Today's Brew | My Brightest Diamond

Tonight, she opens up for Sufjan Stevens at the Wiltern for a sold out show.
Maybe the highlight of the evening won't be Sufjan, but Shara Worden aka My Brightest Diamond. Perhaps the best new artist to keep an eye on for this year.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to the show, but whoever goes, you're in for a definite treat.

mp3: My Brightest Diamond- "Disappear"
(YouSend: For a limited time)

Visit Asthmatic Kitty: My Brightest Diamond to listen to one of her songs...

My previous entry about her ovah here, and even Colin Meloy (from The Decemberists) likes her.

official site: My Brightest Diamond
My Space: My Brightest Diamond

Today's Brew | My Brightest Diamond

My Brightest Diamond is Shara Worden, granddaughter of an Epiphone-playing traveling evangelist, fathered by a National Accordion Champion, and mothered by a church organist. An interesting upbringing to say the least.
Like Sufjan, she's quite an amazing songwriter and the songs from what I've heard so far are beautifully crafted, and I look forward to hearing more about her in the coming weeks.

Visit Asthmatic Kitty: My Brightest Diamond to listen to one of her songs...

Coming to LA:
August 03 - Los Angeles - The Echo
She'll also be on tour to support of fellow record label mate and friend- Sufjan Stevens, so catch her then as well.

official site: My Brightest Diamond
My Space: My Brightest Diamond

Today's Brew | MBD REMIXED

Among some of today's notable releases: Arcade Fire and Chk Chk Chk (!!!), both getting rave reviews, is also the release of My Brightest Diamond's "Tear It Down".
Its a collaboration of thirteen different DJs as they take on Shara's amazing album "Bring Me The Workhorse" and tweak selected songs to a dancey beat by reimagining the song. Love it or hate it, I still think whatever they do to her songs, the vocals are still amazing. Just don't forget the strobe lights and glittering disco ball.



From the album "Tear It Down":
mp3:Gold Chains - "Freak Out (Panique mix)"
mp3:Alias- Golden Star"

YouTube: My Brightest Diamond- "Golden Star (Live)"


My past entries about her ovah here.

official site: My Brightest Diamond
My Space: My Brightest Diamond

Second Cup | Colin Meloy's fave new artist

Pitchfork started a new series called "Guest List" in which they feature their favorite artists and find out what they've been up to lately. So they start it off with The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy.
Check the article ovah here.

Among a list of other things he says, one notable is
Favorite New Artist.

My Brightest Diamond

That’s really hard to say, but I’ll pick My Brightest Diamond because they're a very new band, and some of the other ones are probably off limits, not being that new. But as far as a debut record, Bring Me the Workhorse is really knocking my socks off.

My entry about My Brightest Diamond ovah here.

The Decemberists release their album "The Crane Wife" on Oct. 3rd. If you haven't heard any of their new material, you're in for a treat.

Best of '07: Remixes + Reworks

Lets highlight some of this past year's remixes and reworks, so we won't cover all, but pick out some of the ones that are worth noting. To start us off, My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden:

From the album "Tear It Down":
mp3: My Brightest Diamond- "Freakout" (Goldchains Remix)
mp3: My Brightest Diamond- "Goldenstar" (Alias Remix)

Today's Brew | Daytrotter: MBD

Our good friends ovah at Daytrotter serve up this Monday's Daytrotter Session with one of my favorite artist of last year, Shara Worden aka My Brightest Diamond.
A definite treat.
Check it the session ovah here.

mp3: My Brightest Diamond- "Something of An End" (Daytrotter Session)

My previous entry about her ovah here.

Day Three | 12-17

Day Three.
Any of the following albums could've made the top ten list, but we had some strong solid contenders. Also, some female solo acts have made a considerable impression in this year's list, as we already included the duet album by Isobel Campbell, Metric's Emily Haines in her solo effort, and Joanna Newsom. And here are a few more as we continue...



-------------------------------

17. Radio Dept. "Pet Grief"
(May 30, 2006)

Past notable entry about them ovah here.
mp3: Radio Dept.- "What Will Give"

16. Asobi Seksu "Citrus"
(May 30, 2006)

One of our many entries about them ovah here.
mp3: Asobi Seksu- "Thursday"
(courtesy of insound)

15. Neko Case "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood"
(March 7, 2006)

Past notable entry about her ovah here.
mp3: Neko Case- "Lion's Jaw"

14. Danielson "Ships"
(May 9, 2006)

Past notable entry about 'em ovah here.
mp3: Danielson- "Five Stars and Two Thumbs Up"
(YouSend: for a limited time)

13. Planning To Rock "Have It All"
(June 7, 2006)

Past notable entry about her ovah here.
mp3: Planning To Rock- "I Wanna Bite Ya"

12. My Brightest Diamond "Bring Me The Workhorse"
(September 7, 2006)

Past notable entry about her ovah here.
mp3: My Brightest Diamond- "Something Of An End"
(courtesy of insound)

Top 20 Songs of 2006 (so far that I know and like)

As a little segway before we do the countdown list of the albums of this past year which will begin on Monday- Dec. 11th.

Also, be sure to check out Passion Weiss for his take on the best debut albums of the past year.

I thought I throw in my fave top songs of this past year. As it appears that everyone's throwing in their list of various sorts. Like any of the other lists I compile-- it has its flaws, but for now, this is a sampling of what I've enjoyed the past year.

1. Cat Power “The Greatest” (scroll down to find the song link- courtesy of matador)
2. Califone “Spider’s House”
3. My Brightest Diamond “Something of an End”
4. Band of Horses “Funeral”
5. Charlotte Gainsbourg “The Songs That We Sing”
6. Hot Chip “No Fit State”
7. The Knife “Silent Shout”
8. Sparklehorse “Morning Hollow”
9. Swan Lake “All Fires”
10. Feist “La même histoire” (courtesy of natalieportman.com)
11. Neko Case “Hold on, Hold on”
12. Fields "Songs for the Fields"
12. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye”
13. TV on the Radio “Province”
14. Bonnie “Prince” Billy “Cursed Sleep”
15. Joanna Newsom “Monkey and Bear”
16. Grizzly Bear “On a neck, On a spit”
17. Danielson- "Did I Step On Your Trumpet"
18. William Elliott Whitmore “The Chariot”
19. Asobi Seksu “Thursday”
20. Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton “Our Hell” and Thao Nguyen "Feet Asleep" (tied)

----------------------------------------
Honorable mentions:
----------------------------------------
Zero 7 Feat José González "Futures"
Radio Dept. “The Worst Taste in Music"
Sonic Youth “Do You Believe in Rapture?”

Late Night Brew | SXSW Part 3

Our final look at some highlights of just a few band that will be at the festival this whole week. A quick at the Friday and Saturday happenings.

Friday

Friday, March 16 9:00 p.m. at Soho Lounge :
mp3:Alamo Race Track- "Don't beat this dog"


Friday, March 16 10:00 p.m. at Antone's:
mp3:My Brightest Diamond- Something of An End"
Friday, March 16 11:20 p.m. at Club One 15:
mp3:Bedroom Walls- "Somewhere in Newhall" (from LA- pretty close to where i live)


Friday, March 16 11:30 p.m. at Zero Degrees:
mp3:Daedelus -"Sundown"
Friday, March 16 12:00 a.m. at The Rio:
mp3:Instituto Mexicano de Sonido-"Mirando a Las Muchachas"
Friday, March 16 12:00 a.m. at Habana Calle 6 Annex: Apostle of Hustle


Friday, March 16 12:45 a.m. at Stubb's: The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Friday, March 16 12:00 a.m. at Red 7:
mp3:Headlights- "TV"
Friday, March 16 1:00 a.m. at Red 7:
mp3:Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin-"Oregon Girl"
Friday, March 16 1:00 a.m. at Antone's: The Dap Kings featuring Sharon Jonese
Friday, March 16 1:00 a.m. at Whisky Bar :
mp3:The Ettes- "No More Surprises"


Weekend

Saturday, March 17 8:00 p.m. at Emo's Main Room : Buzzcocks


Saturday, March 17 9:00 p.m. at La Zona Rosa:
video-Real:Mew- "The Zookeeper's Boy"

Saturday, March 17 9:00 p.m. at Beauty Bar Patio:   
mp3:Fields- "Sit Tight"

Saturday, March 17 9:00 p.m. at Elysium:   
mp3:The Berg Sans Nipple-"Mystic Song"


Saturday, March 17 10:00 p.m. at Beauty Bar Patio:
mp3 download:Tilly and the Wall- "Lost Girls" (courtesy of insound)
Saturday, March 17 11:00 p.m. at Beauty Bar Patio: The Pipettes
Saturday, March 17 11:00 p.m. at Stubb's: Spoon
Saturday, March 17 12:00 a.m. at Beauty Bar Patio: Tokyo Police Club


Saturday, March 17 12:00 a.m. at Copa:
mp3:Au Revoir Simone-"Fallen Snow"

Saturday, March 17 12:00 a.m. at Elephant Room:
mp3:Hiromi- "Time Out"


Saturday, March 17 12:00 a.m. at Buffalo Billiards:
video QT:Midlake- "Young Bride"


Saturday, March 17 12:30 p.m. at Stubb's: The Stooges

Saturday, March 17 1:00 a.m. at Buffalo Billiards:
mp3:The Kissaway Trail- "Smother Evil Hurt"

Saturday, March 17 1:00 a.m. at Elysium:
mp3:Girl Talk- "Bounce That"



--------------------------------------

But I've only highlighted a few, but there are tons of bands playing for Friday and beyond...
For details on who's playing when and where:
official site: SXSW- showcasing artists

Today's Brew | SXSW Glance Part 2

More highlights of just a few bands that will be at the festival this whole week.

Thursday


Thursday, March 15 8:00 p.m. at Buffalo Billiards:
mp3:Say Hi To Your Mom- "These Fangs"
Thursday, March 15 8:15 p.m. at Beauty Bar Patio:
mp3:Protokoll- "Moving Forward"
Thursday, March 15 9:00 p.m. at Elysium:
mp3:Thomas Dolby- "She Blinded Me With Science" (live)
Thursday, March 15 9:00 p.m. at Emo's Main Room:
mp3:Under Byen- "Af samme stof som stof"

Thursday, March 15 10:00 p.m. at Blender Bar at the Ritz
mp3:Midnight Movies- "Patient Eye"
Thursday, March 15 11:30 p.m. at Mohawk Patio:
mp3:Richard Swift- "The Songs of National Freedom"{
Thursday, March 15 12:00 a.m. at Eternal: Amy Winehouse.

Thursday, March 15 12:30 a.m. at Antone's
mp3:Sparklehorse- "Morning Hollow"
Thursday, March 15 12:30 a.m. at Emo's IV Lounge:
mp3:My Brightest Diamond- Something of An End" (solo acoustic set)
Thursday, March 15 1:00 a.m. at Buffalo Billiards:
mp3:Menomena- Wet And Rusting (it appears this will be a DJ set?)

--------------------------------------

But I've only highlighted a few, but there are tons of bands playing for the whole day of Thursday...
For details on who's playing when and where:
official site: SXSW- showcasing artists

Today's Brew | Music Now Festival

This week on...

#50 - The Take Away Shows @ MusicNOW Festival
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Wow, what a treat...

#50.3 - My Brightest Diamond (MusicNow) - Like a sieve
Uploaded by lablogotheque