Friday Finds

Chuck Klosterman interviews Stephen Malkmus, discusses Pavement reunion (GQ)
The Hold Steady announces new album (Paste)
Bat for Lashes covers Radiohead (TwentyFourBit)
Watch the trailer for the new Neil Young movie (Crawdaddy!)
Cowboy Junkies reveal details for four new albums (Latent Recordings)

Karen O and Spike Jonze Discuss the WTWTA Soundtrack

For all of you kids and kids-at-heart, Where the Wild Things Are comes out on DVD on March 2, 2010. The film boasts original, Golden Globe-nominated music by Karen O (The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and The Kids.

You can watch three behind-the-scenes clips of Karen O and the film's director, Spike Jonze, discussing how the music came together. The soundtrack is available now on iTunes.

Come back to Speakers in Code on Monday for a special WTWTA concert announcement!

The musicians:


The songs:


The writing process:

Pajammy Jam of the Day | Early Day Miners - In These Hills

Ahhh, our first PJOTD that is an instrumental. Probably not the best thing to do on a Friday, but what the hell. Better than a Monday.

Early Day Miners don't always sound this lonesome, I promise. But this piece of music is one of the most beautiful things the band from Bloomington, Indiana has accomplished. It's taken from their album Placer Found, and it's probably something you should listen to alone when you're in a reflective mood. If you've already started your weekend, maybe it's best to wait until Sunday evening. Just sayin'.

You Can Host A White Stripes Documentary Screening!

A month ago, we announced that The White Stripes would release its first ever live album, Under the Great White Northern Lights with an accompanying documentary directed by Emmett Malloy. Watch the trailer here.

Well, now it's time for The White Stripes Under the Great Northern Lights to hit the theaters! If the title itself isn't a mouthful, the good news is that you can shovel down buttery popcorn goodness while you watch.

Starting in Seattle and Toronto, the documentary will enjoy special screenings in major cities until its official DVD release date on March 16, 2010. Check below for midnight screenings hosted by AMC Theatres. If you don't see your city listed, check back on The White Stripes' website for updates.

Also, if you're a huge White Stripes fan, you have the chance to host one of the upcoming screenings at your home or favorite hang-out on March 16, 2010 by purchasing a special screening kit. Click here to get involved.

AMC Theatres midnight screenings on March 11, 2010:
Washington D.C. – Hoffman 22
Detroit – Forum 30
Philadelphia – Neshaminy 24
Chicago – River East 21
Minneapolis – Rosedale 14
Los Angeles – Block 30
San Diego - Mission Valley 20
Seattle – Pacific Place 11
Boston – Boston Common 19
New Jersey – Palisades 21
New York City – Empire 25
Atlanta – Barrett 24

Jakob Dylan & Neko Case Give Us "Nothing But the Whole Wide World"

Jakob Dylan has released a glimpse of his upcoming album, Women and Country, and it just happens to be the track where Neko Case helps him out. Sometimes, we just get lucky right off the bat.

While I certainly would like to hear Case's voice a bit more, this is a very nice back porch folk tune. Blocks away from Nashville Skyline. Light years from "One Headlight."

Head on over to Spinner to have a listen to "Nothing But the Whole Wide World."

You can pre-order Women and Country now on Amazon.

Brandi Shearer (The Interview)

I remember the first time I heard Brandi Shearer's voice. I remember it well.

It was courtesy of EW's Music Mix blog, and they were featuring Shearer's song "Losers and Freaks." I remember thinking to myself that this just wasn't another voice. Shearer has that something, that intoxicating quality that immediately makes your forget your biggest priority at work or biggest worry at home. In short, Shearer's voice is a mystery I never want to figure out - I just want it to always live casually in the back of my mind.

Born in Oregon, Shearer calls San Francisco her home these days. I'm sure I could spend plenty of hours driving on a California highway or two, listening to her words and voice while I pretended that I didn't live in Missouri. That'll probably never happen, but I can still picture Shearer in my mind; it sort of helps that she's undeniably gorgeous and sexy, you know (there, I called you sexy, Brandi).

I recently had the chance to catch up with Brandi about her last release, Love Don't Make You Juliet, and life on the road. Enjoy.

1. Tell us a little bit about the Record Store Day tour you were on last year. Were there any moments that stood out for you?

The RSD tour was a really great experience. I picked up SUCH an awesome Billy Preston LP in perfect condition from M-Theory in San Diego . . . you can see now why maybe a record store tour is not such a great idea for me. I end up spending money at every show.

2. Your newest album, Love Don't Make You Juliet, includes my favorite song of yours, "I Just Want You to Love Me." Tell us a little bit about that song and what it means to you.

Well, obviously, I profoundly enjoy the creepy side of romance (but am completely well adjusted in real life!) and I loved writing in that structure, with simile. And I am completely utterly satisfied as a writer to have snuck both the words "sultan" and "rifled" into a pop song.

3. Your vocals often get described as "smooth" and "sultry." Your music, "jazzy" and "seductive." In your opinion, what does all that mean?

People need signposts when describing something abstract, like a voice or a style of music. So I take it as it comes. And . . . I don't mind if people say sexy. Because I'm also fabulous in the maths and sciences!

