INTERVIEW 70 jeremy jensen (the very most)

photos by MaryAnne Remer

For over 10 years now, Jeremy's The Very Most has been making pure, uplifting, simple and heartfelt indiepop.
Known as "the only indiepop band in Idaho" (which sounds pretty awesome because we rarely see "indiepop" and "Idaho" in the same sentence and because Idaho seems to be a pretty magical place), TVM crafts heartwarming melodies straight from a shed turned into studio.
With a playful way and with a diverse aesthetic - part melancholy, part shooting-smiles-at-sunshines - TVM is captivating and irresistible. The purest indiepop.

Do explore their discography, in case you haven't yet. Lots of EPs and two albums that are brilliant (A Year With The Very Most contains 4 songs for each season and 2 of my all time favorites 'The Motor-VU Lights' and 'You're In Love With The Sun').

Also, their new EP Just A Pup, will be out via Manic Pop! on June, 14th. Here's a sample featuring The School's Liz Hunt.

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My interview with Jeremy is below, he answered the questions before a concert from Yo La Tengo. 

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INTERVIEW 67. beach vacation

DIY escapism made in a small town located on Whidbey Island, Washington. That's Beach Vacation.
Their first EP, Maritime - released last Monday via Dufflecoat Records - is the debut EP that Captured Tracks will never release. It is such an exciting introductory piece! It's on the edge of surf and jangle pop with a very unique and fresh appeal.
With the opening track 'Waves', we dive into their melodies with the sound of the ocean, seagulls and a crystalline guitar strumming. Compared to the other tracks, it sounds quite conceptualized and contemplative, but it works perfectly preparing us for the what's next.
For the rest of the EP, we get a sound that's warm and with rich textures.
'Washington Weather' and 'Escape' are simply beautiful. Joyous in their melancholic yearning.
I like how you're are able to dive into their melodies and actually feel a breeze and really escape. Even though the EP has less than 10 minutes.
Fantastic release from an exciting new band.



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Read my interview with Tabor, Tyler, John and Justyn below.

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INTERVIEW 66. Vinnie Kircher (Jaill)

Anthropological pop. Is that a musical genre? Do you know any band that could fit right into it? If not, I suggest you take a listen - in case you haven't yet - to Jaill.
A band from Milwaukee (Wisconsin, USA) that has been around since 2002, presenting an in depth view from the hipster-ish underground world in form of jangly pop with 90s garage rock guitars with a flair for "jump around" melodies.
With 'Traps' - their most recent album (their 3rd LP) - released via Sub Pop last year, we find their sound wandering through melodies embed in some psychedelia and an appealing (and often heartbreaking) laid back atmosphere.

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After the jump, you can get an insight of Jaill's universe with the fun answers Vinnie gave to my questions. We talked about Jaill's origins, inspirations, music evolution, SXSW, Jaill's songs in Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies and their anthropologic party music.

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INTERVIEW 65. patrick mcintyre (HOUNDSds)

Music often invokes journey. In HOUNDSds case, the opposite is also true.

HOUNDSds music sounds vintage, futuristic, organic and incredibly warm.
With dreamy melodies, Patrick McIntyre - the Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist behind the project - creates songs with subtle references from the past 40 years: there's 60s pop, 70s psychedelia, 80s new-post-punk-wave and 90s jangle pop...
But don't get me wrong. It isn't just a look at the past. And that's exactly why his music deserves our attention. Patrick manages to own his references while looking ahead (and probably to the sky, due to the light, dreamy and effortless aesthetic of his songs).

Phone Thou (2012, Chill Mega Chill) is his third release: a soothing and original collection of 7 songs that moves away from the experimental and electronic vibe from his previous releases.

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Our interview with origins of the project's odd name, aesthetics, music nowadays and future plans is right after this...

