Music Blog

Missing the SXSW festivities in Austin this week? Us too, and it can be a bit of a downer if you dwell on it too much. But it's springtime in Portland this weekend, and the weather is gorgeous! Ted Leo & the Pharmacists are playing two shows at the Doug Fir! Locals Archeology and Marv Ellis are playing album release shows! Plus, Devendra Banhart! Grey Anne! Iretsu! SXSW what?

Here's another batch of songs to take with you on your way to all the glory the weekend holds. Remember to go easy with that first big sun exposure of the year...

1- One of the so-called angry young men of rock & roll back in the day, Graham Parker has wisened into a rootsy, wit-driven cynic. Imaginary Television is his second release for the Bloodshot label, and a decidedly more laid back affair than his politically-driven 2007 release Don't Tell Columbus.
► Graham Parker- "Weather Report"

2- One might make the argument that labels are becoming more irrelevant by the day, and there are plenty of examples of artists doing just fine for themselves without one, thanks very much. Still, when your band's debut gets a release on Sub Pop, that's something that still makes many of us pay attention (at least for a minute or two). Vermont's Happy Birthday has done just that with their self-titled debut, and while it may be the label that gets them attention first, a listen to the catchy and infectious collection of songs included suggests that they'd be just fine, Nirvana's label or not.
► Happy Birthday- "Subliminal Message"

3- Our in-studio guests a few months back, Wye Oak impressed us with their mastery of dynamics and the big sound the drums and guitar duo is able to generate. On the heels of last year's The Knot comes a new EP just out on Merge, entitled My Neighbor/My Creator.
► Wye Oak- "I Hope You Die"

4- One of our suggestions for shows to catch this weekend is the CD release for Archeology's new Memorial at Backspace. The Portland duo's full-length debut comes on the heels of five EPs in the space of their year-and-some-change existence, and their performance during last fall's MusicFest NW was one that had people buzzing. Expect good things...
► Archeology- "By the By"

5- Don't know much about the waifish Wales-based singer Cate Le Bon, aside from the fact that her debut Me Oh My comes out stateside this month. She's also been called a freak-folk version of St. Vincent, for what that's worth. In case you were wondering, she's not related to Duran Duran frontman Simon LeBon, but now we have an excuse to link to this.
► Cate Le Bon- "Shoeing the Bones"

To the weekend then!

Tagged: mp3