Our New Year Resolution

New years are so great. It is crazy how when a year changes it can do so much for our mental self. We can truly convince ourselves that so much will change and that we are starting over. It is an amazing sensation. We feel like anything is possible. I am not sure when New Year Resolutions started or how they started, but I guess it all came about because of this feeling. Resolutions are interesting too, because first of all barely anyone sticks to them. I am sure there are huge spikes in gym memberships in January every year. Well, despite the fact that most of the time these things aren't kept, here are the ways we at Static are going to try and improve in the coming year:

1. I will try and bring you new content to this blog every day and hopefully introduce both myself and you the reader with even more new and interesting bands, books and whatever crosses my path concerning music.
2. I will try and step it up with the show and deliver new shows every 2 weeks starting in February, and with the addition of a new Producer/Editor for the show itself hopefully that will guarantee this.
3. I will try even harder to be a part of the New Orleans community while being up here in New York.
4. I will try and be less apologetic about my opinion about music.

on a personal note.
1. I will try and be less nervous about where I am work wise and not let work affect my personal life so much.
2. I will try and be truer to myself and to everyone around me
3. Finally and most importantly, I will make 2010 the best year I and Static have ever had full of success and good times with friends and family, and I hope that you achieve all your goals and desires for the coming year as well. Be safe tonight and I will see you in 2010!

Get to know Horse Stories

I know I haven't posted much lately, but I have been dealing with holiday madness as much as you probably have. I just built my new desk in my new office here in Brooklyn so I felt now was a good time to go through some emails, and this was the first thing that I ran across that caught my ear.

The Australian, Toby Burke is Horse Stories and he is about to come out with his latest album November, November. The album, which was recorded mostly to tape (as in just one take), sounds like it could be a great soulful effort coming from down under. For example, this first single, Hummingbird, has a great singer-song writer sound that should get you in the holiday mood and want you to snuggle up with the ones you love. So enjoy!

MP3: Horse Stories - Hummingbird (We'll Be Okay)

tour dates:
Jan 5 - Bar Lubitsch - LA, CA
Jan 19 - Rockwood Music Hall - NY, NY
Jan 21 - Pete's Candy Store - NY, NY

The Brees = Drew Brees + Dr. Dog's "The Breeze"

This video combines two things I love, Dr. Dog and Drew Brees. Black and Gold super bowl people!

Static's Top 10 of 2009

Ahhh, the end of the year. We get to look back and see what was and what could have been and dream that the next year will be even better. So, let me look back at my favorite albums of 2009. This is so hard, and I hate adding numbers in front of these albums. I also found it really hard to pick just 10. As you will see I found a lot of electronic albums were the ones that were the most groundbreaking and innovative this year.

1. BIBIO - AMBIVALENCE AVENUE

I loved this album. It constantly put me in a great state. It was well versed and amazingly produced. It was played the most as a whole on my I-Tunes so it totally belongs here.
MP3: Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
MP3: Bibio - All the Flowers

2. THE XX - XX

It maybe has a lot to do with their age, but they made, top to bottom, one of the best albums with some of the most dynamic pop songs I have heard in a while. I am very excited to hear some of their future projects.
MP3: The XX - Basic Space

3. PANTyRAID - THE SAUCE

We got to interview Marty from this group and he explained that Rap is on the outs and that bass hop is the future, and it is funny how even a recent New Yorker article kind of touched on this as well. And if this is true, then PANTyRAID is totally ahead of it's time. They can be called fortunetellers or like a Nostradamus in a musical since. They make bass lines that could easily be a verse. It was the simplicity mixed with it's complexity that made me love this album. I know this seems like an oxymoron, but for real, listen to the album and see what I am talking about.
MP3: PANTyRAID - Beba

4. PORTFORMAT - THE REPEAT FACTOR

Now, don't tell Portformat that Hip-Hop is dying out. This German created an album in the hip-hop vain with traditional raps, but using beats that I think PANTyRAID would be proud of. This is such a phenomenally diverse album with amazing R&B tracks along side amazing Hip-Hop and instrumentals that are out of this world.
MP3: Portformat - Knock Knock
MP3: Portformat - Purple Planet

5. KID CUDI - MAN ON THE MOON

Now for more on the death of Rap. This album was amazing for being something that Rap usually isn't. About the dark side of things. Along with the likes of Kanye, Cudi is very open about his emotional problems all over electro beats. So this goes out to all the kids that made fun of me for listening to "Rave" music as a kid. Guess what, we are all listening to "Rave" music now. Just some call it rap and some call it pop. So tell your kids to not make fun of other kids for how they dress or what they listen to, because sometimes the people who take risks are the ones that see the way things will be in 10 years!

