All posts by Concrete Opinions

music, on the rise

[on the rise] GIVERS

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If you happened to be listening to KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic today (6/2), you were treated to a live studio performance by GIVERS.

Hailing from Lafayette, LA, GIVERS are an indie pop quintet that specialize in youthful songs filled with optimism and positivity.  They have a peppiness to them that reminds me of Vampire Weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and Pepper Rabbit.

I really didn’t know much about GIVERS until today.  A number of my favorite blogs have featured them, but I never really gave them a chance…but I really wish I had.  In 2009, GIVERS released their self-titled and self-produced GIVERS EP. Since then, GIVERS have toured with Dirty Projectors, Ra Ra Riot, and more.  In 2010, GIVERS was named the ‘Best of What’s Next’ by PASTE Magazine and a ‘Band to Watch’ by Stereogum, who describes their music as “packed with that sort of psychedelic buoyancy, homegrown exoticism… and rattling optimism/joy.”

I have a feeling 2011 is going to be a big year for GIVERS.  They’re set to release their debut full-length, In Light, on June 7th, and they’ll be touring throughout June in support of the release (LA peeps, they play the Bootleg Theater tonight, 6/2).  Until then, check out a couple of my favorite tracks below and become a fan of GIVERS on facebook.

GIVERS – Ceiling of Plankton
 GIVERS – Up Up Up

mid-week mixtape, mixtape, music

Mid-Week Mixtape: Summer Driving

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The wifey and I are driving up the coast this weekend and it got me thinking about Summer driving mixes.

I absolutely hate driving and I wouldn’t be able to handle it without some good tunes.  If you’re anything like me, you make mixes for all of your driving adventures and even though our wallets are getting raped at the pump, i’m sure this Summer includes a couple of road trips worthy of their own soundtrack.

I usually don’t think too hard when it comes to putting together a driving mix — it’s usually a bunch of new songs I enjoy, with some old reliables sprinkled in.  Other than that, I follow two simple rules.  (1) The songs can’t put me to sleep and (2) the mix should be long enough that you don’t get tired of the songs too quickly, but short enough that you hear every song at least once on the trip.

I’m still putting together my mix for this weekend’s trip, but here are some tracks that will definitely make an appearance.

Au Revoir Simone – Tell Me (Clock Opera Remix)
[More: Au Revoir Simone//More: Clock Opera]

Austra – Lose It
[More: Austra]

Bikini – American Mourning (Win Win Remix)
[More: Bikini//More: Win Win]

Chiddy Bang – Too Much Soul
[More: Chiddy Bang]

Cults – Abducted
[More: Cults]

El Obo – Vrgn Evl
[More: El Obo]

Gang Gang Dance – Mindkilla
[More: Gang Gang Dance]

Germany Germany – Take Me Home
[More: Germany Germany]

Handsome Furs – What About Us
[More: Handsome Furs]

Holy Ghost! – Wait & See
[More: Holy Ghost!]

Maximum Balloon – Groove Me (feat. Theophilus London)
[More: Maximum Balloon//More: Theophilus London]

The Naked And Famous – Young Blood
[More: The Naked And Famous]

Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks
[More: Of Monsters And Men]

Parenthetical Girls – Evelyn McHale
[More: Parenthetical Girls]

unouomedude – Frequency
[More: unouomedude]

Listen to the entire mix on 8tracks.

concerts, live music, music

Coachella 2012

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Coachella 2012 will be held over TWO WEEKENDS:

Coachella Weekend 1 – April 13-15, 2012 | Coachella Weekend 2 – April 20-22, 2012

Passes go on sale beginning this Friday, June 3rd, 2011, at 10am PST until the following Friday June 10th, 2011, at 10pm PST. The advance sale will be the only opportunity to take advantage of the Coachella Payment Plan. Passes will be available through a payment plan of 10% down and 8 equal monthly payments OR by payment in full. The price of three-day passes remains at $269 plus fees for the sixth consecutive year.

What are your thoughts on this change?  Is this a good idea or bad idea?

hot off the press, music

[hot off the press] Chiddy Bang//Peanut Butter And Swelly

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I’m a bit late on this, but just in case you weren’t aware that the Philly hip hop duo, Chiddy Bang, dropped their latest mixtape, Peanut Butter And Swelly, last week, they did…and it’s quite good.  Even better, it’s available for free courtesy of ILLROOTS!

Download the mixtape here.

Chiddy Bang – Cameras

music, video, watch

[watch] Clock Opera//Belongings

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Widely known throughout the blogosphere for their excellent remixes, the London based 4-piece, Clock Opera, are also quite the impressive live and electronic act.

Earlier this month saw the release of their new single, Belongings, on both 7″ and digital formats and I absolutely love this track!  Produced by front man Guy Connelly and already a highlight of their live set, it’s an incredibly beautiful and emotive song. Calling to mind the likes of Steve Reich, pianos dapple Guy’s dulcet voice, building to a euphoric crescendo before opening out into a cinematic vista of big sound and glorious harmonies. [source: Moshi Moshi]

The official video for Belongings was released last week and you can enjoy it below.  When you’re finished with that, be sure to visit the band’s main page and signup for their mailing list in exchange for the Little Loud remix of Once And For All.