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INTERVIEW 62. nate martinez (thieving irons)

Thieving Irons is the project of Nate Martinez, based in Brooklyn (NYC), and started after his former band Pela broke up.
His first album - The Midnight Hum - was released in 2010 and last year Behold, This Dreamer! came out.
His music has an atmospheric, idyllic quality that could fit on a journey at the sea or a walk through uncharted territories. It's organic like a
waveless ocean that reminds us of its force through grandiosity and subtle movements, not intensity.
With a delicate approach to melody and an almost solemn songwriting, Behold, This Dreamer! takes its time to tell us a story (the one about the journey).
It echoes, it shimmers and transforms itself. Always connected to an aesthetic of dreamy imagery and storytelling, foggy atmosphere and slow burning sentiments.

Behold, This Dreamer! is not only one of the greatest albums I've heard last year: the closing track "Swimming With Minnows" is one of those gems... A finding or revelation, in the middle of your journey, if you will. It has a restraint, quiet and atmospheric feeling with amazing lines - "The silence is the loudest in my head since last May" and "Can I spend time to watch? Can I spend time to drown?" -  that every now and then pop into my head.

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Below is my interview with Nate. Inspirations, music in physical forms and a look inside his "subterranean cave"/studio after the jump.

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village green

VILLAGE GREEN A VILLAGE TEN COLLECTIVE COMPILATION 2013

Here's a pretty concept executed by pretty indie bands that are part of an even prettier group that goes by the name Village Ten.
In their own words...

"Village Ten Collective is an artists collective. Village because we dig villages, Ten because we started with ten people, and Collective because “Super-Friends” didn’t fit in the logo.We are not a record label, but neither are we independent artists – we fit somewhere in between, nicely cradled in that grey area, a place where we have some of our needs met that a label provides while maintaining the flexibility and freedom of being independent. Our dear friend Ashley Mae said it best, “The collective is a grassroots operation to create and promote good music which inspires us to love our own human story.”"


The artists populating Village Ten are The Very Most, Canoe and Adam and Darcie. All wandering through sweet melodies of indiepop. With Village Green, a 6 track EP released early this week, their "super-friends" status creates new bonds that words cannot express (they are kind enough to share it with us, listeners). With each band covering two songs from the other two groups, what we end up getting sounds like a testament, a reassuring feeling of love, familiarity and appreciation.

Beautiful, smelling like leaves and nature, fresh and profound. The ending track, You're In Love With The Sun - originally by The Very Most and here performed by Adam and Darcie - is a tearjerker in its simplicity, minimalism and honesty. Again, a testament.
A special release put together by - no doubt - special people, that goes way beyond the idea of "covering someone else's music". It's true friendship proved by and in form of music.

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INTERVIEW 61. Lisle Mitnik (Fireflies)

Lisle lives in Chicago. He makes music in his home and has a few different projects. Holding them all together, there's a delicate and fragile sense of melody with roots in classical music and dreams of being part of The Beatles.

Throughout the years - wether as Fireflies, Very Truly Yours (where he plays guitars), Tiny Fireflies (a duo with Kristine, also from Very Truly Yours), or Edine Avec Lisle Mitnik Et Son Orchestre (with Edine from The Marshmallow Kisses) - Lisle's been crafting melancholic gems that are a hybrid of infectious, addictive indiepop with the prettiest - sometimes guitar, sometimes mellotron, sometimes piano - strums, a DIY aesthetic resembling lo fi acts from the 80s and an imagery field with hopeless love and winter scenarios.
All in all, his music is a celebration of beauty in a world where classical music goes very well with indie pop guitars and winter wonderlands.

Below you'll be able to go even deeper into Lisle's world and aesthetic. Get a cup of coffee or tea, put on your headphones and just let Fireflies music be your companion as you read his words.

