The Republic. Sam Prekop

The Republic, The Sea and Cake frontman Sam Prekop's fourth LP is brilliant.  His first two efforts, a self-titled, and Who's Your New Professor, were what I imagine The Sea and Cake might sound like if Prekop had full control of the band.  They were slick, jazzy, a bit quirky, and super cool.  His third LP, Old Punch Card, was radically different and was less about music than it was about making sounds.  It's hard to call the things on the record songs, because it doesn't do them justice.  The Republic is the direct evolution of Old Punch Card, but it's more traditionally electronic/ambient music.  "Weather Vane" actually even sounds like a dance tune.  I say The Republic is brilliant because 15 tracks go by way too fast, and all you want to do at the end is start it all over.  It puts life in a context that only a record like this can.  So grab a cold beverage, take a long ride, or go sit in a field somewhere.  Put this album on and be taken somewhere else. You won't be disappointed.

One Fine Selection No. 30

For the 30th edition of One Fine Selection, here's three (get it) fine selections!  The first is a beautiful track by Plus/Minus, a relatively unknown band here in the States, but worth checking out.  "What Lies Ahead" is a cool way to welcome these first warm days of Spring.

The second selection is "Flat Lay the Water" from a band I frequently share, The Sea and Cake. Also perfect for the warm days.

Third is another from The Sea and Cake, a groovy closer "The Fawn".  Enjoy.

Frank Proffitt's "Ruben Train"

Oh, Reuben's coming down the track,

And he's got his throttle back,

And the rails are a-carrying him from home.

If the boiler don't bust

'Cause it's eat up with rust,

I'll soon be a long ways from home.

If you don't believe I'm gone,

Look at the train I'm on;

You can hear the whistle blow a thousand miles.

I'm a-going down the track;

I ain't never coming back,

And I'll never get no letter from my home.

Well, the train run so fast

Till I knowed it couldn't last,

For the wheels was a-burning up the rail.

Old Reuben had a wreck

And it broke old Reuben's neck,

And it never hurt a hair on my head.

Now I'm walking up the track,

Hoping I'll get back;

I'm a thousand miles away from home.

If I ever get back to you,

You can beat me black and blue,

For I'll never leave my shanty home.

Illinois. Sufjan Stevens

I honestly can't remember if I've posted any of Sufjan Stevens' full albums here, but it doesn't matter. This album deserves to be on the golden record that humans send out to space to tell other life forms what we're all about.  Stuart Campbell's (whoever he is) comment on the Bandcamp page for Illinois sums it up best of all: "Perfection. Not a single bad track. Not a single miss in vision. Not a single uninspired moment."  So set some time aside, sit down, hit play, and come on and feel the Illinoise. Your life will be better for it.  Enjoy.

And So I Watch You From Afar New Album Coming Woo!!!

ASIWYFA is set to release their latest effort, HEIRS, in May...and I'm excited.  So because of that excitement, here's a great video of them performing the opening two tracks of their previous album, All Hail Bright Futures.  Get yourself acquainted with them, and then be sure to check out HEIRS. 

For Your Viewing Pleasure

New Dutch Uncles! One Fine Selection No. 29

Dutch Uncles just released their new album O Shudder  and it's pretty wonderful.  So to celebrate that, I'm posting this video for "Face In" from their debut self-titled LP, which is exactly opposite of new.  So after you watch this video, hopefully you'll be enticed to go check out O Shudder.  You won't be disappointed.