4. What was the last great concert you went to as a fan, and how did it inspire you?

I'm SO glad you asked, because I went to the L.A. Philharmonic last Friday (CASUAL Friday - the orchestra was in jeans!) and Blomstedt was guest conducting. He's about 300 years old now, and chose Beethoven's 7th - a totally weird piece of work. Not the kind of symphony that makes instant sense. Just watching this man pull and shape that brilliant, strange music . . . it was divine. And it was infinitely better because he DOES have a life of experience to draw from. It reminded me that, in an industry that venerates youth and beauty, there is still depth in your art to be discovered as you get older. It was reassuring to me. And they have COCKTAILS on Casual Friday, so that was rad.

Pajammy Jam of the Day | Emily Jane White - Liza

Photo credit: Cam Archer

Emily Jane White's "Liza" starts off with simple, soft, somber guitar and the haunting lyrics, "I woke up today/ and I thought that death had swept me away." Clearly, White isn't one for sugarcoating unpleasant topics. In fact, she notes, “I don't write happy music. I'm drawn to writing sad songs... Reflective, contemplative songs. I truly believe that that's my job. It's not my job to create happy music. I'm okay with that.”

In the middle of "Liza," the intensity changes with the addition of a fierce drumbeat, a determined march to battle. It evokes perfectly our daily challenge, although one often purposely forgotten, to defeat death. Unfortunately, the fate of the title character isn't as certain. 

RIYL the smoky vocal stylings of Cat Power. White's music oozes with gothic spookiness wonderfully suited for the innate, hazy mystery of her voice.

Emily Jane White - Liza

Victorian America comes out April 27, 2010 on Milan Records.

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound Cover Wilco (And It's Damn Good)

One day last summer, I helped my dear friend Corey search for a Chicago-based soul band to play his upcoming wedding. In typical groom-to-be fashion, he had one task during the whole planning process, and he had procrastinated like nobody's bizness.

During my investigation, I came across a glorious video on YouTube of JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound doing Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart."  Putting a souled out spin on the tune, the boys totally turned it out. And their live performance was indelibly funky fresh. I sent that video to all of my favorite Wilco fans.

Well, today must be my lucky day. Driving home from work and listening to my staple, local independent station KDHX, I heard the newly released studio version of this cover. Below is the video of JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound performing "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" live in the KDHX studios just a few weeks ago complete with spoken interlude about "dangerous love."

If you like what you hear, and I hope you do, you can purchase the new 45 from Rabbit Factory Records.

Jam of the Day | Dawn Landes - Young Girl

Dawn Landes may live in Brooklyn these days, where she has built her own recording studio, but she was raised in Branson, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky. I mention this because when I listen to today's JOTD, "Young Girl," off Landes' newest record, Sweet Heart Rodeo, I think of the Midwest like I do when I listen to Son Volt's "Windfall" or Neil Young's "Out On the Weekend." I don't think of Brooklyn, or anything east of Ohio, really.

Check out the video below for "Young Girl." Landes stares you down, dances with rowdy grace, and rides a mechanical bull. My kind of girl.

Passion Pit Lets You In On "Little Secrets"

Passion Pit has debuted its new video for "Little Secrets" directed by Timothy Saccenti. The Cambridge, Massachusetts electro-pop outfit also recently remixed the Shout Out Louds' track, "Fall Hard" that is now sufficiently "blissed out." Stream/download below.

Shout Out Louds - Fall Hard (Passion Pit Summertime Remix)

And incase you missed it the first time around, check out the band's cover of "Dreams" by The Cranberries. It's more than a little incredible.

Fyfe Dangerfield (The Interview)

From the moment I first heard Fyfe Dangerfield's "When You Walk in the Room," I knew I had made a friend for life. This song just cannot be denied; its spirit is infectious. Ten years from now, it'll be a great day when this pop gem randomly plays on my iPod. That is, if I ever take it off permanent repeat.

Fly Yellow Moon has continued to be one of my most oft-played albums of 2010. I was obviously pretty psyched to chat up Dangerfield to figure out what makes him as happy as his music has made me.

Fyfe Dangerfield - When You Walk in the Room

1. The first song I heard off Fly Yellow Moon was "When You Walk in the Room." That song consistently takes me to my happy place. What music do you listen to when you need to get happy really fast?

I tend to find the best thing is putting on any record at 33 RPM and playing it at 45 RPM. That tends to bring out the happiness in most tracks. Failing that, it's got to be the "Bale Out" (Christian Bale Remix) on YouTube.

2. The rest of Fly Yellow Moon is definitely different - sometimes thematically, sometimes musically - than "When You Walk in the Room." How would you describe the remainder of the songs on the album?

I'm awful at describing things! Describing and choosing, not my strong points. It's kind of like a scrapbook album of moments, musically and thematically. The songs are kind of about moments that may only last a few seconds, but define us. Well, maybe. Sort of! And, not with this in mind at all, nothing was that thought out, but we tried to record the songs in that way too: capturing something very quickly that would have sounded totally different done a different day.

3. What kind of music defined your years as a teenager? Is it different than the kind of music you make as a professional artist?

I was obsessed with the Manic Street Preachers as a teenager. I did the spray-paint, the hair dye, I think I even started talking in a Welsh accent at some point. So, I wouldn't say that's particuarly close to what I do now, but they had a massive impact on me. Aside from all the images and the words that normally get focused on, I think it gets overlooked how innovative they were musically on certain records. The Holy Bible was the one that really excited me, it has this cold sort of sound to it and these very punky sort of backing tracks, but then really beautiful, jerky, soaring, winding melodies. I don't know, you don't maybe tend to notice it because it's all done so succinctly, but I can't think of another record quite like it. But yeah, them and then one day I heard "Grace" by Jeff Buckley and "Debut" by Bjork, both on the same day, and they really opened my ears up in terms of thinking about the way things sounded.