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best for guests. mike (slumberland records)

Closing 2012's edition of our Best for Guests special is Mike 'Papa Slumber', the guy that for the past 20 years, runs - by himself - one of the most important labels for independent artists: Slumberland Records.
Since 1989, Slumberland released albums from Velocity Girl, Stereolab, Boyracer, Crystal Stilts, Black Tambourine, The Aislers Set and many, many others.
Today, 20 years later, the label - that in the past spent some time inactive - is more popular than ever. The label's "gems of 2012" include the album Europe, by Allo Darlin' and Echo Lake's Wild Peace.

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MIKE SLUMBERLAND'S LUCKY SEVEN FAVE POP RECORDS OF 2012
THE GARLANDS LP

LIGHTSHIPS Fear And Doubt EP

LINDEN Bleached Highlights LP

LITERATURE Arab Spring LP

SAINT ETIENNE Words And Music LP

SEA PINKS Freak Waves LP

SMALL REACTIONS Nerve Pop 7"

best for guests. marc cantone (the city and horses)

Marc is the children's television producer behind The City And Horses, a band from Brooklyn that makes cute and witty songs with fun, endearing and nonchalant indie pop melodies.

The City and Horses 3rd album is set to be released in 2013.


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SINGLE OF THE YEAR

I'm not really good at finding new music.  At the risk of sounding gigantically pretentious, I've mostly been listening to old Noel Coward recordings and Orson Welles radio broadcasts this last year.  However, a while back my band was featured in the Band of the Day app, which does exactly what the name says: introduces users to a new band every day.  So one day the app featured Dominant Legs.  The first song I listened to was Hoop of Love.  And I didn't stop listening to it for at least three weeks.  On repeat.  For hours on end.  It's an Orange Juice style hip shaker.  The song's got more hooks than a tackle shop.  The slapback vocal is barely decipherable but I sing along anyway.  And there's a female counter vocal going on that softens things up nicely.

The video looks like a commercial for jeans or sunglasses or shirts but it made me fall further in love with the song.  Hannah Hunt, the female counterpart, is beyond fetching.  So fetching it hurts.   From what I understand she's the girlfriend of the lead singer from Girls.  Yeah, I have a shot.



This song is the single of the year.  And it's also the song I've always wanted to write.  The groove, the castoff coolness of the vocal delivery, the Orange Juice guitar.  I wanted to do that!  In fact, I've tried and failed.  But at least I can stop trying now.  Dominant Legs beat me to it.  And probably did it much better.

best for guests. leif anders (orca team)

Orca Team is a band from Portland, Oregon now based in Seattle. Their aesthetic is clean, simple and straightforward: black clothes, short songs drenched into 60s surf pop and stripped down to guitar, drums and bass. The strong bass lines could make everything too post punk-ish and sad, but crystal guitars make their music sound light and unaffected. It's like a prom in the 60s (with mirrorballs and stuff) taking place on a beach.

Their debut album Restraint was released this year via Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records.

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FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2012
THE MIAMI DOLPHINS Capri Sun Self Released
THE INTELLIGENCE Everybody's Got It Easy But Me In The Red
DEEP TIME S/T Hardly Art
HOLLOW BOYS When You Think Of Us, Pray For Us Self Released
THE SHIVAS White Out Burger Records/K Records
TRIGGER EFFECT Escape From Planet Scorpion Indica Records
CATE LE BON Cyrk The Control Group
CRIMES Good Hope Self Released

