ArpLine Releases “Travel Book” Today as Pay What You Wish
mp3: ArpLine - "Parts Unknown"
mp3: ArpLine - "Fold Up Like a Piece of Paper"
Undoubtedly one of my favorite albums of the year, ArpLine's "Travel Book" is now available on their website as 'pay what you wish.' So although I recommend throwing them some pretty penny for this remarkable record, you can get it all for free, so go ahead and get it now.
Valentine’s Day Mix Tape 2010
Valentine's Day is a pretty horrible corporate holiday that causes more trouble than good, but I still decided to make a special Valentine's Day-themed mix tape. Enjoy.
Download: JonnyLeather.com Valentine's Day Mix Tape 2010
New Music: Bluebrain - “Ten By Ten”
Bluebrain - "Ten By Ten"
Brooklyn's Bluebrain, a duo featuring former members of The Epochs, begins their Monday night residency at Pianos tonight (free show). I'm really digging their catchy cinematic record, Soft Power.
The full album is currently streaming for free at Spinner.com
Concert: Benefit for Jiamini @ The Bell House // 2.24.10
Jonny Leather/Good For You's Good For Me Presents:
A Benefit For Jiamini Scholarship Fund
The Subjects
ARMS
Uninhabitable Mansions
Frances
2.24.10 @ The Bell House
149 7th Street Brooklyn, NY
Doors at 7pm
21+
$10
proceeds will be donated to The Jiamini Scholarship Fund
The Subjects
The Subjects - "Winter Vacation"
"The line I want to use to describe The Subjects is from the exasperated phone call scene in 'Back to Future', where Marvin Berry- wth his bloddy, bandaged playing hand - punches his cousin Chuck's phone number and says, "You know that new sound you've been looking for? Well, listen to this..."—Daytrotter
Consequence Of Sound: "... classical work with eccentric pop work that is light and fresh with just enough thud and kick to it."
"...remarkably solid..."—Magnet Magazine
ARMS
"Arms' music is lo-fi but lovely and very, very good. There's truly not a bad song on here. 'Kids Aflame' rocks, shudders, weeps, and smiles as you reach to hit 'play' again." —The Guardian (UK)
"[Arms] readily demonstrates a knack for the slowly building, triumphant-sounding anthem that's still a little downbeat no matter what." —AllMusic.com
Uninhabitable Mansions
Uninhabitable Mansions - "Do You Have A Strategy"
At Bowery last Saturday, the Brooklyn art and music collective Uninhabitable Mansions opened for the Antlers and provided the packed house with abundance of talent and songcraft. Drawing members from the bands Au Revoir Simone, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, and the late lamented Dirty on Purpose, UM performed a thirty-five minute set of material from their excellent new release Nature Is A Taker. The songs combine elements of indie-pop and shoegaze and highlight the vocal harmonies of Annie Hart and Robbie Guertin, while focusing on the interplay between melodic guitar lines, keyboards and Doug Marvin’s driving drums.—NYC Taper
Frances
“All The While nails its grand aesthetic. It never descends to the pomposity of similar artists like the Divine Comedy, but still forges a friendly marriage between accessibility and mystery. Call it “chamber pop” or just call it like it is: a phenomenal debut album.”—Prefix Magazine 8.5/10
Learn More About Jiamini
Together with the New York Times and Thomson Reuters, Jiamini is honored to co-host a panel discussion addressing the role of education in Africa’s long-term development.
Event: Panel discussion
African Experiences: Development through Education
Date: February 16th | 5:30PM - 9:00PM
Panel discussion will begin at 6PM | Cocktail reception to follow
Location: 3 Times Square | 30th floor | New York, NY
7th Ave between 42nd & 43rd Streets
Panel Moderator: Matt Bigg, Atlanta Bureau Chief for Reuters
Panelists
- Ambassador John Campbell, former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria
- Dr. Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome (CUNY), Professor of Political Science
- Mora Mclean, President and CEO of theAfrica-America Institute
- Reverend Petero Sabune, Chaplain at Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Sponsored by: Thomson Reuters Black Employee Network
The New York Times African Heritage Affinity Group
RSVP Required | This is a free event | Jiamini.org/rsvp.php
FEAST ON THIS Free MP3 Recap: January Edition
Every month, I'll collect all of the mp3s given away on this site into one quick post called Feast On This, giving you all one large dosage of new music to feast upon. Enjoy the January edition.