4. You are supporting Corrine Bailey Rae tomorrow night at her UK show. What other current artists are you loving right now?

I really like the Wild Beasts record; it's something that sounds completely of itself and really draws you in. The new Hot Chip album's really nice too. I've just been turned onto Camille, there's a couple of Camilles, but this one's the Irish/French Camille that does Nick Cave and Tom Waits songs and things in this sort of burlesque late-night bar band sort of show. She's got an amazing, fierce voice. I've just got into her and apparently she's just finished playing a month's residency in London or something! Duh. And er, Guillemots! We're getting near to starting to record our third album, and I'm really excited about it. I've been writing some new songs for it, too, alongside what we've written as a band. It's feeling good!

5. How would you like to spend the rest of your 2010? It's only just begun...

I would like to spend the rest of 2010 being happy as much as I can be and enjoying being happy when I am happy without finding things to worry about! And making a great record with Guillemots hopefully. Playing music, eating good food, sharing good company, and visiting the seaside a lot.

Jay Farrar's "Dent County" = New Awesome Video Surfaces

Well, this has to be the best new video I've seen in a while. The info on YouTube says that it's courtesy of a fan, and at the end of the video it is credited to a "Shuck Owens." Well, Shuck, you're one damn talented fan.

The song is "Dent County," off Jay Farrar's 2003 solo release, Terroir Blues. It's always given me chills; Farrar wrote it for his father, Jim 'Pops' Farrar, who died of cancer in August of 2002. This video certainly keeps those chills flowing. Have a look/listen.

Jam of the Day | The New Pornographers - Your Hands (Together)

Not to be outdone by Broken Social Scene, that other Canadian indie-rock collective that just released a new song + album details last Friday, The New Pornographers released its first track off the upcoming Together yesterday. The Twitter description claimed the new song is "quite rocking."

That's not a lie.

With grinding guitars and a edict to "put, put, put your hands together," the song propels me forward, pushes me along, commands me to rock out to some power pop.  And I'm definitely not mad at those guy-girl harmonies.

The New Pornographers - Your Hands (Together)

Together comes out on May 4, 2010 on Matador Records.

Broken Social Scene Releases "World Sick"

The music world is abuzz with the release of the first Broken Social Scene song since its last album came out five years ago. The adjective "epic" is being used a lot to describe this track, probably because it's almost 7 minutes long. And because it's awesome.

From Pitchfork, where the song initially debuted:
"A few weeks ago, Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew told us all about the album, and there's a lot to tell. They've stripped down their once-sprawling lineup to a lean and mean six-member core, but many friends show up to contribute to the album, Wu-Tang style. Those hordes include Leslie Feist and members of Pavement, Metric, Stars, Do Make Say Think, the Sea and Cake, and Tortoise. Tortoise/Sea and Cake member John McEntire co-produced the whole shebang, which the band recorded in Chicago and Toronto last year."

I'm not sure if any other introduction is needed, so I'll let you get to listening to "World Sick."

Broken Social Scene - World Sick

Forgiveness Rock Record comes out on May 4, 2010 on Arts & Crafts Records.

Strangers Almanac | David Gray

Just last Friday, Jason and I celebrated our singer-songwriter column, Strangers Almanac, turning two years old. That same day, the 36th volume on David Gray was published live on Glide Magazine. I had a lot of fun walking down memory lane and recalling my fondest memories (both pleasant and painful) from my decade long adventure with his music. He is one of the greatest songwriters to which I've ever had the pleasure of listening.

To read the entire column, click here.

Jam of the Day | Misty Boyce - Love You Down

When you've got a cool name like Misty Boyce, you better have a few tricks up your sleeve. Luckily, Ms. Boyce is a hell of a magician. It's Monday morning magic, and don't I need a little bit of it today.

The 25-year-old from New Mexico gives us our theme to start the work week. Go on, take a half day.

"Can't wait till we get home...can't wait till we get home..."

Misty Boyce - Love You Down

It's a Big Music Video Monday!

Icelandic dream-pop band, Seabear, released the video for the gorgeous "I'll Build You a Fire."


Check out Vampire Weekend's new video for "Giving Up the Gun" featuring RZA, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Jon, and Joe Jonas.  Oh, wonderful randomness.


Jack White directed the video for The Black Belles' "What Can I Do?" out now on Third Man Records.

Friday Finds

Josh Ritter writing first novel (EW)

Neko Case and T-Pain do an adult swim (USA Today)
St. Vincent performs in Chicago (Consequence of Sound)
John Hughes wrote a film inspired by The Cure (TwentyFourBit)
Just a cool music blog outta Boulder (Back Forty Presents)
The Best of What's Next: The Morning Benders (Paste)
Lissie got kicked outta high school (Spinner)
Fanfarlo plays Letterman (I Guess I'm Floating)

David Ford Returns with 'Let The Hard Times Roll'

A couple years ago, I discovered one of my favorite singer-songwriters, David Ford. The talented man from the UK has released two beautiful albums, I Sincerely Apologise For All The Trouble I've Caused and Songs For the Road, filled with timeless songs like "I Don't Care What You Call Me," "Go To Hell," and "State of the Union."

On April 20th, Ford will release Let The Hard Times Roll via Original Signal Recordings. It's said to be Ford's "boldest album, containing some of the most upbeat, rocking songs he's ever written." That's sweet music to my ears. Here's the full tracklist.

