Last night’s broadcast of Left of the Dial on WNHU was my first radio show of Summer 2012! That’s something to celebrate, right? I first started interning at WNHU two years ago this month, and got my show soon after that. I like to think that I’ve come a long way since then. Anyway, here’s the full, 30 track playlist from last night’s show. If you want, you can stream the 24 tracks that were available on Spotify at the embedded link at the bottom, provided that you have a Spotify account. I provided click through links for the songs that aren’t available to stream on Spotify below. Thanks for tuning in last night.
Also, as a sidenote, there won’t be another broadcast of Left of the Dial next Friday, June 8th. I’ll be playing a charity show in Glastonbury, Connecticut with some other great bands. Here’s the facebook event page if you’re interested in coming.
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Now Playing: Dirty Projectors - "Two Doves" -
A pretty acoustic gem from Dirty Projectors’ 2009 record Bitte Orca. I’m excited to catch this band at the Pitchfork Music Festival this year. Tune in to Left of the Dial now on WNHU.
Now Playing: Dan Deacon - "Lots" -
Lead single from electropop artist Dan Deacon’s new album America. Tune in to Left of the Dial now on WNHU.
Possibly having some kind of issue with WNHU’s web streaming feature… yet again… It should be playing Japandroids right now. Try this link to tune in.
Now Playing: King Tuff - "Bad Thing" -
Heavy, excitable, and infectiously melodic garage rock from Sub Pop. This is one of the best new tracks I’ve heard in the past week. Tune in to Left of the Dial on WNHU now.
Left of the Dial Radio Show on WNHU: 6-8pm EST -
Tune in now!
Click the link above to tune in to my radio show Left of the Dial on WNHU from 6 to 8 PM tonight. This playlist includes some blistering new garage rock from Ty Segall and King Tuff, in addition to new stuff from Dan Deacon and SPOOK HOUSES, and some classic ’80s indie rock from The Replacements and Hüsker Dü. This is the first show of the summer for me, now that I’m out of school, so I’m very excited for it.
Leave any and all requests in my ask box. The full playlist will be up here and on Spotify tomorrow. Let’s get started now with a demo version of “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements, from the 2008 deluxe edition of their 1985 album Tim.
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When it comes to new music being released, May was one of my favorite months so far this year. In keeping with my 2012 tradition of making a 10 track mix of new songs every month this year, here is the latest installment in my monthly mix series. Stream this month’s mix at the embedded link below, or at my 8tracks page. If you want to check out the previous months’ mixes, head over to my “Monthly Mix” tag HERE.
Lewis and his Blog//May 2012 Mix
1. The Hiya Dunes - “Black Fur”
These SUNY Purchase kids apparently didn’t get the memo that reverb-heavy beach rock is played out, but with tunes as good as this one, who cares? Long live summer 2009. Download The Hiya Dunes’ new record High Tide over at their bandcamp page, or pick up the casette for $5 at the Seagreen Records webstore.
2. Animal Collective - “Honeycomb”
At the beginning of the month, Animal Collective debuted two new tracks from a forthcoming 7”, and soon afterwards announced a new full length LP called Centipede Hz. That LP is due out in September, but the 7” should hold us over until then. Of the two tracks, “Honeycomb” is the highlight, with its spacey drums and returned-member Deakin’s psychedelic guitar leads. Check out both tracks and purchase the 7” digitally or on vinyl HERE.
3. Fang Island - “Asunder”
Like Animal Collective before them, the Rhode Island math rock act Fang Island also debuted a new single this month, coinciding with the announcement of a new album. The joyous, guitar-worshipping “Asunder” is the first track to debut from Major, the band’s forthcoming third LP, which will be released July 24th via Sargent House.
4. Sean Milo - “Eyes So Small”
Teenaged songwriter/producer Sean Milo is a rare talent in the bedroom pop world. On “Eyes So Small,” the most recent single from his forthcoming album The February Heat Wave, Milo layers subtle percussion, twinkly guitars, and slurred vocals to produce a calm, soothing aesthetic wash that builds effortlessly to a dramatic climax in the final minute. Download “Eyes So Small” on bandcamp HERE.
5. The Tallest Man On Earth - “1904”
Appropriately named There’s No Leaving Now, Kristian Matsson’s latest record as The Tallest Man On Earth is a remarkably ambitious sonic step forward for the Swedish folk singer. Thankfully, as tracks like the aching lead single “1904” show, he hasn’t lost his ability to craft great folk songs under all the aesthetic trappings. The album is available for pre-order now from Dead Oceans.
6. Sun Kil Moon - “Among The Leaves”
The latest songwriting effort from Mark Kozelek’s Sun Kil Moon project is surprisingly open and earnest, giving a lot of previously unseen insight into Kozelek’s psyche. It’s also filled with some really gorgeous music, as evidenced by the lush, string-laden title track. Among The Leaves is available for purchase now from Caldo Verde Records.
7. Mount Eerie - “Through The Trees pt. 2”
Clear Moon, Phil Elverum’s most recent full length album as Mount Eerie, is a remarkable subtle and introspective affair, dealing primarily with minimalist instrumentation and lyrics about coming to terms with unfamiliar places. These themes are exemplified by “Through The Trees pt. 2,” which was released as a single earlier in the year but works best in the context of the album. Purchase Clear Moon from Elverum’s record label HERE.
8. Self Defense Family - “Self Immolation Family”
Try as they might to cover it up with name changes, unpredictable promotional strategies, and their utterly hilarious tumblr page, Self Defense Family can’t help but make fascinating music. “Self Immolation Family,” the frostbitten a-side to their new Iceland 7”, might be their most interesting — if not best — song to date. Purchase the new 7” from Deathwish Records HERE.
9. Milkshakes - “Joey Fitness”
“Joey Fitness”, the last track on Milkshakes’ new split with Wisdom Teeth, manages to condense nearly 22 years of indie/emo angst into just over 2 minutes. Stream Milkshakes’ half of the split on their bandcamp page HERE, and download all three tracks for free.
10. Spirit Night - “The Last Time”
Spirit Night’s new record One Man Houses stands among the best indie rock revival records of 2012 so far because it challenges traditional indie rock tropes rather than just reinforcing them. With its arching guitars, cryptic, disturbing lyrics, and skyward vocal melody, the album highlight “The Last Time” is a heavy, emotional tearjerker that will serve as a great closer to your next summer mixtape. Read my review of One Man Houses HERE and download the record on their bandcamp page.
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Anonymous asked: After all the discussion about racial slurs and other negative names, you promote a single that has the word "retard" in the title?
You’re right. That was lame of me. The single is really good, but the title does make me uncomfortable and I should have at least made note of that in my original post. I appreciate you calling me out on this.
Read The Lyrics From The New Tallest Man On Earth LP -
On The Tallest Man On Earth’s new LP There’s No Leaving Now, Swedish bard Kristian Matsson takes a few pages from the most recent Bon Iver record, transmuting the sparse folk sound of his earlier records into something brighter, prettier, and more expansive in scope. It seems like Matsson has also taken some influence from Bon Iver’s promotional strategies; like Justin Vernon did last year, Mattson has chosen to post the lyrics of his new album in full online in advance of its release.
Head over to the Dead Oceans website to read them, sequenced in the order of the album’s tracklist, and stream the beautiful lead single “1904” HERE.
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There’s No Leaving Now is out June 12th on Dead Oceans Records and is available for pre-order now.