead - Third
3. Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit are the Very Best Mixtape
2. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
1. TV on the Radio – Dear Science

By damon | Posted in lists and countdowns | Comments (0)

facebook page

March 19, 2009 – 19:32

I’ve created a facebook page to keep people updated on what’s happening with the show. If you like the show and haven’t already joined, please do!

By damon | Posted in NOTES | Comments (0)

FOLK IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.

March 6, 2009 – 1:41
 
 folk is not a dirty word [77:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (329)

Episode 109. mp3. cue. Released March 6, 2009.

So maybe ‘world’ music would be more descriptive, but what comparably lame puns could be made with that? … I rest my case. And anyway, why would the traditional music of British and Americans be called folk and that of Nicaraguans be called worldbeat? That’s not exactly fair. That may all be beside the point, though, because while all the music this episode is infused with the musical traditions of cultures all around the world, it’s not necessarily the traditional sort of stuff. Some of it with the modern production and arrangement. Call it worldly folk. And give it a listen, because there are some real gems here.

A. R. Rahman / Mausam & Escape / Slumdog Millionaire OST (2008) / India
Les Negresses Vertes / Face à la mer (Massive Attack Remix) / 10 Remixes (1993) / France

Lô Borges / Não Se Apague Esta Noite / Lô Borges (1972) / Brazil
Jorge Ben / O Plebeu / África Brasil (1976) / Brazil
Femi Kuti / Tension Grip Africa / Day by Day (2008) / Nigeria
Umalali / Anaha Ya (Here I Am) / The Garifuna Womens Project (2008) / Belize

Tinariwen / Matadjem yinmixan / Aman Iman: Water Is Life (2006) / Mali
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara / Yo Lay Lay / Soul Science (2007) / The Gambia
The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) / Get It Up (feat. M.I.A.) / ‘The Very Best’ Mixtape (2008) / Malawi

Taraf de Haidouks / Carolina / Band of Gypsies (2001) / Romania
Astor Piazzolla / Michelangelo / Tango: Zero Hour (1986) / Argentina
Crucible / Three Maidens / Love & Money (2008) / UK

Lúnasa / The Miller of Drohan / Otherworld (1999) / Ireland
Yat-Kha / Oy Adym (My Gray Horse) / Aldyn Dashka (2000) / Tuva (Russia)

Oumou Sangare / Saa Magni (Death Is Terrible) / Oumou (2004) / Mali
Mari Boine / Gula Gula / Gula Gula (1989) / Sámi (Norway)

By damon | Posted in PLAYLISTS, themes and specials | Comments (2)

a closet for the citrus drums (mix cd edit)

February 11, 2009 – 19:21
 
 Standard Podcast [1:19:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (166)

The first 2 episodes of the year condensed to fit on one mix cd; presented in mp3 with a cue file to help you burn it. Yay! And apologies to the songs that didn’t make the cut. I may make this a tradition if I can actually get around to making at least 2 new episodes…

By damon | Posted in MIXES | Comments (0)

100 songs from 2008!

January 24, 2009 – 19:07

I started this tradition last year, though someone else started it first a couple years ago and continues it. It’s a neat way to sum up a year of music: 100 great songs by 100 different artists. If you’re a regular listener you’ve probably already heard almost all of them but this is a chance to own their souls as it is in torrent form. So go grab it grab it.

Read More »

By damon | Posted in lists and countdowns | Comments (0)

THE CITRUS ADVANTAGE.

January 17, 2009 – 17:04
 
 the citrus advantage [59:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (295)

Episode 108. mp3. cue. Released January 17, 2009.

Continuing right where we left off, 80s tinged synthpop gives way to strangely catchy psychedelic folkpop, and it all caps off with an opulent synthesizer soundtrack finish.

