Now Downloading: New Releases 12.01.09

This week, since there's little to celebrate this week in new releases, I thought I'd look at a couple recent releases that either slipped through the cracks (Real Estate) or didn't get a traditional release date (Friday Mile).

Playlist: New Releases 12.01.09

---

Real Estate - Real Estate
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

When one thinks of New Jersey and rock bands, inevitably the names Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi come up. The Garden State's Real Estate have little to do with that legacy, but a certain band from Hoboken does come to mind in hearing their laid back collage of pop sounds. Their self-titled debut starts out with a Byrds-like vibe and ride that jangly reverb and delay for the length of the release. The sixties-vibe could get droll if not for the occasional left-turns to keep you interested. It's a fine debut that begs to see just which exit this band takes next.

---

Friday Mile - Good Luck Studio [iTunes]
Stream / Purchase [cdbaby]

My neighborhood of Ballard is no Brooklyn as far as bands go, but it seems like something is happening here. There's the alt-country sound of The Maldives, the self-proclaimed King of Ballard rapper Grynch, and the boy-girl sweet pop of Friday Mile (who feature their own self-proclaimed Mayor of Ballard in drummer Chad Clibborn). Without sounding derivative, Friday Mile most closely resembles The Swell Season, and not just because of the boy/girl harmonies from songwriter/guitarist Jace Krause and keyboardist Hannah Williams. Good Luck Studio, their first full length on a label (Timber Carnival Records), leads off with the Cold War Kids-like "Handle It" and ends with a wink to The Beatles with "Even I." In between, aside from a minor lull in the middle, the album hits the target on its aim to satisfy the listener's sweet tooth. Highlights include the infectious "Lives of Strangers," the R.E.M.ish "FYI and the mysterious "Westerfield."

Disclaimer: Friday Mile are friends and neighbors of mine. Since I usually refrain from writing about the near and dear in this space, that should say something.

---

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Daniel, Fred & Julie - Daniel, Fred & Julie / "Runner" [mp3]
Manu Chao - Baionarena
The Bravery - Stir the Blood
Up in the Air: Music From the Motion Picture / Free AOL Album Stream
Natural Elements - 1999: 10 Year Anniversary

tags: music, album review, friday mile, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Built to (NOT) Spill

Arriving just in time for my weekend road trip, Built to Spill's latest There is No Enemy provided the perfect relief from the upteenth time through They Might Be Giants' Here Comes Science. While it's cute hearing your four-year old singing about the elements and circulatory system, the wife and I needed some Doug Marsch guitar redemption.

At first There Is No Enemy is kind of lulling, but slowly but surely, moments arrive, melodies burrow and before we knew it, the album has already become a staple. In advance of the street date release next Tuesday (October 6), there's a couple tracks streaming.

"Things Fall Apart" is the kind of sprawling workout that we've come to expect from the Boise band, if a bit more focused than past releases, that is right up until the guitar solos kick in.

Meanwhile, "Hindsight" is the rare efficient pop song from the band, clocking in at just over three minutes, getting it's point across quickly while still leaving enough space for Doug's axe to work its magic, via slide or arpeggio melodies up the guitar neck. And then the repeated refrain "What about Canada?" comes on, and everything seems so connected.

You see, we were North of the border for the wedding of our good friends and neighbors Chad & Lindsey, up the Sunshine Coast at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort (Halfmoon Bay). Many in the music blog circle know Chad as the drummer for Friday Mile, as well as being largely responsible for putting together the Doe Bay Fest lineup the past two years. Since we're always soundtracking, might as well point out the lovely couple chose M. Ward songs for the ceremony.

Oh, and yes... it was my birthday as well... happy birthday to me.

Doe Bay Fest: Ferry Gods were Smilin'

While I'm not sure how much of it can be attributed directly, having great luck with the ferries this weekend for Doe Bay Fest started and ended our trips if fine fashion. The weather was great, the lineup was perfect (capped by The Long Winters fine evening performance), and the crowd was laid back. Kids were played near the stage while band after band played with the great outdoor backdrop at Doe Bay. There was some worry that growing the festival too fast would prove too much for the resort to handle, but it really was the perfect amount of people to be enjoyable and not require any real security.

Here's a few photos from the festivities:

The Maldives

Hey Marseilles

Friday Mile

Z enjoys the music

The Long Winters

Full gallery on flickr

Doe Bay Fest 2009: Preview of Festival Utopia

The Long Winters, The Maldives (pictured above from last year's DB set), David Bazan, Hey Marseilles, The Moondoggies and The Lonely Forest headline the 2nd annual and greatly expanded Doe Bay Music Festival, August 14-15 at Doe Bay, Orcas Island.

Because the festival doesn't have a big advertising budget behind it, there are still tickets available. It's going to be a cozy (est. 500-800) gathering of campers & cabin dwellers taking in the stellar and expanded lineup focusing on local acts.

Last year's festival was more like a large gathering of friends and friends of friends (was/is organized in part by friends and neighbors Friday Mile), and took place in mid-July, but Joe Brotherton & crew moved the date to mid-August to celebrate the anniversary of Woodstock (and to avoid traffic from a different music festival on the island).

Playlist: Doe Bay Fest 2009

Buy Tickets / Secure camping (call (360) 376-2291)

Schedule
August 14th
MAIN STAGE
5:45 – 6:45 Goldfinch
7:00 – 7:50 17th Chapter
8:05 – 8:50 – Slender Means
9:05 – 10:00 The Lonely Forest
CAFÉ
10:00-10:30 Tito Ramsey
10:45 –11:30 Bruce Harvey

August 15th
MAIN STAGE
12:45 – 1:30 Spanish for 100
1:50 – 2:35 Weinland
2:55 - 3:40 Friday Mile
4:00 – 4:45 The Moondoggies
5:05 – 5:55 Hey Marseilles
6:10 – 7:00 David Bazan
7:15 – 8:15 The Maldives
8:40 – 10:00 The Long Winters

CAFÉ / PATIO STAGE
12 – 12:45 Kelli Schaefer
1:00 – 1:45 Phil O’Sullivan
2:15 – 3:00 Rob Staufer of the Lovelights
3:15 – 4:00 TBA
4:15 – 5:00 Youth Rescue Mission
5:15 – 6:00 First Ten Years

YOGA STUDIO AFTER PARTY (10pm/10:30pm – Midnight)
10:15 - 11pm - Drew Grow & The Pastors' Wives
11:15 - 12midnight - Goldfinch

Doe Bay Fest 2008

Friends (and neighbor) Friday Mile helped put together this music festival (July 19th) on Orcas Island, with the famous Doe Bay resort as the backdrop. We booked a cabin within a baby monitor's range of the action and settled in for the weekend. The lineup featured the aforementioned Friday Mile, The Maldives, Tim Seely, Left Hand Smoke, Man in the Blue Van, 17th Chapter and my favorite pleasant surprise, Indian Valley Line.

Playlist: dbFest '08

Logistically, it was the perfect music festival in that there were kids galore, which meant E was mostly occupied with 'friends.' He did hang out for the Friday Mile set, watching it from my shoulders while I tried to take some photos. It's expected to be an annual event, and we're already looking forward to next year's.

E's the monkey on my back, originally uploaded by drakelelane.

Indian Valley Line, originally uploaded by drakelelane.

E and Z enjoying the music, originally uploaded by drakelelane.

Chad of Friday Mile, originally uploaded by drakelelane.

Z makes sure mommy knows where the stage is, originally uploaded by drakelelane.

The Maldives, originally uploaded by drakelelane.

Z shows his support, originally uploaded by drakelelane.