The Idle Rich

I had a lot of time to think on the drive back from SXSW, and amongst other things, I realized that there are better ways to spend my time than The Idle Rich. I had a lot of fun with this blog since I started it back in January, and I appreciate you guys reading it. If you ever need something new to listen to, give me a call and I'll try my best to help you out.

As cliche as it sounds, remember to focus your time and energy on the things that truly matter in life, especially your relationships with friends and family. They'll be around longer than any blog or band.

And finally, make sure your life has a soundtrack. As Nietzsche once said, "Without music, life would be a mistake". Here is one last song, one of my favorites:

Wolves- Phosphorescent

Stressed Out

School and life is stressful. This is going to be my only update this week. Here are three songs that remind me of Texas. Enjoy them!

Bread and Water- Ryan Bingham

Didn't It Rain- Fern Jones

Never Found- Johnny Lunchbreak

If you can't tell, I've been on a huge Numero Group kick lately.

Buy here, here, and here.

Downriver Revival

Local Customs: Downriver Revival is the newest Numero Group release, and it's a perfect soundtrack for a lazy Sunday morning. Here are two of my favorite songs from this amazing and thorough compilation:

What Happens to People- Calvin Cooke

Please Accept My Prayer- Shirley Ann Lee

The Strangers

The Strangers- St. Vincent (Direct link courtesy of 4AD)

Here is the mysterious and foreboding first song off of St. Vincent's new album, Actor, which will be released on May 5.

SXSW!

I am so freaking excited for SXSW! I found my anthem for the week (thanks to Craig). Here it is:

Always Wanting More- Jay Reatard

Buy it here. Let me know if you're going to SXSW too!

Wednesday Morning

Urban Serenade- Avril

Be With- Koushik

Buy here and here.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

I thought it would be appropriate to continue the theme of my last few posts (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and give you guys this awesome slow version of The Flaming Lips' "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song".  Here you go:

Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Alternate Version)- The Flaming Lips

Thursday Morning Guilty Pleasures

Tension & Thrill- Sleeping At Last

Release the Stars- Rufus Wainwright

Buy here and here.

Terry Lynn

Terry Lynn is the next M.I.A.

Kingstonlogic- Terry Lynn

System- Terry Lynn

Buy her newest album, Kingstonlogic 2.0!

Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo is a London-based band whose debut album Reservoir will be released this spring.  They sound like Beirut and Sufjan Songs covering Arcade Fire.  Needless to say, the album is awesome.  Here are two of my favorite songs from Reservoir:

The Walls Are Coming Down- Fanfarlo

Drowning Men- Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo are playing SXSW this year! Try to see them if you get a chance.

Mark's Hip-Hop Mix

Mark's Hip-Hop Mix

1. Church Party- Ursula Rucker

2. Old School (feat. Talib Kweli)- Dangerdoom

3. Nightlife (feat. Tre and Young Chris)- Wale

4. Shut Up- Lil' Kim

5. N.Y. State of Mind- Nas

6. I Got Colors (feat. The Cool Kids)- Que B.I.L.L.A.H.

7. Hypnotize- Notorious B.I.G.

8. Raid (feat. MED)- Madvillian

9. Walk the Dog (feat. Missy Elliot)- Izza Kizza

10. I Don't Like To- Shad

11. We Are the Ones- The Coup

12. Casting Agents and Cowgirls- Busdriver

13. Uncommon Valor- Jedi Mind Tricks

14. Daylight- Aesop Rock

15. What a Job (feat. Snoop Dogg and Andre 3000)- Devin the Dude

16. A Milli- Lil' Wayne

17. Shimmy Shimmy Ya- Ol' Dirty Bastard

18. Letter P (Demonized)- Saigon

19. Many Moons- Janelle Monae

20. Cell Therapy- Goodie Mob

21. Hip Hop- Mos Def

Here is a variety of hip-hop songs I've been listening to lately.

And as always, please support the artists!

Indian Giver

Indian Giver- 1910 Fruitgum Company

The Stars Above Indian Lake- Juni Jarvi

Buy here and here.

I Was a King

After reading tons of good press about I Was a King, I finally listened to their new self-titled album.  The hype is definitely warranted.  Here are a couple of songs from the album (direct links courtesy of Stereogum):

Norman Bleik- I Was a King

It's All You- I Was a King (feat. Sufjan Stevens)

The album will be released in April.  Be sure to grab a copy!

Wednesday Morning

Boute- Au

Beach Baby- Miracle Fortress

Buy here and here.