I thought 2012 was an alright year for music but for the most part, everything tended to sound the same. Melodies and guitar hooks. Distortion and back up vocals. Everything is lush and slick. It's rare that I can find something I enjoy listening too in this modern age. With no arrogance attached to this statement, sometimes the reason why I write music is because there are tones and melodies that I have always wanted to hear but have never found them before. I would be relieved if in the near future I found out I was directly ripping off someone else the entire time. At least that would save me the explanation of how I write. I could just say I plagiarize everything.
While I would never say that I play abrasive or "hard-to-get-into" music, usually I am drawn more towards the uncertain aesthetic of a band. I'm old enough to say that I prefer a presentation of music as opposed to a band playing a show. I'm not excited about your unshaven guitar player wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Is it your day off from work? Why the fuck am I watching you preform? Better yet, why did I pay to see you? Bring me something to see that I don't see everyday on the street. If you are so goddam creative, why did you assume that your music speaks for itself? It could for most everyone else. Not me. I suppose I'm the asshole there.
I'm not sure why but I am always intrigued how bands that put thought and fresh ideas into music are usually over looked by the popular masses. This is an old tale and to be fair, if there was a sudden change and everything that was subversive became popular on a mainstream level, I'm sure many of us would eventually go to underground shows to watch boy bands and Top 40 sound alikes and say things like, "Well, at least they can play well and sing in key unlike that shit I hear on the radio." Who knows, I think for the most part recorded music is boring and a waste of time. I'm much more of a person who likes to judge people upon a live setting. It's where the action is.

best for guests. lisle mitnik (fireflies)

Lisle Mitnik is a multi instrumentalist and founder of various indie pop projects (Fireflies, Very Truly Yours and Tiny Fireflies). He creates lo fi recordings of songs inspired by 80s and 90s indiepop, going from profoundly melancholic melodies evoking Sarah Records to bright, delicate summery pop.

His latest work is a collaboration with Edine, from The Marshmallow Kisses, called Edine Avec Lisle Mitnik Et Son Orchestre; a project that started as an online friendship in 2005 and came alive when they met in London in 2011. A 7'' with 4 tracks was released a few weeks ago via Elefant.


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FIVE SONGS I LOVED IN 2012
I hesitate to use the word "best" or "favourite" because I'm sure I only heard a fraction of all the great songs that were released in 2012. I'm usually quite slow to pick up new music, so I'm sure in 2013, I'll be saying, "man this song is great' about something that was released this year. My year end lists are eternally flawed in this way. Still, that being said, the following is a list of five songs that really got a hold of me this year.

5. KENSEI OGATA On the Beach
This fall I discovered Kensei Ogata's music through my friend Yugo of Happy Prince records. His soundcloud page is full of delights ranging from more electro tracks (like this) to shoegazy stuff...but the thing tying them all together is an excellent sense of melody and production. Definitely check out his album, "Her Paperback," if you like this one the whole album is great.


4. THE SCHOOL Where Does Your Heart Belong?
I feel like I missed any hype leading up to The School's album. It was like, suddenly there it was! Anyway, though the whole album is solid, this track was my favourite. I love the Margo Guryan type feel of the piano part, and the little flute bits are a nice touch. Perhaps its that kind of exquisite attention to detail that helps The School nail the girl group sound so well.


3. WILD NOTHING Shadow
I saw DIIV come up on a lot of year-end lists...and I enjoyed their album...but when I heard Nocturne, I realized there's really no substitute for the real thing. Captured Tracks has a very distinct vision of its sound as a label, and to me, Wild Nothing are the masters of that. This song in particular is just a perfect combination of sound. The guitar hook is just icing on the cake for the other lovely parts...the winding bassline, and the dramatic strings that slowly move their way up the scale, and the great lyrics, "I tried to feel something for you but that's all I can do, give my shadow to you."


2. MEMORYHOUSE Heirloom

 Tiny Fireflies had the opportunity to tour with Memoryhouse in March and so we were privileged to hear this (and other) songs live every night for almost a week. It was a real treat to hear such pretty songs over and over. The album had only just come out at the time, so I was surprised that their live arrangements were actually quite different than the album. Anyway, The Slideshow Effect is a great keepsake that reminds me of that fun time. When we got back, I listened to the album waiting to hear Heirloom since I loved that so much during their live sets.