6. VOLCANO CHOIR - UNMAP

Freaken Beautiful. Straight up. His voice, combined with a great mix of ambiance and beats leads to an amazing listening experience. If you haven't heard this album, get to it!
MP3: Volcano Choir - Island, IS

7. EDWARD SHAPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

This is what I like to hear. Good solid rock. Harmonies with beautiful lyrics that just make you feel all fuzzy inside. I mean how can you not love that? I guess if you are into death metal or the like.
MP3: Edward Shape and the Magnetic Zeros - Home

8. FEVER RAY - FEVER RAY

Her voice is undeniable and the songs on this album have some of the highest quality production on this whole list. This easily could have been near the top. This album sets an amazing mood that I would suggest not being on a hallucinogen for; but if you are, you may learn a few things about yourself.
MP3: Fever Ray - If I Had A Heart

9. PHOENIX - WOLFGANG AMADEUS

Not their best album by any means, but this is a great album. I honestly could have replaced this spot with Animal Collective. I am not sold on the direction either of them is going. Animal Collective, Grizzley Bear or Phoenix. You can call me a hater all you want. I know they are amazing artists and musicians, and I love the albums, I just want them to reach inside and challenge themselves. I knew when those albums came out that they were capable of making those albums. They didn't shock me, they made the best singles of the year, no doubt. The Beatles redefined themselves with every album. I think Animal Collective is better at that then the rest of them. So maybe they should go at 9. Who cares. You all already have all three of those albums if you are reading this blog.

10. LUKE VIBERT - WE HEAR YOU

This is an awesome album with some amazing beats and sampling that makes you nod your head the entire time you are listening.
MP3: Luke Vibert - We Hear You

Honorable mention: Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Dan Deacon, Bill Callahan, Girls, Generationals, Discovery, Rain Machine, TMDP, Moby, and Jason Little

Jazz Fest announces 2010 lineup

Jazz Fest has announced 2010s lineup and here are the acts that excite me to come down to New Orleans for it: My Morning Jacket, Dr. John, The Black Crowes, Band of Horses, Drake, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes. The festival will be the weekends of April 23 through 25 and April 29 through May 2. Head to their website for more information.

Bonnie's top 10 of 2009

Our numero dos in charge with Static Television here and the big cheese in our management department sent me along her top 10s of 2009.

2009 was a good year for music with a lot of well crafted albums. There are, of course, many obvious choices for a Top 10 list for the year. But I have decided to leave out Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, and Dirty Projectors. Also, there were many great 7" Single releases (like International Waters, Mitch Calvert from Voxtrot) and EPs. With that said, here is the soundtrack of my 2009 (in no particular order) :

Shaky Hands- "Let It Die"
The Antlers - "Hospice"
Phoenix- " Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
Maserati - "Passages" - Jerry Fuchs your amazing talent will be missed but forever remembered.
Generationals - "Con Law"
Ty Segall - "Lemons"
Dent May - " The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele" .
Crocodiles - " Summer of Hate"
Caddywhompus - "EPs"
Michachu and the Shapes- "Jewellery"

Top 10 Louisiana Albums of 2009

I said I would have some top 10s for you and I will be posting 3 this week. Today is all about my home town peeps who are probably just as nervously excited as I am about the Saints being 13-0. Hopefully, they tighten it up for the Cowboys this weekend

1 - GENERATIONALS - CON LAW

I usually try and judge albums and artists based on so many things. Here is why I chose this album as number one: They are awesome dudes, they make some amazing pop music, they have the best potential out of anyone on this list to have the most longevity as a band, and because I am the one choosing this list.
MP3: Generationals - Angry Charlie
VIDEO: Generationals Interview

2 - THE PEEKERS - LIFE IN THE AIR

These guys would probably be number one if I had a list for the most depressing concert of the year. Life In The Air is the most beautiful album on this list and when they were on their game they could out perform most. It is still a huge shame that they are no longer able to create music together.
MP3: The Peekers - Close My Eyes

3 - FROZEN BEARS - 2000

This was an album that hit me like a good left hook. They are a completely fresh sound to be coming out of New Orleans and I hope they keep at it as long as they can.
MP3: Frozen Bears - Tape Machine

4 - CADDYWHOMPUS - EPs

To watch these two guys you understand what it means for someone to love what they are doing. They are a band that night in and night out puts their heart on the stage with raw energy that is so contagious. That sound I believe is so hard to duplicate on an Album, but they do a pretty darn good job at it on EPs. I am really looking forward to their next album which should be hitting next year.
MP3: Caddywhompus - But Not Before the Show
VIDEO: Caddywhompus Interview