1. Panic
2. Making Up For Lost Time
3. Waiting For The Storm
4. Surfin' Guantanamo Bay
5. To Hell With The World
6. Stephen
7. Nothing At All
8. Sylvia
9. Meet Me In The Middle
10. Missouri
11. She's Not The One
12. Hurricane
13. Call To Arms

Strangers Almanac Turns Two!

Two years ago today, Jason wrote his first column for Strangers Almanac (Glide Magazine) on the one, the only Steve Earle. Since then, he and I have truly had a blast writing every month about our favorite singer-songwriters (along with our personal connections to the music) and sharing news, lyrics, and in general, a whole lotta love with other music fans on our Facebook page.

As we blow out the metaphorical candles on our imaginary birthday cake, we want to celebrate some of our favorite columns of the past two years with a special playlist that features a fabulous mix of toe tapping + bone chilling + heart shredding songs made forever famous by artists like Ryan Adams, Jenny Lewis, Bob Dylan, and Neko Case. You can check out the entire Strangers Almanac archive here.

Stream away.

Strangers Almanac Turns Two!

Jam of the Day | Dr. Dog - Shadow People

When I got a press release a few weeks back about the upcoming Dr. Dog album, it said that the band was going to continue its evolution by stripping down the instruments and focusing on deeper, darker lyrics. After hearing the lead single off April's Shame, Shame, I can absolutely detect a difference from 2008's Fate. And I like it.

"Shadow People" starts off with just a barren, acoustic strum and a raspy voice.  Almost imperceptibly, the song builds with a drumbeat and stirring, choral "ahhhhs." A little over halfway through, a bluesy piano and a tambourine joins the mix, and if I didn't concentrate on the lyrics hard enough, I'd be willing to believe this is a song of happiness and contentment. However, Scott McMicken (vocalist/guitarist) explains that "Shadow People" was written out of exhaustion from living in his Philly neighborhood, a weariness of trying to be too much to too many people. Knowing that, the juxtaposition of this four-minute rollicking crescendo and such inherent solemnity becomes quite profound. 

Dr. Dog - Shadow People

Shame, Shame is out on April 6, 2010 on ANTI Records.

Jam of the Day | Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad

Songs like Adam Green’s “What Makes Him Act So Bad” put me in a weird mood. Of course, I mean this in a good way. The song is just a hair over two minutes, and it gets my brain moving. It’s probably the freaky, albeit brief, guitar solo. Or maybe it’s Green’s vocals. They sound creepily confident…like he’s actually going to get the answer he wants. Kinda like Jeff Tweedy sang while in Uncle Tupelo, "wouldn't that be sweet, to know where you stand." (What if we really just told each other what we wanted – that would be soooo cool.)

But on a song like this, I really don’t listen to the lyrics. It’s so damn carefree that I don’t have to – I just repeat it again and again at work until I get to go home. Oh, and I sort of dance in my crappy chair.

Stream/download and enjoy.

Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad

Adam Green tour dates:

FEB. 16 COPENHAGEN, DK LOPPEN
FEB. 18 HAMBURG, DE UEBEL & GEFANRLICH
FEB. 19 COLOGNE, DE GLORIA
FEB. 20 BERLIN, DE POSTBANHOF
FEB. 22 VIENNA, AT ARENA
FEB. 23 MUNICH, DE FREIHEIZ
FEB. 24 ZURICH, CH MASCOTTE
FEB. 25 LAUSANNE, CH DOCKS
FEB. 27 BOLOGNA, IT COVO
FEB. 28 MILAN, IT MAGNOLIA
MAR. 2 BARCELONA, ES RAZZMATAZZ
MAR. 3 MADRID, ES RAMDALL MUSIC LIVE
MAR. 4 LISBON, PT SANTIAGO ALQUIMISTA
MAR. 6 MARSEILLE, FR LE POSTE A GALENE
MAR. 8 PARIS, FR L'ALHAMBRA
MAR. 17-20 AUSTIN, TX SXSW
APR. 1 VANCOUVER, BC VENUE
APR. 2 SEATTLE, WA CHOP SUEY
APR. 3 PORTLAND, OR DANTE'S
APR. 5 SANTA CRUZ, CA CREPE PLACE
APR. 6 SAN FRANCISCO, CA CAFÉ DU NORD (all ages)
APR. 7 SAN FRANCISCO, CA CAFÉ DU NORD (21+)
APR. 9 SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH (early show)
APR. 10 LOS ANGELES, CA TROUBADOUR
APR. 13 DENVER, CO LARIMER LOUNGE
APR. 14 KANSAS CITY, MO RECORD BAR
APR. 15 CHICAGO, IL SCHUBAS
APR. 16 CLEVELAND, OH GROG SHOP (early show)
APR. 17 TORONTO, ONT MOD CLUB
APR. 19 MONTREAL, QUE LA SALA ROSA
APR. 20 BOSTON, MA GREAT SCOTT
APR. 21 PHILADELPHIA, PA JOHNNY BRENDA'S
APR. 23 NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM
APR. 24 NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM

The Dutchess & the Duke (The Interview)

Photo credit: Andrew Waits

Seattle folkies, Jesse Loritz and Kimberly Morrison, comprise the duo that is The Dutchess & the Duke. They've spent the winter touring to support their 2009 release, Sunset/Sunrise. This is an album that unequivocally felt like me the moment I listened to it. 

I was lucky enough to chat with Loritz about what's on tap for 2010. For me, it's likely red wine. For The Dutchess & the Duke, it's a coupla side projects and work on the next D/D album.

