It’s In Our Nature to be Hipsters.

Well, kindred spirits in hipsterness, it has been a while, hasn’t it? Bobcat and I do apologize for our absence. The blog has been neglected whilst we have been off wasting our parents trust fund money at fine institutions of higher learning, or perhaps we’ve just been in a two month long apathy-induced coma. You’ll never know. Regardless, I do believe an update is long overdue.

For  those of you who enjoy a little folk in your indie diet from time to time, I present to you Jose Gonzalez. Jose, who hails from Göteborg, Sweden but is really Argentinian, is best known for his down-tempo, lo-fi covers of other people’s songs. For instance, Massive Attack’s “Tear Drop” or The Knife’s “Heartbeat.” But his newest album, In Our Nature, which dropped in September of last year, is full of his own material (okay, except for “Tear Drop”) that lyrically takes on such ambitious subjects as war and religion and the purpose of life and is chock full of brilliant guitar playing.

He often garners comparisons to Pink Moon-era Nick Drake. I find that this comparison is less apt in sound than in essence. They may both use stripped down, folksy acoustic guitar and have some soft, whispery quality to their vocals, but they really don’t sound too similar. I find the similarities in the way they write their lyrics, the way they structure their songs, and their mutual affinity for minimalistic guitar accompaniments. When I hear Jose Gonzalez, I prefer to liken his sound to a Nick Drake-James Taylor hybrid with a tropical twist–the Latin influence on his music is undeniable and often overlooked.

One constant criticism (as highlighted by a certain music site that we hipsters publicly shun but still read in the privacy of our homes with curtains drawn and lights off) is that Gonzalez’s original work doesn’t stand up to his cover tracks and that those often outshine any particular original song. That being said, I don’t believe any track on In Our Nature is really a standout from any other track, not even the cover. Certainly, I have my favorites, but I think this more “atmospheric” disc is best listened to as a whole. Regardless, try Fold out:

If you liked that, you will probably enjoy the rest of Jose’s work. LaBlogotheque has other beautiful live videos of Jose Gonzalez’s Abram and How Low. (Side note: In general, I find LaBlogotheque is a great source of excellent versions of excellent artists’ excellent songs.) You can find more of Jose Gonzalez at his official site and myspace.

Hopefully next time I will return to blog my superior wisdom to the wretched hipster masses sooner than January. I’ll try. Really.

The Ballad of Ferraby Lionheart

About the delay- we have been ironically busy. Now that things have seemed to calmed down a bit, expect a decent amount of posts. Or whatever.

Once upon a time last year a dear friend recommended me an artist by the name of Ferraby Lionheart and now I am recommending him to you. He has produced a self-titled EP and a full-length album, Catch the Brass Ring, in 2007. His music is key for the acoustic-indie-hipster music scene. He focuses on the main points of a good hipster band; good lyrics, pianos, guitars and various stringed instruments throughout. What makes him stand out from the rest? Well, while he may allure to the hipster scene, he is far too well read and interesting to be just any other hipster band, like Deerhoof or Dr. Dog. 

Two of his songs have gained popularity from his albums and have made it to video form, while every one I have hear has been wonderful. His music is the type of music you can listen to for hours while on a long train ride – it is calming a peaceful. Also good for picnics. 

His video for “A Crack In Time” is witty and cute, and rather aww-inducing. He uses his simplicity of a man with an acoustic guitar for his benefit, allowing there to be a space for girl and boys to swoon over him in a hope that he is the music he plays. He obviously is a great gentleman to the elderly, and seriously, who doesn’t want that in a musician? 

Hipsters and the elderly go hand in hand! 

 

Obama even thinks so! 

I seriously want that Hipsters for Obama pin. I know Paul does as well. We’ll be investing in them soon, I’m sure. 

So, put your political biases away and give Ferraby Lionheart a listen. He seems like a good guy, he’s has no reason to lie.

Myspace

Official Website

Other Recommended Videos: Here and Here

The Mystic Valley is Mystical!

There has been one thing that had clashed between Paul and I for a long time, and that is one man by the name of Conor Oberst. Now, as many of you hipsters know, the new Conor Oberst self-titled album officially came out in the U.S. on August 5th, though it has been on the internet for quite some time. I remember when I found out about the album, then, when I found out about the tour. I was at the Philadelphia show on August 11th, (I know I suck at updating, I meant to that night, but I couldn’t get on the internet with my Mac and felt bad using my friend’s desktop) and to be honest, it was the best show I believe I’ve ever been to. Now, many of you cringe at the mention of the man who is affiliated with Bright Eyes, who is Bright Eyes. However, I tell you, listen to Conor Oberst. It is some of the best work I’ve heard in a while and it is racking up the plays on my iTunes. So, put your prejudices behind you.

The opening track is called “Cape Canaveral” which is a beautiful and elegant song, and my personal favorite on the album. Close seconds are “Milk Thistle” (I cried during this one at the show, I’m not afraid to admit it, it was beautiful and touching) and “Souled Out!!!” which has a new video out:

Now, while this may not tickle the fancy of many of you out there, it certainly did to the large amount of hipsters that waited outside the Troc that fateful night. Many, like me, were excited, but concealed it behind their apathetic attitudes (I didn’t, sorry) and arrived early, providing some in line laughs and eye rolling. Now, the show was sold out, very packed, and I hope if you ever go to a show with a parent that doesn’t know show etiquette that they stand in the back, drinking like good parents that need to pass the time. They truly can be irritating when they elbow you, telling you to back off. If that woman reads this, Sorry, I was being shoved against you, too. I didn’t want to be, trust me. There were plenty of others I’d prefer to be pushed against. For the most part, the fans were friendly and good natured, being apathetic and smoking and talking outside the venue. It had a great feeling, as it was a very intimate show, and I’d advise you all to go to a show if you can. I recently found out that there will be two shows in New York City this November. So, buy your tickets and relax, giving a good listen to the music.

Songs can be found here: myspace.com/conoroberst and are available in your local Borders, F.Y.E. or iTunes.

 

So, since it’s been so long, and I feel bad, I propose a challenge to Paul. Let’s give each other bands to blog about, so we just don’t pick things we are already opinionated about. What do you think, buddy?

Ah, what a beautiful social scene!

A few nights ago, I received an instant message from a very good friend of mine. She forced me to listen to Broken Social Scene for the first time. Now, while I had heard whispers about this band before, I was too lazy to investigate them. However, as soon as the music video was playing on my Mac, I was hooked like a hooker is to sex.

I didn’t expect them to be anything out of the ordinary, but I was proved wrong. The band has catchy songs and delicious topics. They’re not your ordinary indie band, no, they are far better. The massive group of them (really, I would get sick of being around that many people on a tour. It would be beyond annoying. I give them props.) preform very well together to produce the exquisite tunes. They’re music varies from a female singer to a male, acoustic guitar to electric and really has a wide range. Their albums You Forgot in People and Feel Good Lost are two of my personal favorites and since I downloaded them, I haven’t been able to stop listening to them. “I’m Still your Fag” is my alarm clock song that I wake up to every morning. This post has been poor and late but if it has helped you find a small flicker of love for them deep in your ironic hearts, listen to them. 

More of their music can be found on their myspace or their purevolume. Enjoy and happy listening!

By the way, I am terribly sorry, Paul. I seemed to get a bit distracted by concerts and coffee shops.