1. KYARY PAMYU PAMYU Candy Candy

Based on total number of plays, CANDY CANDY is my #1 favourite song of 2012. Though I guess she's most famous for last year's bizarre PON PON PON video that went viral, I think this is her best song. I love the retro-electro style of the music.. and her cute voice is much more appealing to me than the vocoder style of Perfume (though they're great as well). To me, it's just very refreshing to hear pop music that is unabashedly fun and not trying to be all cool and provocative... and I guess Kyary's overall style, both herself and the music, just really appeal to me. CANDY CANDY is pure bubblegum, and I can't help but smile every time I hear it.

best for guests. brian hancheck (the arctic flow)

Myrtle Beach (US) is the home of The Arctic Flow, a one man project that creates an ethereal, delicate and dreamy combination of jangly indiepop melancholy with shoegaze fuzziness.

Brian's several singles and EPs (and an album) are available at his bandcamp. His latest work is Dream You'll Never Find, a 4 track EP released via Dufflecoat Records.

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"I've never been one to compile a "best of" list for the sake of having a "best of" list. I do, however, want to recognize the following EPs and singles who I feel have had a massive impact not only on my meager quest for pop perfection, but on the small, but wonderful world of indiepop in general. Please note this list is in no order of importance. I'm just typing them as they come to me:


1. THE BILINDA BUTCHERS Goodbyes EP

I've known these guys from back when Myspace was still a viable medium for musicians. I was taken with their music and soon struck up a friendship with Michael. Their 2012 EP, Goodbyes, is beyond words, especially the tracks, "Hai Bby" and "Half Open". This is the sound I dream of. They have started where The Radio Dept. stopped.
2. ARCHASTER Would You Like Some Tea? EP

Being on Little Treasure led me to reach out to Francis, the man behind Archaster and introduce myself. Upon listening to the EP I was amazed at how I couldn't get his songs out of my head. Archaster makes music that is so simplistic in nature yet begs to be listened to. Francis' vocals are soft and dreamy. This whole EP is one I can listen to over and over and over.
3. THE HOLIDAY CROWD Over The Bluffs EP

A nice indie pop band from Toronto. They remind me so much of my beloved Smiths. "While She Waits" is a classic pop song full of longing and I never, ever tire of it.
4. ARIEL Kid Games EP

 I first heard this EP at work through Soundcloud. I had a nice set of headphones on and that first track, "Funerals" came on and I was frozen to my seat for the next 5 minutes. It was like hearing Slowdive again for the first time.
5. BY THE SEA Dream Waters

Initially I was drawn to this band based on the artwork. What I heard was pure bliss. I don't think anyone has produced a dreamier single in all of 2012. I did find their full length a bit of a drag because it was like the same song over and over. But in small doses like this, it's heaven!!
 6. ALPACA SPORTS Just For Fun

The next big thing. I wish I did things as effortlessly as Andreas does. What a classic pop song. But that b-side gets me every time. It's like a long, lost Smiths' song.
7. ALPACA SPORTS I Was Running

I prefer "I Was Running" to "Just For Fun" but who can deny that Alpaca Sports is THE story of 2012?
8. CHARLIE BIG TIME Dishevelled Revelers EP

4 songs that are pure pop bliss. I can't believe how much they sound like All The Way Until December era The Arctic Flow.
9. MARTIN ROSSITER Drop Anchor

A song from his long awaited solo album. One of the best songs I have ever heard ever. I don't have human words to describe its beauty and the effect the lyrics, melody and vocals have on me. Perfection.
10. SOME GORGEOUS ACCIDENT Sleep In Symmetry EP

What a wonderful collection of dreamy, shoegazy pop songs.
11. DYLAN MONDEGREEN S/T

To say this album is perfection is a vast understatement. It is quite possibly the most perfect sounding and flawlessly executed collection of songs by anyone this year. The production from Ian Catt is superb. This album gently whisks by and then suddenly it's over.