The Dutchess and the Duke - Living This Life
The Dutchess and the Duke - Hands

1. I am hopelessly in love with 2009's Sunset/Sunrise. Can fans anticipate any new music from The Dutchess & the Duke in 2010? Or, any side projects?

I am doing a side record with Sacred Bones records out of Brooklyn. Haven't come up with a name for it yet. Recording it in my apartment. Kimberly is doing some recordings with our friend Greg Ashley down in Oakland. For Dutchess & the Duke, we are working on an EP with Sacred Bones of children singing some of our songs that should come out this year, and then we get to work on the next album.

2. Besides standard musical inspirations, who or what in your lives influenced your songwriting for Sunset/Sunrise? 

Everything. Life. Our lives are really crazy right now.

3. From what I've read about your performances, it seems that both of you appreciate the idea of proper etiquette demonstrated by concert goers. In what cities/venues, have you experienced some of your most blissful performances?

New York has been really good to us. We appreciate proper etiquette, but it's not required! We certainly don't handle ourselves properly sometimes.

4. Speaking of touring, you recently ended a string of dates with Medication. How was that experience? Did you find that your two styles drew the same audiences?

It was great! Mikey writes fantastic songs and everybody in the band was amazing guys. I think people who are into music were into both of us, but anybody that would come to our show because they heard about us and randomly checked it out may have left scratching their heads. But why would we want to play with a band that sounds the same as we do? Next tour, we are gonna try and bring Meth Teeth, a great band from Portland.

5. What artists would you love to collaborate with in the future?
I have a hard time collaborating. This stuff is really close to me and personal. It might be nice to collaborate with someone to help with orchestral arrangements or something, but I can figure that out myself. I like being able to say I came up with the whole piece.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band Debuts Video for "Baby"

If you're one of the readers who has been following Speakers in Code since its inception, you have a strong sense of the wholehearted love and adoration I have for the handclap. So, when I got an e-mail about The Phenomenal Handclap Band's new video, you are probably not surprised that I instantly fell in love with the band's name. Handclaps are pretty phenomenal, yes, that's true. But, perhaps even more awesome is this song, "Baby."

It's some groovy, blue-eyed soul, y'all.

Here's what band member, Sean Marquand, said about filming the video: 

"We went upstate to our friend Paddy's house, which was incredible, but the surreal serial killer aspect colored everyone's mood. Even when we weren't filming, there seemed to be someone sneaking up on us in the forest. The video reflects some of the highs and lows of our weekend. There's kinship and celebration there but there's also an underlying paranoia attached to being at such a remote location."

New David Rawlings, New Gillian Welch

Ok, so you already probably know about the new David Rawlings album, which features a countrified cover of Ryan Adams' "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)," a song that Rawlings actually originally co-wrote with Adams (did I just confuse the hell out of you?).

What you probably didn't know is how Rawlings and Adams came about writing the song together. This new(er) interview from Seattle Weekly gives us the details:

You seem to prefer writing songs with others, too, rather than writing alone.

That's how I work, yeah. I love writing with other people. I find it to be a really wonderful experience if you're working with someone who has an initial idea or you can take an initial idea to someone and sit there and hash it out. It's nice to have two peoples' perspective, to be coming at an idea from two sets of experiences and two sets of musical angles. In the case of the Ryan song, the song I wrote with Ryan Adams, that was a funny experience of sitting down with him at a party and we were just playing music and he started singing this thing and I thought, "Oh, what is this song?" And I realized he was making it up. And so I added a little something to it, and so we sat and played it for a little while, but we got distracted. Someone came in the room or something. Who knows? But I remembered what we'd played and I'd gotten up the next morning and thought, "That was a cool thing," And I worked on it a little more, and the next time I saw him, I was like, "We should finish that song we were working on!" and he was like, "What song?" He had no recollection at all.

Rawlings, a master on the guitar, is also a major force behind the brilliance of Gillian Welch. The aforementioned interview also lets us in on plans for a new Welch record.

So when can we expect to hear Gillian's new record?

Oh yeah, that's on the top of the list and we're partially...we did some of it as we were making mine, so we just need to finish some more songs and get in there and finish it this spring.

Sweet.

.

Jam of the Day | GIVERS - Up, Up, Up

GIVERS puts ants in my pants and makes me do the boogie dance.

This Lafayette, Louisiana five-piece makes music that is pure, unadulterated fun, perfect for fans of Vampire Weekend. It's clear that GIVERS is heavily influenced by the native music of their hometown and neighboring New Orleans. Add afro-pop, indie, and funk flavors on top of all that, and you get a medley of finger lickin' goodness. The song's title tells no lies: it makes you get up.

GIVERS - Up, Up, Up

GIVERS supported Dirty Projectors on a fall tour, and they are prepped to hit up SXSW this March.

The GIVERS EP is out now, and you can expect the band's first LP next year. Don't know about you, but I'm on pins and needles.

Jam of the Day | Brandi Shearer - When You Wake Up

"When you wake up/ It will be my voice ringing in your ear..."

Which, really, wouldn't be so bad.

Because Brandi Shearer has one hell of a sexy voice. And today's JOTD further proves that I'm in love with female singer-songwriters, expecially the ones who could most likely kick my ass. Newsflash: Ms. Shearer could kick your ass, too.

Just have one listen to "When You Wake Up" off her last album, Love Don't Make You Juliet, and tell yourself she couldn't destroy you with whatever weapon of her choice.



Stay tuned for our interview with Brandi next week...

Matthew Ryan (The Interview)

"Remember when we met/ We were so innocent/ I was so cautious, you were so cool/ The world was brand new..."

