The other day I got word that
my friends over at Chicken Ranch Records were rallying up some good will for
the holidays, and I asked them to write up a quick description of it for
you.
Here's Michael Dickinson...
It’s been a good year for us at Chicken Ranch HQ and
we enjoy doing holiday projects to give back to the community. Chicken
Ranch Records is doing it’s first Christmas EP this year, it’s either free
or a donation EP given your financial situation. All profits go to the
Austin Food Bank. Atlanta/Philly electro-manic The Emotron contributes a
cover of Alabama’s "Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You)" and Dallas’
Savanteous Q Malmsteen delivers us "What Do You Give A Wookie For
Christmas?" from The Star Wars Holiday Special.
If you’re in Austin on December 11th, we’re doing our annual X-mas shindig
in conjunction with Obsolete Industries and 086 Studio, The Emotron,
Automusik and a special guest will be playing at Rainbow Cattle Company.
Door proceeds benefit local music non-profit Anthropos Arts.
Sounds good, right? I'm going to try and be at the get together
on the 11th, so let me know if you plan on going. I'd love to talk
year-end lists. Or just drink. It's whatever as long as we're
supporting the cause.
And now, I present to you part four! Enjoy.
- 20 Through 11 -
20)
:Frightened
Rabbit - The Modern Leper:
To be honest, I think that this is probably the weakest
track on FR's full length. Yet, as you've certainly
noticed by now, I still thought highly enough of it to put
it in my Top 20. That's just how good they are.
Seriously.
19)
:Bodies
Of Water - Under The Pines:
I really obsessed over this band for a good month after I
got my hands on A Certain Feeling - then I just
stopped. No exactly sure why, but I think that it
might be because they're the kind of act that can sometimes
make for an exhausting listen. This is a gem though.
18)
:White
Hinterland - Dreaming Of The Plum Trees:
With the success of Regina Spektor, Feist and a slew of
others, pretty voices mixed with sugary sweet pop have
quickly become all the rage. 2008, of course, had
quite a few more entrants into the genre, but the only lady
that really made me cry out "songbird" was this one.
17)
:Cassettes
Won't Listen - Paper Float:
Despite my excitement for Jason Drake to finally deliver
something other than covers songs, I was pretty much
convinced that the CWL EP would underwhelm. Oops.
I honestly can't even begin to fathom how many times I've
listened to this song.
16)
:Duchess
Says - Ccut Up:
Whenever I use the word wild it usually isn't to describe
something that out there, so when I say that this is
WILD I want you to know that I mean so in a way that says it
will thrash every single one your senses. Good luck
figuring out what to think. I still don't know and
I've been digging it for months.
15)
:The
Submarines - You, Me And The Bourgeoisie:
They most certainly have that particular sound that won't
score any points for originality, but, as I've said before,
it's all in the lyrics. For instance, "Everyday I wake
up/I choose love/I choose light/And I try/It's too easy to
just fall apart." Somebody put that on a card!
14)
:Little
Joy - Brand New Start:
This is a recent tune from an even more recent album that
has simply taken over my life. I mean, the Strokes
with a sound that seems as if it was recorded with a lazy
day at the beach in mind!? Sign me up. Forever.
13)
:The
Boxing Lesson - Dark Side Of The Moog:
I absolutely love this band when they're standing on a stage
in front of me and playing like there's no tomorrow, but
when it comes to recorded stuff it just doesn't work as
well. Except for this song, which is easily the best
prog rock tune I heard all of 2008.
12)
:Miles
Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Buriedfed:
I never thought that one day I'd be sitting around and
talking about artists that TV On The Radio were able to push
into the spotlight with their popularity, but I'm happy that
things have transpired that way. This guy is just an
incredible songwriter.
11)
:The
Coast - Tightrope (Tokyo Police Club Remix):
At no point in my life have I heard the original version of
this song (or even another track from this act, for that
matter). This just appeared in my inbox one day and I
instantly became enamored with it. Let me know if I
need to seek out more of the Coast.
- John Laird -
Unless
otherwise expressly stated, all text in this blog and any
related pages, including the blog's archives, is licensed by
John Laird under a
Creative Commons License.
