I was asked to do an end-of-year best-of top-5 list by Felipe from the chaotisch and charmant blog. His blog will feature different best-of lists from various guests all this month, so check it out. I decided I might as well post my lists here as well.
There was so much good music this year — and so much I didn’t get a chance to listen to. I can think of at least five albums I didn’t get to hear that would probably have made these lists. From what I was fortunate enough to hear, these are the ones that really stood out. It looks like it was a really good year for female vocals, Slumberland Records and Comet Gain. I purposely left February Records releases off the list.
Check out the new video from The Cavemen Go. The video was shot over the summer for this year’s single, “Someone’s Always Dying to Break My Heart.” It was filmed by Maxwell Thomas of Automata Films.
PUSH IS ON FOR ELM CITY POPFEST
New Haven’s Elm City PopFest will return for a third installment this September. We’ll have four shows in four nights at three locations in New Haven. We’re happy to have teamed up with other local promoters and bloggers — Manic Productions and New Haven Music — to put together this mini-festival. The festival is heavy with local pop talent and will also feature folk, Americana, punk and noise rock bands. We like to keep our definition of “pop” pretty broad. Some bands of note that will be performing will be Eternal Summers (Roanoke, Va./Kanine Records), Reading Rainbow (Philadelphia/HoZac Records), Dream Diary (NYC/Kanine Records), Boy Genius (NYC), 28 Degrees Taurus (Allston, Mass.) and EULA (NYC/New Haven). The tentative schedule is below. For more information, check out the ECPF blog at elmcitypopfest.wordpress.com
In addition, Elm City PopFest will be preparing for the event with two warm-up shows in August. We’re pleased to be putting on our first show in Hartford, and returning to a favorite venue in New Haven.
DEXTER POINDEXTER SELF-TITLED FULL LENGTH NOW STREAMING
Dexter Poindexter’s upcoming full-length is now streaming at February Records’ bandcamp. Dexter Poindexter is Tommy Komorowski, hailing from the suburbs of Chicago. He records pop gems in his parents’ basement. After a release on WeePOP and a digital single on February Records, Dexter Poindexter is ready to release his debut full-length of sweet, sunny tunes. Beerandbands blog had this to say about the February Records single: If you like your bands jangly, a little bit country, and full of joy and chorus that’ll stay with you, then this is right up your street. The physical release is expected late summer/early fall of this year.
MEET EASTERN PHOEBES Eastern Phoebes are Ry Smith and Meg Bayley. They play upbeat, piano-based indiepop/folk. They’ve been quietly making stunning digital EPs and albums in their apartment in Long Island, releasing them on Bandcamp and promoting them through Craigslist. They’re latest release — a full-length: “Wampum” — was written, recorded and released in one month as part of the RPM Challenge. Their next release, another digital EP titled “Gypsy Paw,” will be available via February Records in late June.
Check out “Wampum” and their other releases on Bandcamp:
DEXTER POINDEXTER ALBUM SET FOR SUMMER RELEASE
Tommy Komorowski has already released an EP on WeePOP and a digital single on February Records. He’ll be releasing his debut full-length as Dexter Poindexter on February Records this summer. The self-titled album, which will be available in CD and digital formats, is chock full of sweet, sunny tunes that you’ll want to listen to in the car with the windows down or while you’re sitting on the beach.
Check out the first two tracks, which are available for free download on the FR Bandcamp site:
ELM CITY POPFEST 3 WILL BE SEPTEMBER 14, 16 & 17, 2011 Elm City PopFest will be back for a third installment in New Haven in September 2011. After initially deciding to discontinue the series after two years, we were convinced by local music bloggers and bands to sign on for a third round. With assistance from New Haven Music,Manic Productions and members of the band Ghost of Chance, ECPF 3 will focus on quality over quantity with a focus on local New England and east coast bands. This year’s festival will be three evening shows — Wednesday 9/14, Friday 9/16 and Saturday 9/17.
In addition, we’ll be having at least two ECPF pre-shows in August to spread the word and build some buzz. We’ll be at Elm Bar in New Haven on Aug. 6 and Arch Street Tavern in Hartford most likely on Aug. 13.
Stay tuned for more information, locations, times and more bands.
Purchase the CD
------------------------------ FEB027: "Gypsy Paw" — Eastern Phoebes
5 tracks Download FEB027
------------------------------ FEB019: "If" — Even Artichokes Have Hearts
a. If
b. Summer Download FEB019
------------------------------
FEB024: "Catch Me When I Fall" — Bangkutaman
a. Catch Me
b. Train Song Download FEB024
------------------------------
FEB023: "City Lights Fade" — The Whatevers
5 tracks Download FEB023
------------------------------ FEB015: "Olé/Hola" — Bourgeois Heroes
a. Olé/Hola
b. When You're Dancing
FEB012: Paw Meds/Mary, All The Time — The Inclined Plane
a1. Paw Meds [mp3]
b1. Mary, All The Time [mp3]
Purchase the 7" vinyl single:
------------------------------
FEB011: Someone's Always Dying To Break My Heart — The Cavemen Go
a1. Someone’s Always Dying To Break My Heart
b1. Andrea
b2. Bonus track
Purchase the CD single:
Purchase the single in digital format through Bandcamp.
------------------------------ FEB018: "one year of original music from February Records" by Various Artists
19 tracks. Click here to download FEB018 for FREE from Bandcamp
------------------------------ FEB008: These Are Dark Times - The Tyler Trudeau Attempt
a1. These Are Dark Times
b1. We'll Win This One Yet
