The Dirtbag Diaries

Here are the cuts from our Facebook episode...

The Mother Hips
"One Way Out" (mp3)
from "Pacific Dust"
(Camera Records)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



CYNE
"Pretty Apollo" (mp3)
from "Water For Mars"
(Hometapes)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Sugar & Gold
"Slice Me Nice" (mp3)
from "¡AYA! Remix EP"
(Antenna Farm Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Track A Tiger
"Light" (mp3)
from "We Moved Like Ghosts"
(Deep Elm)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Here are the cuts from the New Conservationists. I think I accidentally called St. George...St. Gross in a section of the episode.  Total mistake. Freudian slip.

 

The Most Serene Republic
"Heavens To Purgatory" (mp3)
from "...And The Ever Expanding Universe"
(Arts & Crafts)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Herman Dune
"Don't Lie About Me" (mp3)
from "Don't Lie About Me!"
(Everloving)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Balmorhea
"The Winter" (mp3)
from "Rivers Arms"
(Western Vinyl)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Egadz!
"Have Some Guts Kid" (mp3)
from "Egadz is Dead"
(Kid Without Radio)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Do Make Say Think
"Do" (mp3)
from "Other Truths"
(Constellation)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Music from Underwriting Adventure....

Tinariwen
"Imidiwan Afrik Temdam" (mp3)
from "Imidiwan: Companions"
(World Village)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Mantis
"What? (feat. Justis)" (mp3)
from "Still Life"
(Brick Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Selva de Mar
"Reggae Ehad" (mp3)
from "Selva de Mar"
(Whatabout Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Here are the cuts from Episode 31...

Peter Broderick
"The Path to Recovery" (mp3)
from "Music for Falling from Trees"
(Western Vinyl)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



We Were Promised Jetpacks
"Ships With Holes Will Sink" (mp3)
from "These Four Walls"
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



ZAZA
"Sooner or Later" (mp3)
from "Cameo"
(Kanine Records LLC)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Here are the cuts from today's show.  Remember we're looking for leads on some of my story projects this summer.  If you've got a tip please pass it along....

Deer Tick
"Easy" (mp3)
from "Born on Flag Day"
(Partisan Records)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody


West Indian Girl
"Beach" (mp3)
from "We Believe"
(Origami Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Sunparlour Players
"Battle Of 77" (mp3)
from "Wave North"
(Outside Music)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody


Sinkane
"Apache Beat" (mp3)
from "Sinkane"
(Emergency Umbrella)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Lymbyc Systym
"Processed Spirits" (mp3)
from "Field Studies"
(Magic Bullet)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Lymbyc Systym
"Lotan Baba" (mp3)
from "Carved By Glaciers"
(Magic Bullet)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

here are the cuts from Summer Invocation....

Lymbyc Systym
"Carved By Glaciers" (mp3)
from "Carved By Glaciers"
(Magic Bullet)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Seekret Socyetee
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (mp3)
from "The IL2 Word"
(Quickstar Productions)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album

Today's music came from our friends, The Secret Life of Sofia. This Brooklyn-based band aren't your typical indie rockers -- they've got an affinity for the wide open space and big mountains. Their latest album Seven Summits is featured here today.

"It is in some ways a concept album - part historical fiction, part personal experience.  Its writing was largely influenced by an obsession with the mountains and my relationship with them," lead singer Kyle Wilson told me. You can purchase the album through their myspace page linked above.

On a personal note, I really dig this album. It's very difficult to write songs that speak to the power of high places without falling into ridiculous cliche. I've listened to this album dozens of times and at each listen I find some new historical reference or emotion I recognize from my own connection to the mountains. It is in some ways as much a novel as it is a record and Wilson avoids the cliche by sticking to inventive images that we all know and recognize but would never think to include in a song. Seriously, check it out.

here are the cuts from the latest show. You can download them by left clicking on the mp3 link.