Best wishes to you all in 2013


                                 Brian Hancheck from The Arctic Flow

best for guests. long walks on the beach

Long Walks On The Beach is the solo project of a Washington DC resident and TV news producer called Fritz. His music started to spread across the web a couple of years ago and gained serious attention from a lot of music related sites and blogs.
He started to make music as LWOTB as a way to escape from nights of work... a way to focus on something good and positive.
His music is pure, energetic indiepop. The kind with summery warm breeze.

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ps: apart from his list of most listened songs, Fritz created a Xmas playlist!


TUNES THAT I'VE PROB LISTEN TO THE MOST OVER THE LAST YEAR
JAI PAUL demos


FLO RIDA Wild Ones


FUTURE Turn on the Lights


RUSTIE After Light


W/O w/oXXu

LIST OF LONG WALK'S FAVORITE XMAS HITS (no order) (link)

1. BAND AID Do They Know It's Christmas 

2. MARIAH CAREY All I Want for Christmas is You 

3. BRIAN MCKNIGHT Home for the Holidays [Live] 

4. JOHN LENNON Happy Xmas [Demo]

5. VINCE GUARALDI Skating 

6. WHAM Last Christmas 

7. RUN DMC Christmas in Hollis 

8. NAT KING COLE The Christmas Song 

9. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Santa Claus is Coming To Town [Live] 

10. PAUL MCCARTNEY Wonderful Christmas 

11. ELVIS PRESLEY Blue Christmas [Live] 

12. BEACH BOYS Little Saint Nick 

best for guests. danny (february records)

Danny is the founder of February Records, a label based in Connecticut with a Do-It-Yourself aesthetics and a vast sense of pop, with artists going from acoustic, folk and twee to powerpop and punk pop.
The catalog features artists like Brilliant At Breakfast - an awesome mellow indiepop band from Indonesia, Secret Charisma - from Brad san Martin (member of One Happy Island), Birds of California (with members from Lunchbox) and multiple projects by Tyler Trudeau (The Cavemen Go, Women's Basketball and The Tyler Trudeau Attempt).
Awesome label if you're into obscure bands from all over the world.

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TOP 10 MOST-LISTENED-TO ARTISTS OF 2012

This is not a Best-of-2012 list. I didn't buy or listen to enough new music this year to even begin to put together a best-of list. It seems, that in 2012, I revisited a lot of favorites, discovered a couple new ones, and got nostalgic for my high school days a bit. These artists dominated my playlists in 2012 and at any given time, one of these albums  was in my car, on my turntable or playing on my computer. These are my personal Top-10 Most-Listened-To Artists of 2012:

1. LUNA Lunapark (1992)      Bewitched (1994)      The Best of Luna (2006)

"The Best of Luna" had a permanent place in my car in 2012 and I'm sure my constant playing and singing along to "Bewitched" and "Lunapark" annoyed my neighbors to no end. "California (All The Way)," "Tiger Lily" and "Anesthesia" are some of my favorites on these albums.

2. THE LEMONHEADS The Best of The Lemonheads:  The Atlantic Years (1998)
For me, The Lemonheads have always been one of those go-to bands when I don't really know what I want to listen to. This compilation from Atlantic contains so many of the band's best songs. This album was also in my car for most of 2012.

3. PAUL SIMON GRACELAND (1986)

I love pretty much everything about this album and after scoring it on vinyl from a used record store, I listened to it constantly. "You Can Call Me Al" has been one of my favorite tunes since I first saw the video with Simon and Chevy Chase in the late '80s. "I Know What I Know" and "Crazy Love" are also a couple of album highlights.

4. ALLO DARLIN' Europe (2012)
Here's a band that, in my eyes, can pretty much do no wrong. Their self-titled release was one of my best-of-2010 picks. "Europe" is the perfect follow-up and "Capricornia" might be my favorite song of 2012. It was also great to see Allo Darlin' live again this year. They put on such a great show.