Those words come from the first Matthew Ryan song I ever heard, which was was "Devastation" off his 2001 album Concussion. That tune happens to be a duet with Lucinda Williams, another one of my favorite songwriters; the two paired together singing about being "devastation junkies" seemed to sing true to my ears nine years ago. It hurt so good.

But for Matthew Ryan, who always seems to get labeled as a guy who writes downers, I like to think that he's a hopeful songwriter. Sure, his songs might seem to identify with the realness of heartbreak world that we live in. But, there is little mention of defeat in his music. Actually, there is a whole lot of fighting going on -- to redeem, to look death straight in the eye, to find a new spark, to start all over again.

Mostly, to close the gap and win.

His new album, Dear Lover, which was released digitally late last year, gets its official release today. So, we decided to ask one of Tennessee's best songwriters a few questions, and fortunately, Mr. Ryan obliged. Enjoy.

1. You've often mentioned how poetry is among your many artistic influences. If you could have a conversation with any poet (living or deceased) who has influenced your work, who would it be, what would you ask them, and why?

Funny, I've never really thought about sitting down and talking to a poet. Poetry is inspiring when it's done well because it's distilled humanity with momentum and rhythm. It leans on what is understood about being human. It can educate, but above all, it illuminates all the weather we experience. I think if I could sit and talk with one it would probably be Robert Frost. I have a strong suspicion he was a master of the real humor.

2. "P.S." reminds me a bit of your last album Matthew Ryan Vs. the Silver State. To me, there is some kind of battle going on. War-influenced, perhaps. Without getting too specific, can you talk a bit about that song and what it means to you?

"P.S." stands for Protest Song. I probably should have just named it Protest Song, because P.S. offers a bit of confusion for obvious reasons. It's a song that's confronting apathy as if it were a person. It's like, "hey look, there's apathy. Let's kick the shit out of him."

3. In my opinion, Dear Lover is an anthemic album. Why are anthems important to you? Who are some of your favorite songwriters who write anthems, and what are some of your favorite anthems?

Every life is an epic story. All of us bloom in really only a handful of plots and settings. There's so much beauty and power in the details. With Dear Lover, I wanted to re-ignite ground control, so to speak. As you get further into living you can start to feel overwhelmed by the distance between what you thought and what appears to be. But, you see, the world doesn't really change, only how you view it changes. And sometimes, people get numb or disengaged with their real selves, and even worse, sometimes they succumb to the defeat of cynicism. Dear Lover knows you can never be innocent again once you've lost it, but you can reconnect yourself to those things that inspire that desire for more radiant living. Hope, romance, and conviction are my favorite emotions. If you can call them emotions, well, I don't really care. Anthems inspire these things, they remind us of our greater selves, they can actually act as conductors to our more intimately connected hearts, minds and ambitions.

As far as my favorite anthems go, well this is just a couple. I really could go on and on:

Neil Young - Keep On Rocking In The Free World
John Lennon - Imagine
Joe Strummer doing Redemption Song gets me every time.
The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York
Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
U2 - One
Peter Gabriel doing Magnetic Fields' Book Of Love
The Clash - Straight To Hell
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??

4. One of my favorite Dylan lyrics is on "Idiot Wind" when he sings, "Even you, yesterday/ You had to ask me where it was at/ I couldn't believe after all these years/ You didn't know me any better than that." It reminds me of Dear Lover, and all of the things we assume about one another, or don't say to one other. Why is it that most everyone can relate to these types of lyrics/songs? Your thoughts, please.

My guess would be because we allow too much static between us. Too often we allow our intimacy with others and ourselves to be overtook by fear, nonsense, disappointment, and gobbledygook. We all feel misunderstood sometimes, but we often don't recognize those moments as the real opportunities to really connect that they are. Over time, distance can accumulate. The work to regather can get harder, maybe even seem impossible to negotiate. Ultimately, though, we all long for intimacy -- it's what makes our engines hum with humanity. We're always looking for it, that's why songs like "Idiot Wind" resonate like they do. They're tapped directly into the core of the human struggle.

5. Finally, what was the last great concert you attended, and what did you take away from it?

Hands down, Leonard Cohen's show that I saw last November was the best show I've ever seen. It made a strong case for the real power found in the absence of ego. Not to mention the songs, humor, and music. It felt like we were invited to come walk around in a painting for three hours. An absolute treasure of a night. It's what I aspire to offer one day, once I get over myself.

Neon Indian Plays Fallon

I don't think it's a coincidence that the first time I listened to Neon Indian's "Terminally Chill," I was sitting in my recliner, letting my Radioshack back massager work its magic, and sipping on a glass of red wine.

A relatively new project by composer Alan Palomo, Neon Indian creates hazy pop, centered around "the themes of drug induced heartbreak, weary afternoons, and lost chances." To me, "Terminally Chill" sounds like the music that should have been played when Phoebe Cates wore that red swimsuit in Fast Times. It's an early 80s daydream complete with chirping birds, "like the days when lovesick haze chemical fried..."

Neon Indian - Terminally Chill

The band recently hit up Jimmy Fallon and announced it will be playing at this year's Bonnaroo.

Psychic Chasms is out now on Lefse Records.  

Celebrate (Electric) President's Day

Big ups to Heather over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends for clueing me into the new Electric President album that was released last month. The duo of Ben Cooper and Alex Kane aren't afraid to mix a little folk-pop with some electronic beats, and that combo always scores major points with me (think: early David Gray, the superb William Fitzsimmons). I became obsessed with the song "Insomnia" off the 2006 self-titled album while watching a rerun of The O.C. on the Soap Network last summer. Whatever, don't judge me!