Clues
"Perfect Fit" (mp3)
from "Clues"
(Constellation)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Clues
"Remember Severed Head" (mp3)
from "Clues"
(Constellation)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Kokolo
"Trouble Come, Trouble Go" (mp3)
from "The Rough Guide To Afrobeat Revival"
(Rough Guides/World Music Network)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album



Rodriguez
"Heikki's Suburbia Bus Tour" (mp3)
from "Coming From Reality"
(Light In The Attic)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel
"Hesitation Blues" (mp3)
from "Willie And The Wheel"
(Bismeaux Records)

Buy at Willie and the Wheel Website
Stream from Rhapsody

here are the cuts from the show

CunninLynguists
"Don't Leave (When Winter Comes) [feat. Slug]" (mp3)
from "Strange Journey Volume One"
(QN5, Inc.)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Dengue Fever
"March of the Balloon Animals" (mp3)
from "Dengue Fever Presents: Sleepwalking Through the Mekong"
(M80)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Great Northern
"Warning" (mp3)
from "Remind Me Where The Light Is"
(Eenie Meenie Records)

More On This Album

Here are the cuts from The Cowboy and the Maiden.

Balmorhea
"Harm & Boon" (mp3)
from "All Is Wild, All Is Silent"
(Western Vinyl)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
"Malbicho" (mp3)
from "La Luz Del Ritmo"
(Nacional Records)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album



Egadz!
"Grim Advantage Pt. 1" (mp3)
from "Shining Hours"
(Kid Without Radio)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album



Suburban Dark
"Comms" (mp3)
from "Expeditions"
(The Frequency Lab)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Home Video
"Sleep Sweet" (mp3)
from "No Certain Night or Morning - iTunes Exclusive"
(Defend Music Inc.)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

music from the Monoboard remixed....

Andy McKee
"Art of Motion" (mp3)
from "Art of Motion"
(Candy Rat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Gregory & The Hawk
"Grey Weather" (mp3)
from "Moenie And Kitchi"
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody


The American Analog Set
"Born On The Cusp" (mp3)
from "Set Free"
(Arts & Crafts)

Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody

Benjamin Dewey is Portland musician and friend of today's contributor Bob Grunau.  Dewey is also an artist and has some pretty cool comics over at Melee Comics.

Also appearing on todays show.
The Hylozoists
"Bras d'Or Lakes" (mp3)
from "L'�le De Sept Villes"
(Outside Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


Red Room Cinema
"The Nation Is On Fire" (mp3)
from "The Black Friday Session EP"
(New Granada Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


Y La Bamba
"Alida St." (mp3)
from "Alida St"
(GypsyPop Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store

You may remember Jacob Bain from Episode 5. He's got a a goal for the new year -- get serious about making music.  His new band -- Publish the Quest -- is the real deal.  Visit the band's site or their myspace page to stream cuts and buy the album.

here are the tracks from the latest show....enjoy!

Hauschka
"Freibad" (mp3)
from "Ferndorf"
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Frightened Rabbit
"Old Old Fashioned" (mp3)
from "Liver! Lung! FR!"
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
"Backrow Politics" (mp3)
from "Act Your Age"
(Immergent)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


The Coast
"Tight Rope" (mp3)
from "Killing Off Our Friends"
(Aporia Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Frontier Ruckus
"Orion Town 2" (mp3)
from "The Orion Songbook"
(Quite Scientific Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Twilight Hotel
"Viva la Vinyl" (mp3)
from "Highway Prayer"
(Corazong Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


The Tones
"The Movemeant" (mp3)
from "Dreamtalk"
(PLUG Label)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

here are the cuts from the latest episode...

Mahalia Jackson
"Silent Night" (mp3)
from "Christmas Remixed 2"
(Rock River Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


+/- {Plus/Minus}
"Snowblind" (mp3)
from "Xs On Your Eyes"
(Absolutely Kosher)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Blitzen Trapper
"Christmas Is Coming Soon" (mp3)
from "I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas"
(Animal World)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


School of Seven Bells
"Connjur" (mp3)
from "Alpinisms"
(Ghostly International)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

here are the cuts from the latest show...


John Carpenter, Alan Howarth
"Chariots of Pumpkins" (mp3)
from "Halloween III: Complete Original Motion Picture Score"
(Halloween Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


Charlie Hunter
"Welcome to Frankfurt" (mp3)
from "Baboon Strength"
(reapandsow, Inc.)
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Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


adcBicycle
"And Who Could Love A Man She Couldn't See?" (mp3)
from "adcBicycle"
(Noise Factory)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Marching Band
"For Your Love" (mp3)
from "Spark Large"
(U & L Records, Inc.)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


+/- {Plus/Minus}
"Snowblind" (mp3)
from "Xs On Your Eyes"
(Absolutely Kosher)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

here are the countrified cuts from the latest show.


Walt Wilkins
"Seven Hillsides" (mp3)
from "Rivertown"
(Palo Duro Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


Elliott Brood
"Oh, Alberta" (mp3)
from "Tin Type"
(Weewerk)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody



Also featured:
Sub Pop Records' singer/songwriter Sera Cahoone.