5. CAT STEVENS Harold & Maude (1971)      The Very Best of Cat Stevens (1990)
I've seen the movie "Harold & Maude" many times and love the soundtrack. However, after watching it again this past summer, I sought out more of Stevens' music and had this best-of compilation on repeat for a number of months.


6. EUX AUTRES Hell Is Eux Autres (2004)      Cold City (2007)     Sun Is Sunk (2012)
I pretty much love anything put out by Heather and Nicholas Larimer. They had me hooked with 2004's "Hell Is Eux Autres." 2012's "Sun is Sunk" is a great addition to the band's catalog and had me revisiting a lot of their older stuff. I also really love their 2012 WIAIWYA 7", but that came out so recently, it couldn't really be included on this list.

7. DONOVAN What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid (1965)      Sunshine Superman (1966)
Donovan's "Catch The Wind" is one of my favorite songs and I've always loved "Sunshine Superman." He got a lot of time on the iPod in 2012.

8. THE 6THS Wasp's Nest (1995)
This might be one of my "desert island" albums. I'm a huge fan of the guest vocalists on these tracks, with Dean Wareham on "Falling Out of Love (With You)" and Mitch Easter on "Pillow Fight" up at the top.

9. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND/NICO The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)    Chelsea Girl (1967)
Yes, I realize that one of these is a VU album and one is a Nico solo album. However, this is really all about Nico. I really enjoy the songs she's featured on on "The Velvet Underground & Nico" and that led me to listen to more of her solo work. "These Days" and "The Fairest of The Seasons" are a couple of gems.

10. OASIS (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
I had this album in high school. For some reason, I sold it in a massive purge of a lot of pretty bad '90s alternative I had accumulated. Feeling nostalgic, maybe, I found it again and it has been on repeat a lot over the last few months. This is one of a handful of "high school-era" albums that got a lot of play this year, including Better Than Ezra's "Deluxe" (1995) and Gin Blossoms' "New Miserable Experience" (1992).

best for guests. patrick (houndsds)

HOUNDSds is the recording name of Patrick McIntyre, an artist based in Brooklyn, NYC. The project started in 2009, when he started using GarageBand.
His music is described as dreamy and lush (rightfully so). Combining a sense of nostalgia, reverbs, synths and a delicate lightness, it feels like a soothing, organic dream.

The project has 3 releases, the latest - Phone Thou - was released last March via Chill Mega Chill as a tape. You can get all HOUNDSds' releases on his Bandcamp page.

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"Here's a list of my 10 favorite records from 2012:
10. Melody's Echo Chamber Melody's Echo Chamber Fat Possum
9. Lower Dens Nootropics Ribbon Music
8. Frankie Rose Interstellar Slumberland Records
7. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Mature Themes 4AD
6. Tamaryn Tender New Signs Mexican Summer
5. Mac DeMarco 2 Captured Tracks
    Mac DeMarco Rock And Roll Night Club Captured Tracks
4. DIIV Oshin Captured Tracks
3. Chromatics Kill for Love Italians Do It Better
2. Beach House Bloom Sub Pop
1. Wild Nothing Nocturne Captured Tracks

best for guests. work drugs

Work Drugs is the 'sedative-wave / smooth-fi" vehicle of Benjamin and Thomas. They are from Philadelphia and their music is "specifically for boating, sexting, dancing, yachting and living".

Their music (and visuals) is a mixture of retro, vintage-y 80s beats and escapist-sun-burnt aesthetics. 

Earlier this month, Delta - their new album - was released via Bobby Cahn Records.

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WORK DRUGS TOP 10 ROOF DECKING SONGS OF 2012
From the roof of Work Drugs HQ, this is a list of songs that made the summer of 2012 a memorable one.

