BPRB: January 23rd Update

LOTS of new Chicago concerts listed, including the first May concert date.  ALREADY!  MMMMmmm, I can feel the non-subzero  temperatures already.  Check dates times and ticket costs on the “Bored People Are Boring” Calendar of Events:

January:
Lambchop
Lasers and Fast and Shit
Friendly Foes

February:
Tortoise
Danger
Lazer Crystal
Kid Color
Leo 123
Flosstradamus
Gatekeeper
The Chamber Strings
Kevin Tihista
Lonesome Cougar
The 1900′s
Mazes
Cotton Jones
Headlights
Maserati
The Pomegranates
Oceans

March:
Matthew Dear
Guido Schneider
Frankie Vega
Gianna Hardt
Bonnie “Prince” Billy
Fruit Bats
Disappears
Bishop Allen
 
April:
White Lies
Friendly Fires
Golden Filter
Marah
Simian Mobile Disco
Great Lake Swimmers
Kate Maki
Neko Case

May:
The Books

Boys & Girls Mix

For a while I’ve been wanting to make a mix of bands that swap vocals between guys and gals, but, as I really like that sound, I feel like I have too many songs that fall under that category. Like, ya know, Belle & Sebastian, Stars and half of my itunes.

 

So, for this ‘lil boy/girl mix I was trying to avoid some of the obvious tracks, but they pretty much seeped in anyway. I also tried to stay in the folk/pop vein so you’re going to miss some of those great hip-hop/electro girl/boy vocals, namely: Positive K’s “I Gotta Man”, Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me”, Postal Service’s “Nothing Better”, Streets’ “Get Out of My House”.

 

Because of the inherent drama of boys and girls harmonizing, most of the songs have some “relationship” content, be it lovey-dovey or breakup-y. Also, it makes for a pretty even-keeled, laid-back type mix and one which you should be careful while listening to if you’re driving and feeling a bit sleepy. So, after all that, enjoy!

 

1. Intro – The Pixies
2. Handle with Care – Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
3. Two Ways – The 1900s
4. Honey Child What Can I Do? – Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
5. Who Were You Thinkin’ Of? – Biirdie
6. Secretly Minnesotan – Tullycraft
7. Death to Los Campesinos! – Los Campesinos!
8. Say Yes if You Love Me –  Acid House Kings
9. PS (Interlude) – The Books
10. Happy New Year – Camera Obscura
11. Can’t Ever Sleep – Saturday Looks Good To Me
12. Friday Night – Elephant Parade
13. Jorge Regula – The Moldy Peaches
14. Come Back From San Francisco – The Magnetic Fields
15. Souvenirs – Architecture in Helsinki
16. You Really Gotta Hold On Me – She & Him
17. All You Need Is Hate – The Delgados
18. Know-How – Kings of Convenience
19. Les Etoiles Secretes – Ida
20. Ghosts Are Good Company – Bishop Allen
21. Ice Storn, Big Gust, and You – Tilly & The Wall

The Zipped File & Album Art can be found on Mediafire here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=992c799b40f3f811dfbd00fb952479db185df0bdeae2cf0b  

 

Speed Reviews

m83: Saturdays = Youth

Best album Anthony Gonzalez has put out BY FAR. The rolling sonic washout of “shoegaze” is still in the mix here, but the vocals, dreamy as they are, are put to the forefront. The thick electro dissipates a bit to make these gorgeous songs shimmer without overwhelming you. m83 was never “inaccessible”, but this one hits the pop palate a lot more than his previous work. A few reviews point out this could be the background synth soundtrack to a never-made Brat Pack movie… sounds crazy, but totally true, and it totally works.

RIYL: French electro, stereo bliss, John Hughes

MP3: “Graveyard Girl”

Biirde: Catherine Avenue

A well-paced strummy summer winner. Definite Rilo Kiley L.A. sound going on here with deliberate midwesterness with some top-of-the-line west coast production values. It’s an exercise that’s pop one minute but often wanders into Ballad Country. Wistful guys and girls swap songs and versus, while songs build and fade tastefully. “Catherine Avenue” is the single they’re pushing (on the website), but the real winner is the cover of “Who Were You Thinkin’ Of” where charmingly hilarious lyrics are underlayed by a jaunty organ wheeled into the studio straight from Haight and Ashbury.

RIYL: The 1900’s, Saddle Creek Records, California mythos

MP3: “Who Were You Thinkin’ Of”

Cut Copy: In Ghost ColorsI’m trying to limit the number of Madchester-esque dance/pop bands I claim to love, but I can’t deny that this is a flippin’ great album. A record meant for oscillating wildly to on beer-soaked bar floors and shiny disco ones (and maybe Pitchfork Festival maybe?! Plllllease?!). These guys would tear up the outfield grass in no time. In Ghost Colours will surely usurp Justice’s Cross as THE default records to spin this season — it’s what the Junior Boys would sounds like if they stopped being ethereal and just shook their asses. Standouts include “Out There On the Ice”, “Lights and Music” and the can’t-miss club banger “Hearts on Fire”.

MP3: Hearts on Fire 

RIYL: half-dancing, half-bouncing, New Order