Here's the playlist from the latest show.


Michna
"Swiss Glide" (mp3)
from "Magic Monday"
(Ghostly International)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Starfucker
"Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second" (mp3)
from "Starfucker"
(Badman Recording Co)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Delta Spirit
"Trashcan" (mp3)
from "Ode to Sunshine"
(Rounder Records)

More On This Album



Windmill
"Tokyo Moon" (mp3)
from "Puddle City Racing Lights"
(Friendly Fire Recordings)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Alias
"Well Water Black (feat. Yoni Wolf of WHY?)" (mp3)
from "Resurgam"
(anticon)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody

Music from the show...


Numbers
"New Life" (mp3)
from "Now You Are This"
(Kill Rock Stars)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


Feral Children
"Jaundice Giraffe" (mp3)
from "Second to the Last Frontier"
(Sarathan Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Also...we're very lucky to have The Helio Sequence song "Can't Say No."  I'm not sure if this Portland-based act has made it out of the Northwest, but everyone up here has been rocking out to this album for the last six months.

Kassin+2
"Tranquilo (Super Stereo Sound System)" (mp3)
from "Futurismo"
(Luaka Bop)

Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody


Yes King, Dawn Penn, Mystro, Kenny Knotts
"Rock This World" (mp3)
from "Rock This World"
(LOOP)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album



James Blackshaw
"Infinite Circle" (mp3)
from "Litany of Echoes"
(Tompkins Square)

More On This Album

Friend of Mine is a collection of U.K.-based of musicians, artists and surfers. The provided much of the ambiance for this episode. Check them out.

Also on todays show...

Lyrics Born
"Pack Up Remix (feat KRS-One & Evidence/Dilated Peoples, prod Jumbo/Lifesavas)" (mp3)
from "Same !@#$ Different Day"
(Quannum Projects)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Sally Shapiro, Junior Boys
"Jackie Junior" (mp3)
from "Remix Romance Vol. 1"
(Paper Bag Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Vetiver
"Blue Driver" (mp3)
from "Thing Of The Past"
(Gnomonsong)

Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody

Here are the cuts from the Year of Big Ideas Reprieve....You can stream them by clicking on the song title. 

Dosh
"If You Want To, You Have To" (mp3)
from "Wolves and Wishes"
(anticon)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody


Santogold
"L.E.S Artistes" (mp3)
from "L.E.S Artistes"
(Lizard King)

Buy at iTunes Music Store


Mobius Band
"Friends Like These" (mp3)
from "Heaven"
(Misra)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

you can stream the cuts by clicking on the song title...I love this cut by David Karsten Daniels.

David Karsten Daniels
"Martha Ann" (mp3)
from "Fear of Flying"
(Fat Cat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Golden Shoulders
"Golden Soldiers" (mp3)
from "Friendship Is Deep (Reissue)"
(Welcome Home Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights
"Laughter Be Your Slave" (mp3)
from "Heart Palpitations of the Rich and Famous"
(Eskimo Kiss Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Monk
"Santa Ana Murders And The Neonlights Of Love" (mp3)
from "The Man Who Sleeps On His Breath"
(sevenahalf records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

here's the music from the show. You can listen by clicking on the song...

Cake
"Ruby Sees All" (mp3)
from "Motorcade of Generosity"
(Upbeat Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Beatundercontrol
"All The Way [To Heaven]" (mp3)
from "Cosmic Repackage"
(Malicious Damage)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


The New Rochelle Rotary Club
"Air Currents" (mp3)
from "Air Currents"
(Radar Recordings)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Daturah
"Hybrisma" (mp3)
from "Reverie"
(Graveface Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody


Museum Pieces
"Eye of My Mind" (mp3)
from "Nor You, Nor You"
(Youth Club Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Stream from Rhapsody

Bradley Carter claims to be a reformed rock climber. He's found music and changed his ways. Joined a band -- Max Gross Weight. He's traded dirtbag living in Yosemite for the life of a hard working professional musician. He swears it. Personally, I don't believe him for a second, mostly because he talked me into to playing hooky from work tomorrow to go clip bolts...oops did I say that out loud.

Also music by....
The New Rochelle Rotary Club
"Air Currents" (mp3)
from "Air Currents"
(Radar Recordings)

Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody

Theatre of Disco
"OKE" (mp3)
from "Theatre of Disco"
(Risky Disko)

Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Rhapsody

Sorry for the delay....here are the cuts.