1. ELO Strange Magic 1976


2. Steely Dan The Last Mall 1972


3. Christine McVie Got a Hold On Me 1984


4. Kool & the Gang Too Hot 1979


5. Josh Rouse Summer Kitchen Ballad 2002


6. Mariah Carey Honey 1997


7. Kings of Convenience Manhattan Skyline 2001


8. Sade Pearls 1992


9. Mtume Juicy Fruit 1982


10. The Doobie Brothers Taking it to the Streets 1976

best for guests. jeremy jensen (the very most)

Jeremy Jensen is the founder of The Very Most, a band formed in 2002 in Boise, Idaho... they were, for a long time, "the only indie pop band in this Mountain West town of around 200.000".
For the past 10 years, the band released a number of albums and EPs filled with good old catchy and jangle indie pop. Timeless indie pop.

Their latest EP - Ununiversalizable Us - was released last month via Little Treasure.


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"Here's my list:

TOP 10 SONGS THAT WERE NEW TO ME IN 2012 BY IRISH ARTISTS

Mumblin' Deaf Ro  Cade Calf Call

Mumblin' Deaf Ro The Birdcage

Mumblin' Deaf Ro Cheer Up, Charlie Brown

Dott Let's Do It

Big Monster Love Free Gaff Forever

September Girls Hells Bells

Ginnels Gangs of Witches

At Last an Atlas Stars and Birds (Big Monster Love Cover)

Grand Pocket Orchestra Shitkicker

Girls Names The New Life

best for guests. roger (bleeding gold records)

Roger is the guy behind Bleeding Gold Records, a record label that started as a blog in 2009.
Since then, it's been releasing limited edition vinyls from new artists spread across the globe.
The catalog features some pretty exciting new music - ranging from new wave and electronic to guitar driven indie pop. It includes artists like HEHFU, Tear Talk, Songs For Walter and Indoor Voices....


site     facebook     soundcloud     bandcamp


THE "BANDS THAT GOT AWAY" IN 2012

At Bleeding Gold Records we get all kinds of submissions and have all sorts of ideas for the types of bands we want on the label. Sometimes talks will start, either by the band submitting music or the label seeking out interested artists, and sometimes it just doesn’t happen for whatever reason. We thought we’d take this time of year – the season of lists – to showcase some of those bands that caught our ears this year but did not turn into a deal with Bleeding Gold.

WARM SPEAKERS
This is hands down the favorite submission of the year that didn’t turn into a Bleeding Gold release. Timing was an issue, my iPhone died after a long courtship and it was just not in the stars for this one. I still listen to it all the time and hope Patrick the best with his project. I’m a big fan of this one.  
bandcamp

WELCOME BACK SAILORS
Met these guys online and we were in talks to do something, but it just fizzled out. Cool, chilled out vibes from Italy. Maybe something will happen someday.
bandcamp

ALPACA SPORTS
I met Andreas of Alpaca Sports through a Japanese record store owner who stocks some Bleeding Gold items. I really dug their sound, but ultimately he went with a label in his home country of Sweden (Luxury) for his first singles, and has an upcoming single with Cloudberry Records. High pop!
bandcamp

KING LOLLIPOP
I first saw Cody play in Shannon and the Clams and was blown away with his performance. A friend turned me on to his solo project King Lollipop and again, I was blown away with what I was hearing. I bought the cassette tape. I reached out to Cody, hoping to work out some sort of deal on a 7”, but didn’t get much of a response. I’m not gonna let that stop me and he should prepare himself for another email from me in 2013.
bandcamp

JAMES APOLLO
I don’t hear from too many Americans, but when James reached out I could tell this was one to watch. A sort of travelling troubadour of the Pacific Northwest. I can’t really remember why this never turned into anything. Sometimes emails just stop and time takes its toll on my memory. But I remember really liking this guy.
bandcamp

TELETHON
Matt from Telethon is friends with Bleeding Gold alums Alligator Indian; chums from Florida. Last March we met up with Matt in Texas during SXSW and caught an awesome show at some random BBQ shack on the east side of the freeway. I am looking forward to catching up with them again in Texas, 2013.
bandcamp