Tuesday Morning

Black Jerusalem- Teeth Mountain

Home Sleep Diagnostic- Bathyscaphe

Buy here and here.

Brimstone Howl

Craig told me about Omaha's Brimstone Howl after I asserted that Coppell breeds very few talented bands (their bass player went to high school with us).  Brimstone Howl's newest album, We Came in Peace, would be the perfect soundtrack for any rebellious 15-year old's summer break.  I mean that in the best way possible.  The band will be at SXSW in March, and evidently, they put on an incredible show.  You know the music industry is out of touch when crappy bands like Wavves get tons of buzz, and bands like Brimstone Howl are still relatively unknown.  Check out my favorite two songs from the album:

Summer of Pain- Brimstone Howl

A Million Years- Brimstone Howl

Purchase the album here.

Beautiful Morning

The weather in Norman has been absolutely incredible the past few days.  Here are three songs that help me savor the great weather.  All songs can be purchased at Amazon.com!

Surprise, Honeycomb- The Wrens

Your Hand in Mine (Goodbye)- Explosions in the Sky

You've Got the Love- Florence and the Machine

Let me know if you prefer zShare or Mediafire links!

Going Wrong

Here's a good guilty pleasure song for your Saturday night!

Going Wrong- Armin Van Buuren

Hold Time

Here is my favorite song of the new M. Ward album, Hold Time.

To Save Me- M. Ward

January at the Lake

I spent the weekend at Lake Eufala and it was incredible.  Here are a few songs to soundtrack your next winter lake trip:

D.A.R.L.I.N.G.- Beach House

Idiot Wind- Bob Dylan

Mystery Song- Unknown Artist

If you know who sings the third song, let me know!

Balmorhea

"Austin’s Balmorhea has always made beautiful music, but that beauty has often belied the underlying sensuality that makes their music so inviting. The band takes a giant leap forward, embracing that sensuality, on their bold and variegated new album All is Wild, All is Silent. Now a six piece, the band known for their understated simplicity and restraint has produced an album as complex as the workings of the lonely human heart.

The addition of drums, upright bass, and wordless vocals, helps the band evoke a timeless American narrative, conjuring the ghosts of our ancestors and tapping the veins of spirited adventurers who seek, discover and defend a kind of home and way of life entirely new. Like the letters of early Texas settler William B. Dewees, that inspired the title All is Wild, All is Silent, the album swells with images of an untamed land and a uniquely American optimism and faith in the face of an unknown and savage nature."

The album will be released soon on Western Vinyl.  Pick up a copy, because it's fantastic.  Here is a song off the album:

Harm and Boon- Balmorhea

Marissa Nadler

Marissa Nadler has a new album coming out soon, entitled Little Hells.  I first heard Marissa when she opened for Skeletons and the Girl-Faced Boys back in 2006, and she put on a stunning show.  Little Hells displays "a brighter leap in musical maturity and attention to detail, as the fantasmagoric sounds delve into melancholy nuggets, sometimes erotic, sometimes gutting, but filled with a gorgeous sense of serene hope more so than previous albums".  Here is my favorite song off the new album:

Mistress- Marissa Nadler

The Ice Storm

School was canceled today because of icy and treacherous weather! Instead of studying, me and the roommates are watching Out Cold and listening to some sexy winter jams. Here are a few:

Flutter- Bonobo

Human Remains- Tom McRae

Blood Machine- Chad VanGaalen

Human Racing- St. Vincent

Preservation Hall

Well I'm back from New Orleans, and it was a wild, wild weekend.  Good food, good friends, and good music!

I went to Preservation Hall on Friday and saw the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  They were incredible, and it was refreshing to see a group of indescribably talented musicians perform.  Preservation Hall is a beautiful and surprisingly intimate venue, and I recommend stopping by next time you're in New Orleans.  Here are a couple of songs:

Amen- Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Good Blues- Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Blake & Kate

Blake and Kate went to high school with me and just released an EP on iTUNES called Letters and Words. Most bands from Coppell are really crappy, but Blake and Kate are awesome! Here is an extremely catchy song off the EP:

Without You- Blake and Kate

Buy the whole thing from iTUNES today! It's the best $4 I've spent all week!

New Orleans

I will be in New Orleans for the next three days and will not be updating this blog until Monday. So for the six people who read this regularly, here are six great songs to enjoy this weekend!

Laisse Tomber les Filles- April March
Dreadlock Child- Soulwax
Noah's Arkestra- Mountains in the Sky
Something in the Air- Thunderclap Newman
Age of Consent- New Order
Gettin' Nasty- Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm

Have a great weekend!

