Ola Podrida - "The Closest We Will Ever Be"

Been slacking again lately my people...my sorryness (like my new word?) to you. In an effort to bring you more posts and hence, more great music, I am going to trim down my posts a bit. Will post the music and let it speak for itself for the most part.

With that being said, here is a song by lo-fi songwriter, Ola Podrida. The more I listen to him, the more I want to hear. His second LP, Belly of the Lion, came out on November 10th.


Artist: Ola Podrida
Label: Western Vinyl
Style:  Lo-Fi Songwriter
Fact:   Real Name is David Wingo and he is actually a film composer.



Song:  The Closest We Will Ever Be

Kurt Vile - "Blackberry Song"

If you have read my previous posts, you will know that I really like Philly native Kurt Vile and his brand of lo-fi goodness. His newest album "Childish Prodigy", and first with Matador Records, will be out in one week. To get you ready for what should be one of the best records of 2009, here is another cut from that album.

Kurt Vile - Blackberry Song

Even better, you can stream "Childish Prodigy" in its entirety HERE.

Kurt Vile - "Overnite Religion"

2009 has been yet another impressive year for the lo-fi indie scene. Artists such as Ganglians, Woods, Bill Callahan, and Wavves (to name a few) have released outstanding records this year. Unfortunately, even within the indie blogging universe, many of these bands remain under-appreciated. Nonetheless, the lo-fi sound has been in constant rotation at Du Indie Music with yet another name now included.

Lo-fi songwriter Kurt Vile-and lead guitarist for indie band The War on Drugs-has moved into the Du Indie Music radar with a new song from his upcoming 3rd album, and first with Matador Records, Childish Prodigy. Vile's first two albums Constant Hitmaker and God Is Saying This To You?, released in March of 2008 and March of 2009 respectively, were well-received by indie critics.

Here is how one blogger describes his music:

Past works have been mostly characterized by psych-pop filtered through hushed bedroom-folk atmospherics, but the man isn’t afraid to occasionally flex his ability to write stone cold anthems.

Yet Kurt Vile's music has remained relatively unknown. With his recent signing to top-notch indie label Matador (The Caves Singers, Pavement, Shearwater), and an expected debut release in the Fall, one would likely think that his music will garner more attention and interest. For the sake of great music, let's hope so!

Here are two Kurt Vile songs. The first track is "Overnite Religion", just released and from his upcoming album Childish Prodigy. The second is from his 2008 album Constant Hitmaker and is titled "Freeway".


Kurt Vile - Overnite Religion

Kurt Vile - Freeway

New Magnolia Electric Co. - "Josephine"

Somewhere along my musical journey, my Neil Young phase went from cool to perhaps cliche'. When Pearl Jam and Nirvana reigned during my college years, listening to Neil Young was another way to showcase to your friends a prowess of all things grunge. However, the coolness faded and his music became part of your typical playlist that can be heard on any Classic Rock radio station. Listening to Neil Young will never have the same impact on my ears as it did in the early 90's.

I mention this because Jason Molina, singer-songwriter and frontman of Magnolia Electric Co, has a voice and musical style which is eerily similar to Neil Young's. Before you assume that this would negatively affect my thoughts of Jason Molina, realize that it works in the exact opposite way. Jason Molina has always remained a very unique and ever-evolving artist. Yet, like with any good artist, the sound is always clearly identifiable as Jason Molina. Whether recording as Magnolia Electric Co. or formerly as Songs:Ohia, the fact remains that Jason Molina is a prolific songwriter who has a first-rate ability to blend the styles of lo-fi, folk, and alt-country. It is music that continues to provide the listener with added details on each successive listen. In 15 years, I foresee my ears still craving Jason Molina's music.















The new Magnolia Electric Co. album comes out in July and is titled Josephine. Here is the title track.


Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine

New Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"

One band that continues to impress me more and more is Grizzly Bear. Their last album, Yellow House was an amazing listen and continues to reward to this day. For this reason, I am really anticipating the release of their third full-length album Vectamist.




















The atmospheric nature of the songs is truly something to behold. I would highly recommend a nice set of cans (aka headphones) when listening to Grizzly Bear. Your ears will certainly thank you. Grizzly Bear's genre has been classified as many including lo-fi, anti-folk, and freak-folk. After now hearing three of the songs from Veckatimest, I anticipate this to be high on my list come the end of 2009. Oh by the way, one of the members of Grizzly Bear, Daniel Rossen (songwriting/guitar), is also a member of the excellent band Department of Eagles.

Veckatimest will be released on May 26th. Here is track number two from Veckatimest, "Two Weeks".

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Woods - Rain on (Live Video)

Fresh out of hiatus, I am back with a strong recommendation for the band Woods. Woods is a lo-fi group I just discovered. I cannot say enough about their new album Songs of Shame...It is that good. I anticipate it will be in my top 3 of 2009.

The album really ingrains itself to you and you will find yourself wanting to hear it over and over again. I cannot sum up Woods sounds any better than this quote from Pitchfork: Woods created a distinctive blend of spooky campfire folk, lo-fi rock, homemade tape collages, and other noisy interludes, all anchored by deceptively sturdy melodies.

Seriously now, I am trying to figure out how I am now just hearing about these guys. Their two other albums are amazing too. Well have a listen. Also, check out the new lala player on the right side of the blog. In there you can check out some more songs by Woods. Lots of lo-fi ear candy!

Here is their song 'Rain On', performed live: