Check out this insanely well done cover from Tigers Jaw of the mythical Brand New track “Moshi Moshi”. So good, I even ripped the audio to MP3 for you. Thanks, Nervous Energies!

MP3 // TIGERS JAW “MOSHI MOSHI” (BRAND NEW COVER)

This is also probably appropriate: the original.
MP3 // MOSHI MOSHI (ACOUSTIC)

Here’s some HQ footage of Brand New playing “Untitled 5″ (setlisted as “Nobody Moves”) from last nights New Years Eve show…An extremely rare occurence. Legendary.

They also did “Flying At Tree Level” !!

Set list
Set One: Acoustic

The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
Bought A Bride
At The Bottom
The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot
Sic Transit Gloria…Glory Fades
Play Crack The Sky

Set Two: “Your Favorite Weapon” Album

Set Three: All Requests

Welcome To Bangkok
Nobody Moves
Guernica
Jesus Christ
Flying At Tree Level
Moshi Moshi
Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t
Degausser
You Won’t Know

Edit: just gonna go ahead and up all the videos here

Edit: Download audio of whole night’s set here

Tautou

Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades

I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light

Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t

The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows

Me Vs Maradona Vs Elvis

Sowing Season (Yeah)

Millstone

Seventy Times 7

At The Bottom [acoustic]

Bought a Bride

Luca

Gasoline

Degausser

You Won’t Know

Jesus

Play Crack The Sky

MP3 // JUDE LAW AND A SEMESTER ABROAD (2000 DEMO)

I could care less what they decide to write about. At this point, it’s just good to have these guys back.

Tracklist
angus and julia stone – walk it off
freelance whales – enzymes
summer people – glossy eyed
crystal castles vs CBF – cry babies
letlive. – enemigos/enemies
trophy scars – trazodone
via audio – developing active people
brand new – untitled 08
bad books – holding down the laughter
underoath – driftwood
hellogoodbye – betrayed by bones
kanye west – lost in the world (ft. bon iver)
right away, great captain! – best ever metal band out of denton (mountain goats cover)
coma cinema – her sinking sun
blossom dearie – tout doucement
now, now every children – jesus camp
lupe fiasco – the show goes on

ZIP // The World That I Wanted (October 2010 Mix)

01 // Small Black – Search Party
02 // Willy Mason – The World That I Wanted
03 // Andy Hull – Fresh Start Booze
04 // Azure Ray – Displaced
05 // The Gay Blades – Wasted On The Youth
06 // Elliott Smith – Happiness
07 // Thrice – Open Water
08 // You Me And Everyone We Know – Bootstraps
09 // Grizzly Bear and Feist – Service Bell
10 // La Dispute – Why It Scares Me
11 // The Good Life – October Leaves
12 // Sufjan Stevens – Vesuvius
13 // Brand New – Flying At Tree Level (Version 1.0)
14 // WHY? – Crushed Bones
15 // Sunset Rubdown – Us Ones In Between
16 // PMtoday – I Am Wrong
17 // Emily Haines – Bottom Of The World
18 // Deerhunter – He Would Have Laughed

So without further ado, here are the 10 albums that made my year. These are the top 10 reasons I keep doing this. Let me know what you think!

10
As Cities Burn // Hell or High Water
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.0 of 5 // review
The last album in the short-lived legacy of As Cities Burn, Hell or High Water hinted at the same brooding and dissonant songwriting of it’s predecessor featuring vocalist Cody Bonnette shining in some of his brightest moments. Although Hell or High Water will not go down as their best release, it’s an applauded effort by a band that went away all too soon.
mp3// pirate blues

****

09
Monsters of Folk // Monsters of Folk
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.0 of 5
The collaboration between M. Ward, Jim James and Conor Oberst birthed an album that was diversified enough to keep everybody happy, while staying true to each artists character. The hype that surrounded Monsters of Folk at it’s announcement usually stunts such supergroups, but Monsters of Folk lived up to the hype, creating an album that is impossible to find something that you don’t like.
mp3// say please

****

08
Freelance Whales // Weathervanes
Bedwetters Rating //4.0 of 5 // full review
The thing that makes Weathervanes so good is it’s unexplainable ability to combine the immediacy of it’s songs with a depth of songwriting that is unmatched by too many. The first week after being introduced to Weathervanes, it was the only thing I listened to. I took it with me wherever I went, all the while waiting for the eventual crash that accompanies a record that favors instant appeal instead of good songwriting. I thought this was THAT record, but I was wrong. Weathervanes is the best of both worlds; instantly addicting and positively refreshing with each listen.
mp3// starring

****

07
Atlas Sound // Logos
Bedwetter’s Rating //4.0 of 5 // full review
It seems that with Logo’s, Bradford Cox has finally left the confines of his bedroom to give his work the cliche’d “breath of fresh air”. The sound heard throughout Logos is both consistent and addicting, compounding soaring soundscapes with conservative whispers making Logos not only one of the shining moments of 2009, but arguably Cox’s best work to date.
mp3// shelia

****

06
Brand New // Daisy
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.0 of 5 // full review
From the opening wounded shrieking to the delirious and maniacal chanting of it’s imploding end, Daisy instantly became the most polarizing album in Brand New’s prolific catalog. While naysayers cite sloppy songwriting and questionable quality behind Daisy’s lyricism, Jesse Lacey and Co. still pushed the boundaries into depths few, if any knew they were capable of.
mp3// gasoline

****

05
Thrice // Beggars
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.5 of 5 // full review
Beggars is not the most intricate record, nor the most experimental release in Thrice’s impressive discography. However, the solidified composition and reserved greatness in every song on the album makes it easy to listen to and nearly impossible to forget. The masterful musicianship displayed by guitarist Teppei Teranishi is perfectly balanced in every aspect, lending way for the Breckenridge brother’s flawless percussion section. Combined with Dustin Kensrue’s career defining performance both lyrically and vocally, it’s hard to think of a time when the songwriting prowess of Thrice was more evident than now.
mp3// doublespeak

****

04
Rx Bandits // Mandala
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.5 of 5 // full review
While Mandala might not take the giant leap of progression found on …And The Battle Begun, it still finds the band in a place of steady contentment. The energy and the flow is all we have come to expect from a band of such stature, and it does well serving as the next chapter in Rx Bandit’s already impressive story.

mp3// bring our children home or everything is nothing

****

03
mewithoutYou // it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.5 of 5 // full review
Although it may be mewithoutYou’s worst acclaimed release, I can’t fault them for making an album that they wanted to make. Gone is everything that made this band recognizable, but they still made it work. From the opening happy keys of “every thought a thought of You” to the campfire acoustics of “Allah, Allah, Allah” Aaron Weiss cements himself among the greatest lyricists of my time. If you don’t get this album, keep listening. It will come
mp3// cattail down

****

02
Grizzly Bear // Veckatimest
Bedwetter’s Rating // 4.5 of 5 // full review
Capitalizing on everything that makes Grizzly Bear such a widely admired band, Veckatimest is a true rarity. Gushing to the brim with dazzling and addicting psychedelia tinged chamber pop and methodically sparse folk, these four men from Brooklyn have made a masterpiece that is both insatiably deep as it is instantly gratifying.
mp3// ready, able

****

01
Manchester Orchestra // Mean Everything To Nothing
Bedwetter’s Rating // 5 of 5 //full review
It is apparent that when Manchester Orchestra set out to write this album, they went with clear intentions to make a masterpiece, and a masterpiece is exactly what they have delivered. In an industry where we are constantly being subjected to bands intent on selling us an image rather than a song, it’s refreshing to see a band come along and create something so naturally beautiful and unforced. And for that, Manchester Orchestra deserve all the acclaim in the world.
mp3// everything to nothing

While many will be mourning the death of summer, I for one am ecstatic for the change. Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of the year. October means a few good things in particular
-The upcoming line-up of all the good holidays is drawing near.
-The start of the NBA season is right around the corner.
-I don’t need an excuse to stay inside, eat and be lazy.

In addition to all these great things, my musical preferences always seem to change during this time. Cutting back on the poppier and heavier sides of the musical spectrum, I always seem to dive headfirst into a pool of stark acoustics, greyish ambients and, lazy pop. Hopefully this mix reflects that, and will accompany you through the best time of the year.

DOWNLOAD:: i know a girl with cuts on her legs [fall mix 09] [zip]
MORE MIXES

TRACKLIST
01. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros – 40 Day Dream
02. Atlas Sound – Shelia
03. The Republic of Wolves – Spill
04. The Big Pink – Dominos
05. Dead Man’s Bones – Pa Pa Power
06. Devendra Banhart – Baby
07. Grizzly Bear – All We Ask
08. Brand New – Daisy
09. Small Black – Despicable Dogs
10. The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin
11. The Strokes – Is This It
12. The Good Life – Night and Day
13. Monsters of Folk – Temazcal
14. St. Vincent – Marrow
15. The Notwist – Consequence
16. Right Away, Great Captain! – What A Lullaby, What A Way To Die
17. Wolf Parade – Grounds For Divorce
18. Emily Haines – Reading In Bed

On Thursday, Brand New kicked off their fall tour, I’ll be at the date in Utah on the 9th. Like me, if you can’t wait, check out some this video of “Vices” and “Gasoline” from the kick-off show. If this is any indication of what the tour is going to be like, I hope Jesse will have some voice left by the time he makes it up here.

Reported Setlist
You Won’t Know
Degausser
Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t
Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades
The No Seatbelt Song
Vices
Gasoline
In A Jar
You Stole
Sowing Season
The Archers Bows Have Broken
Jesus
Jaws Them Swimming [w/ new intro]
Sink
At The Bottom
Welcome To Bangkok
Play Crack The Sky

REVIEW:: DAISY

After a three year gap since 2006′s critically acclaimed “The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me”, the group that have been subject to ridiculous hyperbole such as “America’s answer to Radiohead” are back with their fourth studio full-length, oddly entitled Daisy. Opposed to what the album name may suggest, there is nothing life-bearing or illuminating about it. Instead, Daisy continues on the disheartening path trodden by their former releases, and sometimes surpasses it. There are demented moments throughout that sound like a soundtrack to someone slowly delving into insanity, and maybe they are. Anyone following Brand New’s discography would easily note the progressive and intimately depressing nature of it’s content. If this is true, then consider “Daisy” the train finally coming off the tracks.

Frontman Jesse Lacey said himself in various interviews leading up to Daisy’s release that this record would be more raw and louder than anything previously released, a sound more indicative of the band’s live performance. The album opener “Vices” as well as “Gasoline” are both scathing examples of the new formula fine-tuned to perfection, featuring howling feedback, expertly syncopated to Lane and Tierney’s steady rhythm. Both songs sound like someone trying to intentionally break your speakers. “Sink” also plays the part featuring one of the most ruckus-inducing choruses that Brand New have penned to date.

However, as with any experiment, there are times when the formula goes terribly wrong. Lead single “At the Bottom” fails in attempting to be immediately accessible on an album that is anything but. Elsewhere “In a Jar” is a monotone lyrical disaster with verses that are as sharp as a dull spoon. The album’s second track “Bed” feels incomplete and raw, almost as if it wasn’t fully written before the band begun tracking. The trend is not limited to these, as lyrically Daisy leaves a lot to be desired.

In previous releases Jesse Lacey has been the penman, writing the majority of Brand New’s lyrics. For Daisy, it was noted that guitarist Vince Accardi had taken on the daunting task of wielding the pen for the majority of Daisy’s tracks and the change is painfully noticeable. Whereas Lacey has always been noted as one of the sharpest wordsmiths of modern times, his absence on most of Daisy’s lyrical credits is a blinding glare in it’s makeup. Daisy cements itself as the first album since their debut to make me actually cringe at some of it’s lyrical matter.

