This is fine.
German band Diego has just released their album overseas, and I’m not quite sure if it will ever make it to our shores. That is quite a disappointment, as this band is one of the more enjoyable listens that has come across my ears this week. It’s part Editors, part Ian Curtis. Wait, aren’t those the same thing?
Download: Diego – Fan City [MP3]
A Whole slew of music related happenings went down during the week of our holiday vacation. Here’s a quick rundown with some links to find your way:
Black Keys front man Dan Aurbach has a new song from his solo debut streaming over on Stereogum. How is this not The Black Keys again?
Daytrotter brings us more oustanding live sets from Noah & The Whale and Annuals.
Download a free EP from Bug Lung Baby on the RCRD LBL website.
Elvis Perkins is streaming new tunes from his new album due out this spring.
WOXY is offering a double album of free digital downloads featuring some of the best performances in their studio this year.
Download a free Ragged Claws EP from the band’s website.
Marc Mallman has a best of 1998-2008 compilation availabe to download from his website.
The Black Lips gave us new song “Starting Over” from their 2009 album 200 Million Thousand. Get it below.
Lastly, our friends The Hood Internet created this tasty little mash up featuring Fleet Foxes vs. Beyonce. Yeah, that’s how they roll.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/black-lips-starting-over.mp3]Download: Black Lips – Starting Over [MP3]
Download: The Hood Internet – Single Foxes (Put A Wood On It) [MP3]
We here at Austin Town Hall have decided to take some time off this holiday season to drink hot coco and listen to Sufjan Steven’s Christmas box set. We hope everyone has a very, merry Christmas and we’ll see you again in 2009.
Download: Bing Crosby – Mele Kalikimaka
If your Christmas plans are looking bleak, why not spend the holiday watching the incredibly weird Flaming Lips film Christmas on Mars. The Alamo Drafthouse downtown is bringing you the film with viewing times of 9:40pm for Christmas Eve and 7:20pm/9:40pm on Christmas day. Sounds like my holiday plans have just been made! Check the Drafthouse website for tickets and a trailer for the film.
Austin band Whitman would like to wish you & yours a Merry Christmas! As a token of their appreciation, here’s a demo of a little ditty they’ve been working on called “Hangover Holiday”. The track is sure to spice up any holiday party or cure that too much eggnog hangover. Not just for Christmas, it promises to be the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round. You can also catch the band and their new holiday hit on January 3rd during free week at Mohawk. They’ll be playing along with Riverboat Gamblers, Harlem, and some other yet to be named bands. We’ll give you more details about free week in Austin soon. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Download: Whitman – Hangover Holiday [MP3]
If you keep up with French dance music duo Justice, you know that the band recently created a documentary entitled Across the Universe. If you’re not wanting to poney up the money for the DVD, local blog The Famousish are teaming up with Austin bar Black & Tan to bring you a free screening of the film. The fun gets started at 11:30pm Saturday night with DJ sets to follow at 12:30. Check out a trailer for the DVD to make your decision that much easier.
A promising new Austin band, The Great Nostalgic, are gettin’ down at The Beauty Bar on Saturday evening and it might just be worth your time. Being so new to the Austin scene, you might not know that the band’s debut LP, currently in the works, was recorded by Erik Wofford(Black Angels/Octopus Project) and features guest vocals by Pink Nasty. They’ll be playing Saturday evening in support of DJ Go Go Garcia. The Beauty Bar website says things will get going around 9pm and go on till 2am so make a night of it!
Download: The Great Nostalgic – County Line [MP3]
Southern California rockers, The Golden Animals, have been busy recently making appearances in the Woxy studios as well as the Minnesota Public Radio studios. Both sessions feature 3 songs from the band’s debut LP Free Your Mind and Win a Pony. The Woxy session has a little added bonus with previously unreleased track “Call my name”. Check out the MPR session on The Current blog & The Woxy session over on The Futurist. Here’s that new tune for ya live in the Woxy studios.
Download: Golden Animals – Call My Name(live on woxy) [MP3]
I’m sure many of you aren’t aware that our local chapter of The Loyal Order of Moose recently underwent a huge renovation at their lodge on the east side. Why is this important you ask? Well music fans, The Lodge is starting to put together some pretty interesting shows/parties full of great local acts you might want to check out. Tonight (12/18) the Moose Lodge brings you Hollywood Gossip, The Gary Newcombe Trio, & MIss Jackson. Friday night (12/19) things get even better with The Golden Boys, Harlem, Welfare Mother, and Alright Tonight putting on a show. If those two nights don’t work for you, wait till Sunday (12/21) and make it out for Plutonium Farmers. Doors for all shows will open at 8pm. Directions to the venue can be found here.
So when we thought making an albums of the year post was hard, this one proved to be even harder. How do you take literally thousands of songs and narrow it down to the best 40 of the year? Not too sure how to answer that question, but we tried. Each of these songs scream 2008 in our ears. As evident by this list, the year in music was quite a good one and we had some tough choices to make. We’ve got some of the songs streaming for you or links to the song on youtube. Follow the jump to see if your favorite tune of the year made the list.