Cut Copy / Lights And Music / In Ghost Colours (2008)
The Source / You Got The Love (feat. Candi Staton) / You Got The Love (1996)

Luomo / Have You Ever (feat. Cassy) / Convivial (2008)
Thomas Brinkmann / It’s Just / When Horses Die (2008)
Knife / Heartbeats / Deep Cuts (2004)

Of Montreal / Rapture Rapes The Muses / Satanic Panic In The Attic (2004)
Shugo Tokumaru / Parachute / Exit (2008)
Fredrik / Alinas Place / Na Na Ni (2008)
Lykke Li / Breaking It Up / Youth Novels (2008)
Animal Collective / Bluish / Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009)

Vangelis / Blush Response / Blade Runner (1982)
Lindstrøm / Where You Go I Go Too (Part 2) (Edit by Prins Thomas) / Where You Go I Go Too (2008)

By damon | Posted in PLAYLISTS | Comments (1)

STICK IT OUT THE CLOSET FOR THE DRUMS.

January 1, 2009 – 16:10
 
 stick it out the closet for the drums [63:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (261)

Episode 107. mp3. cue. Released January 01, 2009.

The first episode of 2009 and the first episode featuring brand new fractionized length! Content-wise wes is tying up some loose ends of 2008. And you know when the last episode is all dancing and electronics that you’re soon due for some REAL pounding drums and some scratchy guitars and bellowed vocals. So today it gets down pretty gritty at first but it does mellow out to the middle and eventually even betrays faint whiffs of synth-pop, chamber-pop and doo-wop.

Fuck Buttons / Sweet Love for Planet Earth / Street Horrrsing (2008)
Grails / Predestination Blues / Doomsdayer’s Holiday (2008)
Snowman / We Are The Plague / The Horse, The Rat And The Swan (2008)
Holy Fuck / Royal Gregory / LP (2007)

Fucked Up / Son the Father / The Chemistry of Common Life (2008)
Love Is All / New Beginnings / A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night (2008)
Thomas Function / Snake In The Grass / Thomas Function (2008)

The Gaslight Anthem / Great Expectations / The ‘59 Sound (2008)
The Rural Alberta Advantage / Don’t Haunt This Place / Hometowns (2008)

Okkervil River / Lost Coastlines / The Stand-Ins (2008)
The Week That Was / The Airport Line / The Week That Was (2008)
Department Of Eagles / No One Does It Like You / In Ear Park (2008)
Brian Eno & David Byrne / Strange Overtones / Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (2008)

By damon | Posted in PLAYLISTS | Comments (3)

a slight change of pace

December 24, 2008 – 22:40

As a gift for all of y’all my glorious listeners, this Christmas Eve I am officially announcing that I’m gonna cease with the 2 hour radio showpisodes, because i don’t think anyone really wants to spend that much time listening to the same thing. As of Jan 1st, or whenever the first new episode is released, it’s gonna be 1 hour episodes. The main benefit to this is that I’ll be able to release shows much more quickly (we all know that’s been an issue lately) and that you’ll be able to listen through them more easily (the average human attention span is down to what like 2 seconds these days is it?). The drawback (and probably I’m the only person who will notice or care) is that it’ll be a little harder to fit everything in and also to cover as much ground with as much epic flow.. but to counteract that I’ll probably try and have one show start up where the last left off.

Just, you know, so you know.

Questions? Comments? Snide remarks?

By damon | Posted in NOTES, announcements | Comments (0)

2-BIT SUNSHINE AND 256 BITS OF SNOW.

December 19, 2008 – 20:35
 
 2-bit sunshine and 256 bits of snow [122:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (270)

Episode 106. mp3. cue. Released December 19, 2008

So a new computer and the semi-annual end of term procrastinator-punishment-derby may have contributed to this most unprecedented of podcast interims. But fuck that. Cause now it’s up! This guy is my sham summer within this dullest of seasons… you will find blissed out psychedelia, hard-hitting dub grooves, hip hop chills and flows, club beats (not as dangerous as it sounds), and quirky catchy experimental chamber pop. All for the price of 2 hours in the background of whatever vastly important business you’re involved with on the internet/your ipod today.