That is not to say that it is at all an utter failure. There are still moments reminiscent of the Brand New of old. From the halfway point of the enigmatic interlude “Be Gone” Brand New really hit their stride. Both of “Bought a Bride” and the album’s title track shine brightly, showcasing cryptic yet poignant lyricism that is unmistakably vintage Brand New. Where “Bought a Bride” contains some of the album’s strongest material lyrically, “Daisy” features eerie recordings and industrial nu-metal instrumentation that somehow actually works.

Throughout all the struggle and trial that is laced in Daisy’s tracks, the album closer “Noro” is the haunting culmination of it all. Beginning with a wall of feedback the track leads into a ghostly 90 second introduction of Accardi’s guitar work backing Lacey’s exhausted words. Much discussion has been made recently to whether this will be the final release for Brand New. While the response from the band has been somewhat mixed, if “Noro” is any indication, it could very well be the last closing song penned by Brand New. If so, it’s a hell of a way to go out. Before closing with the same hymn that opened the record, Lacey ends the track bluntly “I wanna burn down everything we’ve begun, I wanna kill it, eat my young” before fading out into a maniacal chant of “I’m on my way to hell.” To say that his closing words leave a cold, chilling atmosphere in Daisy’s wake would be a vast understatement.

Though the critical reception for Daisy has been more bi-polar than any release put out by the band, I can’t help but find myself on the fence. Daisy is a fantastic record, but ultimately fails to captivate on the depth of songwriting that has come to be expected from the band. While the run-time of Daisy is an acceptable 40 minutes, it feels more like getting filled up on junk-food versus a hot home cooked meal. This is not to say that Daisy is a “bad” record as many critics would have you believe. The band have stated that this was the record they had to write for themselves in order to stay together. If that is true, then consider Daisy a necessary evil in the legacy of Brand New.

DOWNLOAD:: Vices [MP3]
DOWNLOAD:: Bought a Bride (Acoustic) [MP3]

Myspace | Official | Purchase

This mix is made for my good friend Ben, who just returned from a 2 year religious sabbatical in Argentina. I promised him I would put together a mix of all the great music he missed out on. The only rule is that any song had to be released between September 2007 – September 2009. The actual mix I’ve created for him is over 70 songs, so this is definitely a summarized version. Check it out, and as always, if you dig a song, support the artist!

Download:: XL – A “Welcome Home” Mix [ZIP] (MEDIAFIRE)
Download::XL – A “Welcome Home” Mix [ZIP] (RAPIDSHARE)

01. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster – Waiting On My Deathbed
02. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – 40 Day Dream
03. Conor Oberst – I Don’t Want to Die (in a hospital)
04. Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse – Little Girl (Ft. Julian Casablancas)
05. J. Tillman – Year in the Kingdom
06. Facing New York – Cops on Bikes
07. Brand New – Sink
08. The Cool Kids – Bassment Party
09. MGMT – Time to Pretend
10. Damion Suomi – San Francisco
11. Julian Plenti – Games for Days
12. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – Night of the Star Child’s Funk
13. Land of Talk – Some Are Lakes
14. Megapuss – Crop Circle Jerk ’94
15. St. Vincent – Marrow
16. Little Joy – No One’s Better Sake
17. Dear and the Headlights – Saintly Rows (Oh Oh)
18. Monsters of Folk – Say Please
19. fun. – Be Calm
20. Arctic Monkeys – Pretty Visitors
21. Beach House – Heart of Chambers

The latest video to come out of the Daisy sessions kicks off with an interview clip before delving into an acoustic brooding version of Daisy’s lead single. I’m still in favor of “SINK” being a better lead single, but the acoustic version is definitely growing on me.

Brand New – Daisy
Stream It | Buy It | First Impressions

Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
Stream It | Buy It | MP3 – “Map of The World”

Volcano Choir – Unmap
Myspace It | Purchase It

Download:: Brand New w/ Kevin Devine – Jesus (Daisy Sessions) [MP3]

Stream:: DAISY

EDIT It appears that an acoustic version of Bought a Bride was also posted with the stream.
Download:: Brand New – Bought A Bride (ACOUSTIC) [MP3]