5 - ODOMS - LET ME ATOM

If we were giving away best Music Video awards, Odoms would absolutely get it. His first solo album makes me wonder why he hasn't done one sooner.
MP3: Odms - Shybe
VIDEO: Odoms - Keeping up with the Jetsons

6 - MyNameIsJohnMichael - THE PEOPLE THAT COME AND GO

Another band with amazing potential, and is great to see come of age before our eyes. I am sure we will be hearing a lot more from the in the coming year.
MP3: MyNameIsJohnMichael - Misery Runs
VIDEO: MyNameIsJohnMichael in the studio

7 - GIVERS - GIVERS

I am hoping to do a nice post for these guys in the near future. If you haven't heard these guys, go to their Bandcamp and get their EP. It is really good piece of work that feels like the Caribbean mixed with rock.

8 - IMPULSS - CATAGORY SHYBE

This is absolutely the best album I have heard by him. So solid from top to bottom. I am glad to see him continuing to hustle and making music.

9 - FATTER THAN ALBERT - THE LAST MINUTE

It is amazing how this band is totally becoming legends in the New Orleans music scene. Hopefully they will be creating music again soon.
VIDEO: Fatter Than Albert Interview

10 - BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN - HEY KID

Bringing Prog Rock to New Orleans and in a BIG way. No pun
MP3: Big Rock Candy Mountain - Rocketship
INTERVIEW: Big Rock Candy Mountain

If you are a band from Louisiana and you feel like you made a better album then some or all of the artists on this list then maybe I never got your album. Email me at info@statictelevision.com with information about your band.

HONORABLE MENTION: Glasgow

PHOTOS: Jay Retard @ Jacks 12/07/09

Thanks again for Joshua for these.

MISSING MONUMENTS

Click HERE to see more pictures of Missing Monuments.

JAY RETARD

Click HERE to see more pictures of Jay Retard.

I've got my eye on you Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, with their first full-length album"Up From Below" out this year, has been likened by many outlets to a “hippy-ish arcade fire”. With never less than ten performers on stage at a time, usually more, they definitely have that kind of presence. Most of them sing, most of them play multiple instruments. The hard thing to put your finger on, though, is the sound. Upon my first listen, all I could do is smile. Big sounds with intimate words, playful, well thought-out and unbelievably catchy melodies, but also something different…what was it? It finally hit me, but I gotta take you back a little bit.

I’m a child of the late 70s and 80s. I loved to listen to music on my parents “entertainment unit” which was a monstrosity that contained a record player and an 8-track player. My mother introduced me when I was about 6 years old to a record (that came with its own illustrated songbook!) called “Free to Be, You and Me”. Released in 1972 I was a little late on this one, but it didn’t matter. This record was so popular with kids, including me, that it was later created into a television special with songs and stories by a bizarre assortment of celebrities including Marlo Thomas, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson, Kris Kristofferson, Mel Brooks and Alan Alda.

What I realized after listening to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is that they have what “Free to be You and Me” has. That 70s “kids record” sound of signing and performing with total reckless happiness and freedom. They bang on multiple instruments with laughter, hoots and hollers in the background. A track called Home is a perfect example of this style. Seemingly a simple silly love song between lead singer Edward Sharpe (a.k.a. Alex Ebert) and singer Jade Castrinos, the song ends up taking you somewhere quite personal, with a spoken word interlude in which they regale us a story of how Jade fell out a window and was “bleedin’ all over”. It ends with the group singing the chorus until it almost bursts from the speakers “Home, yes I am Home! Home is whenever I’m with you.” That sounds just about right. The album does feel like home.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are finishing up a tour now, with their next show at the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver on Dec. 8^th.

MP3: Edward Shape and the Magnetic Zeros - Home

A Taste of Home

Wow...the past couple of months have been a whirl wind. Between work, finally getting settled in my apartment, and heading back home to New Orleans for the holidays, I just haven't made the time to post. Sorry!!

Any how, this last trip to New Orleans really made me miss the place that much more. It's intoxicating. Something that you definitely take for granted when you're living there. So I've tracked down a few Youtube vids of my favorite local flavored tunes that really bring me back.

Enjoy!

And something a little special for my boys in Black & Gold

PHOTOS: Antenna Inn @ One Eyed Jacks

This one totally slipped by me for my NOLA News and Notes this past Friday; but, this past Saturday at One Eyed Jacks was Antenna Inn's final show ever. Luckily our man Josh was able to get some great pictures.

MICAH McKEE AND FRIENDS

Click HERE for more pictures of Micah McKee and Friends.

ANTENNA INN

Click HERE to see more pictures from Antenna Inn's final show ever.