The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady

In 1963, Charles Mingus released The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady, a sprawling, multi-section masterpiece, described as "one of the greatest achievements in orchestration by any composer in jazz history." It's by far the craziest jazz album I've ever heard, and I highly recommend purchasing a copy. Here is the album opener:

Solo Dancer- Charles Mingus

Reverie Sound Revue

Reverie Sound Revue is a Canadian group putting out some pretty great pop music. They have an album coming out sometime soon, but here are two fantastic songs off their self-titled EP:

Rip the Universe- Reverie Sound Revue

Walking Around Waiting Downtown- Reverie Sound Revue

Dancing in the Streets

I wish people would dance in the streets together more often. This song would be playing.

Your Blessings- Handsomeboy Technique

I hope you have a festive and memorable Saturday night. We have a lot to celebrate.

Thomas Dybdahl

Thomas Dybdahl is from Norway and has collaborated with artists such as Morcheeba and Jaga Jazzist.  Though Thomas has worked with these bolder, edgier groups, his solo work is far more subdued and intimate.  He reminds me of a less-sappy Damien Rice.  Here are two songs from his most recent album, Science.

Dice-Thomas Dybdahl

This Year- Thomas Dybdahl 

Evangelical Rice Knives

Skeleton Man's Bone Crushing Depression- Evangelicals

We Share Our Mothers' Health- The Knife

Rise Rice- Mahjongg

Purchase all three on Amazon.

Vetiver

Vetiver has new album coming out soon on Sub Pop called Tight Knit. Here are three of the album's strongest tracks.

Everyday- Vetiver
Rolling Sea- Vetiver
Down from Above- Vetiver

I love this band!

Middle Cyclone

People Got a Lotta Nerve- Neko Case

“People Got A Lotta Nerve” is the first single from Neko Case’s forthcoming album Middle Cyclone, which will be released on March 3. For every blog that reposts this song between January 13 and February 3, Neko Case and her record label ANTI- will make a $5 cash donation to Best Friends Animal Society! More information can be found here.

Also, here is a fantastic song off her 2006 album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood:

Hold On, Hold On- Neko Case

The Wind

The Wind- Cat Stevens

This may be my favorite song of all time. I'd kill to hear it for the first time again. Hope you enjoy it!

Summers in France

Three French jams for your next trip to Versailles. Or Walmart.

Mon Amour Mon Ami- Virginie Ledoyen

Pour Un Flirt Avec Toi- Michel Delpech

La Fille de Paille- Brigitte Bardot

N.A.S.A.

N.A.S.A. is an ongoing creative collaboration between two lifelong music aficionados, Squeak E. Clean ad DJ Zegon, and many of their famous friends, including M.I.A., David Byrne, Santogold, Tom Waits, Ghostface Killah, Kanye West, George Clinton, Method Man, Karen O, RZA, and more.

N.A.S.A.'s debut album The Spirit of Apollo will be released on February 17, and will be the soundtrack to any good dance party this spring and summer. Be sure to check it out!

Here are 4 songs from The Spirit of Apollo:

Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li)- N.A.S.A.

Whachadoin? (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold & Nick Zinner)- N.A.S.A.

Spacious Thoughts (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith)- N.A.S.A.

Money (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge & Z-Trip)- N.A.S.A.

(Sorry for the poor audio quality on a couple of these!)

Slowdive

Though I've been a fan of Neil Halstead's current band, Mojave 3, for several years, I never made a point to check out his earlier work, specifically with Slowdive. However, I recently purchased Slowdive's 1993 album, Souvlaki, on a whim, and I can't stop listening to it.

Souvlaki is, to me, the perfect shoegaze album. It mixes the dreamy guitar swirls of My Bloody Valentine with the ethereal ambience of the Cocteau Twins, and the interacting male and female vocals are gorgeous and unique. Every song is a surreal soundscape, crafted with care and talent.

Here are my favorite two songs off of Souvlaki, though every song on the album is worth listening to.

Machine Gun- Slowdive

When the Sun Hits- Slowdive

Hazy Streets

Saint Marie- Piano Magic

(Not Adam)- Foetus

La Ritournelle (Mr. Dan's Mix)- Sebastien Tellier

Water Sphere

When I was 16, my mom refused to let me drive to Deep Ellum for the Pilotdrift show. My brother and I snuck off anyway, and were subsequently busted when my 1993 Nissan Quest failed to start after the concert. I was grounded for nearly a month.

It was totally worth it.

Water Sphere, Pilotdrift's first album on the Good Record label, is one of my favorite albums of all time. Here's what Amazon.com has to say about Water Sphere.