It is the. perfect. song. for one of those montages that closes out every episode of every teen drama ever aired. You know, the ones where each character spends Friday night alone to sullenly reflect on the stupid mistakes they made over the last fifty minutes? Yeah, like that. Anyway, ain't no shame in my game; discovering Electric President makes up for the many, many brain cells lost on Marissa Cooper's rebel antics and Sandy Cohen's bagel breakfasts (with schmear).

Stream a new Electric President song here and head over to I Am Fuel, You Are Friends to download "Safe and Sound."

Electric President - Safe and Sound

The Violent Blue is out now on Fake Four Records.

Friday Finds

Google shuts down music blogs without warning (Guardian)
MGMT unveils Congratulations track listing, release date (TwentyFourBit)
Phoenix announces U.S. tour (Paste)
Lissie debuts new song, "In Sleep" (MySpace)
Julian Casablancas plans spring tour (Pitchfork)
The Strokes aiming for September album release (NME)
Top Ten Lovestruck Music Videos (Spinner)
Phoenix, Jay-Z, Weezer lead Bonnaroo Lineup (Spin)
Grab a brand new Dr. Dog song (Aquarium Drunkard)

Pajammy Jam of the Day | Meaghan Smith - I Know

It's Friday here at Speakers in Code, and I still feel like loungin'. After all, it is still snowing. And cold. And February.

But, I have the up-and-coming Meaghan Smith to warm up my day. The Canadian singer's lovely little song that I just can't get enough of is called "I Know," and it's off her new album, The Cricket's Orchestra, which is now available everywhere in North America.

Here's what we get from Smith in a little under three minutes: killer whistling (thanks to her father, Les Smith), soothing mellotron (thanks to Les Cooper), cool clarinet (thanks to Spencer Evans), and to die for vocals (you know who). Seriously, it's just what I needed on this freezing Friday.

Smith says that "I Know" is "for anyone out there who can’t say those three little words." My guess is that they are the same words that The Avett Brothers recently noted always become hard to say: I and Love and You.

Click here for the YouTube, or listen below!

I Know - Meaghan Smith

Stream Ben Sollee + Daniel Martin Moore's 'Dear Companion' Now

Ben Sollee, Daniel Martin Moore, and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket, Monsters of Folk) have teamed up for Dear Companion, an album-length love letter to their native state, Kentucky. With songs written and performed by Sollee and Moore, Yames has taken the role as producer.

From the press release: 
A portion of the proceeds from Dear Companion will benefit Appalachian Voices, an organization devoted to ending mountaintop removal and finding a better way forward. Learn more at I Love Mountains or Sub Pop Records.

Download the lead single, "Something, Somewhere, Sometime" here.



The stream is available until the album comes out on February 16, 2010 on Sub Pop Records.

Katie Herzig (The Interview)

If it isn't clear by now (and it must be), singer-songwriters rule my life. Female ones, especially, like the wonderful Katie Herzig. Really, I can't get enough.

And when I saw Herzig open for Brandi Carlile in Denver last month, I pretty much fell in love with every word that escaped her mouth. I'm probably being dramatic, which is normal for me, but hey, Ms. Herzig had me focused during her whole set. With songs like "Hologram," "Wish You Well," and "I Want to Belong To You," it's hard not to be a little in love with her voice and words.

So, we're a little giddy to have Katie as our guest here at Speakers in Code. Here are her thoughts on touring with Brandi Carlile, songwriting, Nashville, road trips, and future plans.

You recently finished a short tour with Brandi Carlile. What was that like? What did you learn from Brandi? Were there any shows that stood out?

It was all I hoped it'd be. I've been a fan of her music and voice for a while, so it's been such a treat to get to know her and learn that she is every bit as awesome as you'd hope she'd be. That whole crew -- she and the twins and their band/crew are so kind and tons of fun to tour with.

What did I learn from Brandi? We had some good talks about how they've gotten to where they are now, and it's inspiring. You really do reap what you sow, and they are the perfect example of that. The songs those guys write and Brandi's voice and their presence in the shows -- the energy and the way the connect with the audience -- is unparalleled. So, that mixed with their kindness, work ethic, and the obvious joy they have from what they do -- it goes such a long way.

Shows that have stood out to me have been the Tuscon show we did in October, NYC at The Beacon Theater, Seattle, Portland, Des Moines...The Brown Theater in Louisville... the thing is, we get to play these beautiful theaters filled with music lovers who are listening intently to what you do, which is hard to come by as an opener. We felt spoiled most nights.

"Wish You Well" from your last album, Apple Tree, kills me every time I hear it. What does that song mean to you, and what inspired you to write it?

Thanks, that's awesome to hear. That song has meant a lot to me since I wrote it. It's proven to be one of the more powerful/lasting songs I've written. I'm thankful for that. It's one of those songs that has inspired people to share with me how that song relates to their lives and that to me is a gift; I'm always amazed that people feel comfortable sharing some of those things with me, a stranger...but not really, because I guess I've already put myself out there with those lyrics.

I wrote "Wish You Well" in the middle of a combination of things. I had a few friends at the time who'd lost parents and were mourning that, and I also at the time had someone in my life who was sick, so it was really a process of learning what it might be like to say goodbye if I had to. Some lines in the song are deeply personal and specific to me and some are more general and imaginative.

You live in Nashville. What's it like being a musician in Nashville these days?