Brian Eno + David Byrne / Mountain Of Needles / My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (1981)
Disco Inferno / Starbound: All Burnt Out & Nowhere To Go / D.I. Go Pop (1994)
Koushik / Be With / Out My Window (2008)
Caribou / Pelican Narrows / The Milk Of Human Kindness (2005)

Diplo / Summer’s Gonna Hurt You / Florida (2004)
Air France / Collapsing At Your Doorstep / No Way Down (2008)

Quest, Team Shadetek / Mirage, Brooklyn Anthem / Uproot (2008)
The Bug / Poison Dart (feat. Warrior Queen) / London Zoo (2008)
Ghislain Poirier / No More Blood feat. Zulu / No Ground Under (2007)
Tanya Stephens / Put It On You / Rebelution (2006)
Lady Saw / Chat To Mi Back / Walk Out (2007)

Santogold / Anne / Santogold (2008)
Rihanna / Don’t Stop the Music / Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)
The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) / Wena / ‘The Very Best’ Mixtape (2008)
Outkast / Return of the “G” / Aquemini (1998)

Binary Star / Honest Expression / Masters Of The Universe (2000)
One Be Lo / Axis / s.o.n.o.g.r.a.m. (2005)
Zion I / One / Mind over Matter (2000)
Atmosphere / You / When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (2008)
k-the-i??? / Before The Session / Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (2008)

The Chap / Fun and Interesting / Mega Breakfast (2008)
Sparks / (Baby Baby) Can I Invade Your Country / Hello Young Lovers (2006)
Pop Levi / Blue Honey / The Return To Form Black Magick Party (2007)
Max Tundra / Will Get Fooled Again / Parallax Error Beheads You (2008)

Amadou & Mariam / Sabali / Welcome To Mali (2008)
Parov Stelar / Fleur De Lille / The Flame Of Fame (2008)
Noze / Albert / How To Dance (2006)

ESG / Dance / Come Away With ESG (1983)

By damon | Posted in PLAYLISTS | Comments (0)

The Last Leaf Left

November 2, 2008 – 0:29
 
 The Last Leaf Left [79:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (244)

For one reason or another Autumn is the season that resonates most for many people. Leaves go from smooth green to crinkled red husks. Coats and mitts must be dug out from closets as breaths begin to show. Lives must be dug up and moved as students are forced out of their summer solitude, leave home for school, or are thrown kicking and screaming into the real world when the first September without school comes to call. To me there has always been a great sense of nostalgia with the season, and an explicit longing for nothing in particular. To that end The Last Leaf Left is not a raucous affair. It’s been cut down from a shortlist of 150 tracks and filled with sparse, often plaintive songs, layered with hushed acoustic strums and dry, chilled textures. It might make you want to put on a sweater and buckle down for snow, but there’s still a hint of the warmth of freshly decomposing leaves and those last warm rays of golden sun to balance out the cold.

So uhhh. Check it out. See if I was successful in bottling up a bit of the latter days of fall. mp3 / cue

1. Azeda Booth - Big Fists
2. Beach House - Tokyo Witch
3. Marissa Nadler - Thinking of You
4. Angels of Light - Evangeline
5. Akron/Family - Before And Again
6. Mirah - Cold Cold Water
7. Bon Iver - Flume
8. Phosphorescent - Endless
9. James Blackshaw - Past Has Not Passed
10. A Silver Mt. Zion - The Triumph Of Our Tired Eyes
11. Sunset Rubdown - Us Ones in Between
12. Devendra Banhart - Heard somebody say
13. The Walkmen - Red Moon
14. Paavoharju - Musta Katu
15. Espers - Meadow
16. Augie March - Sunset Studies
17. Radiohead - Reckoner
18. The National - The Geese of Beverly Road
19. Shearwater - Rooks
20. The Elected - Greetings In Braille

By damon | Posted in MIXES | Comments (1)