"Water Sphere begins with the theatrical, haunting, dark, (and yet somehow inviting) "hit-you-from-behind" rock of "Caught in My Trap". Layers of instruments surround and enfold dangerously evocative vocals, drawing the listener, inescapably, into its net. From there it drops you into the unchartered pop waters of "Bubblecraft", which sounds like a 1970s James Bond, passed out in a jazz lounge, dreaming about the far future. After the electrical rain dance of "Passenger Seat", Pilotdrift entertains you with the fantasy story of "Late Night in a Wax Museum". The middle of the record is anchored by a haunting 10-minute epic entitled "Jekyll and Hyde Suite" that sounds like a two-faced orchestra battling within itself to free from a straitjacket. Immediately following is the Antarctic tale of Shackleton and his journey to "Elephant Island". A train ride through the Middle East takes you to "Rings of Symbols", an intense, mesmerizing sitar rock song. The album then cools you off with "Comets", a trance-instrumental that leaves you rested and ready for the last song, "So Long", an anthem in every sense of the word. Galloping and triumphant, it feels like coming up over a peak and seeing the sun burst out in front of you."

Here are the last two songs from the album:

Comets- Pilotdrift

So Long- Pilotdrift

Some Velvet Morning

Some Velvet Morning- Primal Scream (feat. Kate Moss)

Some Velvet Morning, the Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood classic, is reborn here as a slinky, bass-heavy dancefloor track, courtesy of Primal Scream and Supermodel Kate Moss. There's no reason this song should be good, but it is.

My brother and I are helping our friend build Copperphones today. Considering I had trouble building my Pinewood Derby car back in the day, this could be interesting....

Twilight & Ghost Stories

Chris Schlarb is a musician, writer, father and husband. He is also the owner and founder of Sounds Are Active, a Long Beach, California-based record label specializing in jazz, experimental, electronic and other progressive musics. In addition to releasing music with a number of different groups, Chris has also released solo electric guitar music under the name Xn. In 2007 he released his first album under his own name, Twilight & Ghost Stories, a massive five-year work with over forty collaborating musicians, on Asthmatic Kitty.

Here is my favorite song:

I- Chris Schlarb

A Strangely Isolated Place

Craig and I went to Lee Harvey's tonight and met a woman named Susanna. It was a lot of fun.

On the way home, I pledged my undying allegiance to Ulrich Schnauss.

Here is one of my favorite Ulrich songs, from A Strangely Isolated Place.

Gone Forever- Ulrich Schnauss

Roadtrip to Texas

Every good roadtrip needs a good soundtrack. For my drive to Texas today, here are three of my choices:

Rainbow Connection- Willie Nelson

Trust Your Child Pt. 1- Patrizia & Jimmy

Concrete Schoolyard- Jurassic 5

Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb

I remember the first time I went to Good Records in Dallas. Over the radio, my brother and I heard that Good Records was selling the brand new Maroon 5 CD for a penny. Naturally, John and I begged our mom to drive us downtown to capitalize on this incredible deal.

When we arrived, the Maroon 5 CDs were all sold out, but the guy working suggested some other albums to purchase. That day, I purchased Shootenanny! by Eels and The Beginning Stages Of... by The Polyphonic Spree.

I instantly fell in love with The Polyphonic Spree, and later on, Tim Delaughter's earlier band, Tripping Daisy. Hundreds of dollars and a dozen shows later, The Polyphonic Spree is still my favorite band to see live.

Here are two songs from Tripping Daisy's Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb, and one from The Polyphonic Spree's The Beginning Stages Of...:

Sonic Bloom- Tripping Daisy

Human Contact- Tripping Daisy

Days Like This Keep Me Warm- The Polyphonic Spree

Welcome to The Idle Rich.

The world definitely doesn't need another music blog, but hopefully you'll find some songs you've never heard, songs you've long forgotten, and songs you can't live without here at The Idle Rich.

All songs will be posted for about 2 weeks and all links will be zSHARE (until someone teaches me how to upload them directly to Blogspot).

Though songs will usually be accompanied with a description, information about the band, pictures, etc., here are six good ones I've been listening to a lot lately. Enjoy.

No Rest for the Wicked- BDM

Le Coeur Au Bout Des Doigts- Jacqueline Taieb

My Cabal- School of Seven Bells

Hope Valley Hill- Helios

Des Millions D'Etres Humains-Tourbin Jean-Yves

The New American Apathy- Mazarin

I hope you like these songs and I hope you'll like this blog. Have a happy and productive weekend!