Well, I miss the bike lanes, the mountains, and the family and friends I have in Colorado, but I moved to Nashville to be apart of a community of artists who inspire me and who I get to collaborate with. It's a very collaborative town, and the indie music scene (the non-country scene) is thriving and supportive. Though I have to say I've felt a bit less connected the last year or so as I've been on the road, mostly. Luckily, it's a forgiving town, and you can pretty easily jump back into things when you're home. The most recent reflection of the scene here is the Ten Out of Tenn Tour that I've been a part of. Check it out and you'll get a taste of the kind of talent around here. Also, creating music in Nashville seems easier to me because there is this wealth of musicians and studios and venues and industry that you always have access to.

If you were going on a long road trip with friends, name some of your must have travel songs.

My life is a long road trip! We listen to lots of music in our tour van. I can tell you that the latest favorite songs/artists that have been on repeat are: Vampire Weekend -- the new record, Contra, has two songs we repeat -- "Horchata" and "Taxi Cab." Then there is the song "Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine, it makes you feel like anything is possible! And we're always coming back to some of our ole standbys such as Sarah McLachlan, Coldplay, Annie Lennox, Lucinda Williams, Enya, Andrew Bird, Shawn Colvin, and tons more...though I have to say recently I've been rocking Julie Andrews' Biography of her early years book on tape -- she reads it herself, and it's just delightful!

Finally, what is next for you? Any plans to record another album soon?

Yeah, I literally just returned to Nashville for a season where I will be home for larger chunks of time to write and record a new record. I'm prepping for it now, and any day here I will probably be jumping into it.

Pajammy Jam of the Day | Kasey Anderson - I Was a Photograph

Photo credit: John Meloy

As much as I love keeping up with the most buzzed about and hyped up bands out there right now, sometimes nothing makes me happier than a dude with an acoustic guitar that isn't afraid to bare his soul in a song. When Kasey Anderson contacted me to see if I'd be interested in checking out his new album, Nowhere Nights, I felt a sense of relief to devote my attention to music that at once feels familiar and comfortable.  

"I Was a Photograph" is a fantastic example of Anderson's truly introspective and thought-provoking lyrics. The opening notes of the harmonica (which is an instrument that, let's face it, gets me every freaking time) build and blend with sparse guitar strums, soft piano keys, and a final, gut-punching drumbeat until the song reaches its climatic conclusion: "You know my face/ I was a photograph..."

I keep thinking about those lines, about how the whole of our identities can be condensed to a two-dimensional piece of paper. It's definitely an idea that I need to spend more time with to fully grasp, but I thank Anderson for not only stirring my emotions but invigorating my mind. 

Kasey Anderson - I Was a Photograph

The new album, Nowhere Nights, comes out on February 16, 2010 on Red River Records and is already available on iTunes. To catch Anderson on tour, check out his schedule here.

Pajammy Jam of the Day | The Swell Season - High Hope

Photo Credit: Piper Ferguson

"So, the song is just about the idea that I'm going to figure all my shit out, and I'm coming to get ya!"

You gotta love Glen Hansard and The Swell Season.

And the most beautiful thing about seeing The Swell Season live is that you get to sing along. Seriously, not just hum, or do a half-assed open your mouth and let a little whimper get through while you look around to see if anyone saw you. No, you sing.

You sing with Glen and Markéta.

And when I saw The Swell Season last December at The Pageant, I sang to this unreleased song, which has a working title of "High Hope." It's a really beautiful piece of music, and I'm sure it will have a place in their live sets for years to come. Have a listen, and sing at your desk, or wherever you are.

"Maybe when our hearts have re-aligned..."

Nicole Simone Creates Movie + Music Magic

Nicole Simone's self-titled debut EP sounds gracefully cinematic. And that makes a lot of sense, considering she's always been fascinated by nostalgia and old movies. Let's just say that this little lady really knows how to set a mood.

Her talents have already been showcased in two films: the Sundance film The Good Life starring Bill Paxton, Zooey Deschanel, and Harry Dean Stantion and the indie Alone With Her starring Colin Hanks.

Simone offers up her video for "Melt" which was shot near the Joshua Tree desert and is an homage to one of her favorite films, Paris, Texas.  Watch the gorgeous video, and if you like what you hear, download the single below.

Nicole Simone comes out on March 9, 2010 on Crystal Ship Music. The six song EP features actor Jason Schwartzman (of the band Coconut Records) on banjo and drums for "The Wedding Song."

Nicole Simone - Melt

Love Is All | More Proof Sweden Rocks

Swedish post-punk band, Love Is All, is gearing up to release its third full-length, Two Thousand and Ten Injuries, on Polyvinyl Records. (Side note: the Swedes are really serving it up right in the music world. Am I right, am I right?) The band just announced a North American tour where it will join labelmates, Japandroids, on six dates.

Love Is All offers up "Recognition" as its second single from Two Thousand and Ten Injuries.

Love is All - Repetition

Tour Dates:
3/27 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
3/28 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory
3/29 - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel*
3/30 - Philadelphia, PA - Barbary*
3/31 - Boston, MA - Middle East (Downstairs)*
4/2 - Montreal, QUE Ill Motore*
4/3 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern*
4/4 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
4/6 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
4/7 - Champaign, IL - High Dive*
4/8 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
4/9 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
4/10 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium (Dempsey's Upstairs)
4/14 - Seattle, WA - High Dive
4/15 - Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
4/16 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
4/17 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
4/18 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo (Part Time Punks)
*w/ Japandroids