Adrienne Drake - "Lovesick Full Adults" (Bear in Heaven cover)
ArpLine - "Fold Up Like a Piece of Paper"
Beulah - “Me And Jesus Don't Talk Anymore”
Motel Motel - "Forest" (Daytrotter Session)
The Royal Chains - "Lucy Takes a Dare"
Paul & The Patients - "Shooting Star"
Paul & The Patients - "Complaint 15"
The Waylons - "Endless Supplies"
Linfinity - "Molly Mar of Rome"
Christopher Paul Stelling - "Flawless Executioner"
Christopher Paul Stelling - "How Long"
Dinosaur Feathers - "Cold Arabella"
Ravens & Chimes - "So Long Marianne" (Leonard Cohen cover)
Ravens & Chimes - "Hearts of Palm"
The Morning Benders - "Promises"
Outernational - "Eyes on Fire"
Controlled Storms - "Ode to Long Hikes"
Mani Pedi - "ENYGSM" (rough demo)
Mani Pedi - "Pictures + Seesaw"
The Besnard Lakes - "Albatross"
Your New Favorite Band: The Waylons
The Waylons
From: New York
RIFYL: Teenage Fanclub, Wilco
mp3: The Waylons - "Endless Supplies"
For quite a few years now, The Waylons have been one of the greatest hidden treasures of the New York music world. For one reason or another The Waylons have gone relatively unnoticed by press, blogs, and seemingly everybody. It's one of those things that makes me question exactly what makes me a fan when everyone else is listening to someone else. So I put on their self-titled debut record and within the opening seconds of "Front Porch" I can't help but hear perfect pop rock with a hint of folk and excellent hooks. I was introduced to their music when their cd found its way onto my desk when I was just starting to work as a music writer. They had no label, they didn't look hip, and no one was talking about them, but the songs were so good that I would see them perform live multiple times that year. All 4 members proved to have an excellent grasp on the art of songwriting, and the live performances lived up to the recordings.
The members of The Waylons aren't in their early twenties, and have grown content with releasing an occasional record and playing a couple shows a year, so their chances of indie-stardom of very small. But knowing all this, with one listen of their new EP Out of Love, it's hard to imagine that blogs like BrooklynVegan aren't even listing their show tonight at Bruar Falls. When I hear these songs I hear bits and pieces of Teenage Fanclub, Steven Malkmus, early Wilco, and Simon & Garfunkle.
Take one listen to "Rachel" or "Endless Supplies" and tell me you don't love this band.
1/20 - Bruar Falls (Out of Love record release party)
2/3 - Union Hall
MP3 Exclusive: Hooray For Earth - “Form”
JONNYLEATHER.com is proud to offer an exclusive free download of "Form" a brand new single by Boston/Brooklyn's Hooray For Earth. The band is hard at work on their next record, but in the meantime decided to release "Form" which will not be on the next album, but is definitely deserving to be heard.
In the past I have drawn a comparison between Hooray For Earth and Torche, and "Form" has that same heavy but melodic sound that initially brought out that comparison. It is probably the heaviest song in the Hooray For Earth catalog, and it's that My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything style of heavy, with a layer of Shields-like buzzing guitars that cut through with a slow but loud intensity. Despite the bit of My Bloody Valentine influence showing itself here, it's nothing like the stream of cookie cutter bands riding the current shoegaze trend. Thankfully ,you will not find Hooray For Earth on stage anytime soon, dressed in black with Bob Dylan hair and black sunglasses, staring at the floor, playing one chord, while an impressive pedal setup does all the work.
MP3: ArpLine New Album Demos
ArpLine used to be called the Kiss Off, and then they changed their name. Name changes can always lead to a lot of confusion, and any momentum they were making in the local scene took a hit with the name change. But no matter how many times they change their name, or what they change it to, ArpLine may be the best unknown band in New York. The blogs have yet to catch on, but playing shows all over town with bands like Crocodiles, Drug Rug, and Your Vegas is a start. A new record is in the works, and from the sound of a pair of demos that have leaked, this is gonna be one hell of a record.
"Make It Rain" is a surefire hit if the right people hear it. Critics will concoct scenerios involving a lovechild between Rush and Gary Numan, or something like that.