Bradley Carter is a reformed rock climber turned musician. You can hear his guitar work throughout the episode. It's fitting too -- Carter was actually on YOSAR.

Friend Ken Christianson keeps bumping the cuts here at the Dirtbag Diaries.  Ken provided the music for All These Things.

Son Lux
"Break" (mp3)
from "At War With Walls and Mazes"
(anticon)

Buy at Rhapsody

The Out_Circuit
"Across The Light" (mp3)
from "Pierce The Empire With A Sound"
(Lujo Records)

Buy at Rhapsody

Dengue Fever
"Seeing Hands" (mp3)
from "Venus on Earth"
(M80)

Buy at iTunes Music Store

Southerly
"How To Be A Dreamer" (mp3)
from "Storyteller and the Gossip Columnist"
(Greyday Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store

Why?
"The Hollows" (mp3)
from "Alopecia"
(anticon)

Buy at Rhapsody

Indie music – who knows what that term means anymore? About a million musical pundits have offered unwanted opinions. I’ll let it rest, but I do know is this – I know true indie music when I see it.

Los Angeles-based musician, Ken Christianson lives in Hollywood, but life isn’t glamorous. He shares a small studio apartment with another musician.  His “roomâ€? is the closet, which he has partitioned into two stories.  The upper level of this spacious abode is so small that Ken has trouble sitting up right. Every night after his nine to five at a rug store, Ken goes to work on his passion – music. The result is his musical journal, a carefully crafted assortment of music. Every plucked string, note sung and key pressed is Ken. You can stream or purchase his cuts, which range from polished tracks to tiny sketches. Expect to hear more in coming episodes.  

Tracks used today:

One Foot Out, Fire Diary, Five Little Men, Air, Dirtbag and Strange Hillbilly

A couple of notes. Some of you may have heard the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble a couple weeks back on NPR's weekend edition.  After forgetting to turn of my alarm, I woke up to their version of Steven Reich's piece, Music for 18 Musicians, after imbibing several light beers at the prior evening's house warming party.  It was way too early, but  I just loved what I heard.

In order of appearance:

Siba -- Vale Do Juca (mp3)Buy at Napster 
Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble -- Music for 18 Musicians (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store

Ken Christianson -- Music for Mine

Music from the Year of Big Ideas

Gift of Gab -- Way of the Light (mp3)-- Buy at iTunes Music Store
Modaji -- Bar Blues (mp3)-- Buy at iTunes Music Store
The Antlers -- The Universe is Going To Catch You (mp3)-- Buy at iTunes Music Store

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for -- the Dirtbag’s 2007 Playlist. Actually it’s probably not the moment you’ve been waiting for, but during the holidays I got a little behind on work.  The next episode will be out any day now.  Stay tuned, but in the meantime I thought I’d give those who wrote in asking about music and bands a little treat. I sorted and tallied emails, picked a few of my personal favorites and compiled the songs together. It was hard to condense it down into a reasonable length. Some of the artists are friends; others were completely new to me. Enjoy.


In Order of Appearance:

Chasing Trains -- Trolls Cottage
Nature of the Experiment -- Tokyo Police Club
Fire for the People -- Blue Scholars
Flowering Spade -- Sean Hayes
I've got you and you've got me --New Buffalo
Broken Wires on my Record Player -- Cars and Trains
Teenage Kicks -- Gene Drayton Unit
Night at the Knight School -- Thee More Shallows
Raining in Paradise -- Manu Chao
Let Me Land -- Sus Corez

*music made possible by Ioda Promonet and the artists

Here are the tracks and links for the artists featured in Episode 13. If you're a hip-hop fan, the Blue Scholars' Bayani was one of my favorite albums of 2007. Definitely worth a listen -- they are one of the hardest working acts in West Coast Hip Hop.

Blue Scholars -- Joe Metro (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store
Carly Commando -- Everyday (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store
Badun -- Fyrtårn (mp3)Buy at Rhapsody
Tinariwen -- Cler Achel (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store

Here is the music...Lady Don't Tekno is a personal favorite.

Cars and Trains -- The Wires From My Broken Record Player (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store
Latyrx -- Lady Don't Tek No (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store
Burial -- Ghost Hardware (mp3)Buy at Cargo Records
Frightened Rabbit -- Be Less Rude (mp3)Buy at iTunes Music Store