Mikal Cronin live on WFMU's Three Chord Monte

Yesterday afternoon Mikal Cronin stopped in Jersey City's WFMU studios to do a live broadcast on Three Chord Monte.

Cronin, whose Trouble In Mind released debut full-length has been getting some much deserved praise, is currently on tour with Ty Segal and Human Eye. The package makes a stop at the Empty Bottle this Saturday night (10/1) and it should be a blast.

A personal highlight was the cover of the previously mentioned Flamin' Groovies killer "Shake Some Action".

The Hedgehog

The Hedgehog (Le Herisson) is one of the best movies that Julia and I have seen in a very long time. The intertwined stories of a precocious filmmaker who happens to be an 11 year old girl, played by Garance Le Guillermic, the middle-aged invisible diamond building janitor/concierge, played by Josiane Balasko, and mysterious but affable new Japanese tenant, played by Togo Igawa. The supporting cast of family and other building dwellers also play their parts spectacularly well. The musical soundtrack is also perfect. Don't want to say too much more and ruin it. If you want spoilers, go elsewhere, but I suggest just buying your ticket and taking in the whole experience as Dieu intended it. Oh, the cat wrangling is executed to perfection.

It's the 90's

IT'S THE 90S! from Everything Is Terrible! on Vimeo.
thanks to Gapers Block!

G R O U P E R :: EMPTY BOTTLE

Grouper - Hold by ROOM40
Grouper performs tonight @ the Empty Bottle as part of the ninth installment of the Adventures in Modern Music festival, organized in conjunction with authoritative UK periodical The Wire. Also performing tonight - Vockah Redu & The Cru, Starlicker, Carlos Giffoni

saki After Hours: Concatenating Pedals

This just in! The sampler video for the saki After Hours: Concatenating Pedal show is finally here.

Check out our new After Hours page!

Twin Sister: Kimmi In A Rice Field video

Twin Sister just keeps getting weirder and weirder. They started out as what sounded like a relatively low-key Brooklyn dream-pop outfit. Their new album, which is surprisingly their debut full length, veers from shitty disco to this new single which is dreamy pop music I guess, but it's not so low key. I'm undecided on it, but it does kind of sound like the theme to Twin Peaks. I guess I can get down with that! Judge for yourself, jurors!

CTD Press Update 9/27/11!

CTD Press Update 09/27/2011
Now Available Exclusively/Semi-Exclusively from CTD:

FEATURED:

Cronin, Mikal
“Mikal Cronin”
Trouble in Mind: tim031
PITCHFORK 8.1!!:
“On his eponymous debut, Mikal Cronin proves he can hold his own. It's an album of wistful, psychedelic pop that pits lush and layered arrangements against needle-pinning power chords.”
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15844-mikal-cronin/

OWL MAG:
“like many of California’s rock revivalists, Cronin’s debut is incredibly loose and feels fresh and innovative on repeated listens.”
www.theowlmag.com/album-reviews/mikal-cronin-by-mikal-cronin

BLACK & WHITE:
“Mikal Cronin is more believable as a garage outcast. The surf-rocking punker opens his self-titled debut with lots of bashing and blurry greatness. Even the acoustic moments maintain a Beatlesque pop fury. There's some dull droning worthy of more typical indie acts, but Cronin finishes strong as a wimp-rocker who's a magnificent failure at making it into the in crowd.”
http://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2011-09-15-243508.113121-The-Set-List.html

ALLMUSIC GUIDE:
“Mikal Cronin knows all sorts of examples of what can be described as classic pop/rock is obvious from the first notes of ‘Is It Alright’ -- harmonies out of the Beach Boys, a building burst of melody that the Raspberries could have loved, and an echo-swathed verse that's both Phil Spector and the Jesus and Mary Chain. But by the time the keyboard drone pop of ‘Slow Down’ arrives, it's clear that Cronin's debut release, however tied together by his singing, seeks to not simply be yet another power pop showcase above all else, whether served up clean or with layers of scuzz.”
http://www.allmusic.com/album/mikal-cronin-r2250625/review

UNCUT:
“(Ty) Segall moves fast, though, and the very latest recordings that he’s been involved with - both involving a new name to me, Mikal Cronin - are pretty fantastic…Cronin’s S/T is no less exciting, but draws from a much wider range: the very first seconds are filled with a capella harmonies indebted to The Beach Boys’ ‘Our Prayer’.”
http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/index.php?blog=6&title=mikal_cronin_mikal_cronin&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

New Releases @ saki 9/27/11!!!

Angel "26000" LP (feat. Ilpo Vaisanen of Pan Sonic, + BJ Nilsen and Oren Ambarchi)
Big Troubles "Romantic Comedy" CD
Brute Heart "Lonely Hunter (cassette edition)
Crock "Grok" LP/CD
Echo & The Bunnymen "Crocodiles" & "Ocean Rain" (LP reissues)
Egg Hunt "Me + You" b/w "We All Fall Down" 7''/CD5 (reissue feat. Ian Mackaye + Jeff Wilson)
Far-Out Fangtooth "Pure & Disinterested" LP
Forbidden Friends "Totally Low" b/w "My Love" 7''
Horrid Red "Silent Party" (cassette edition w/ bonus tracks)
Shin Joon-Hyun "1958-1974" LP/CD
Kitchen's Floor "Look Forward To Nothing" LP
Leyland Kirby "Eager To Tear Apart The Stars" LP
Low "Long Division" LP (reissue)
Madlib "Medicine Show #12" CD
Mark Mcguire "Get Lost" CD/LP (of Emeralds)
Mekons "Ancient & Modern" LP/CD
Orca Team "Take My Hand" 7''
Van Dyke Parks "Arrangements, Vol.1" CD (compilation)
Real Estate "Blue Lebanon" b/w "It's Real" 7''
Redgrave "Mantis" b/w "Gone To Wither" 7''
Arthur Russell "Let's Go Swimming" 12''/CD EP (previously unreleased versions)
Sleep Over "Forever" LP
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion "Now I Got Worry" (LP reissue)
Subject To Change "+ 1st Demo" (LP/CD reissue)
Twin Sister "In Heaven" LP/CD
V/A "Japan 3.11.11" (benefit album)
Wilco "The Whole Love" LP/CD
Youth Lagoon "The Year Of Hibernation" CD

Andrew Bird Plays So Much Wine

The Handsome Family song So Much Wine off their album In The Air (Carrot Top Records, 2000) was beautifully covered by Andrew Bird at the Hideout Block Party in Chicago this weekend. Check out the great version.

Yup, Andrew Bird is a huge Handsome Family fan, and has been known to completely rework their songs into completely new versions. I love his cover of Giant of Illinois off of Through the Trees (Carrot Top Records) (not as quality of a video, but you get the idea...) 

Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band Cover Nirvana's "Stay Away"

... and they really work it out.














http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2011/09/26/charles-bradley-the-menahan-street-band-stay-away/

Charles Bradley is playing Metro on February 18th and we've got a guest list spot with +1 to give away. The first person to buy a Charles Bradley release from saki gets it!

Astronomy setup for beginners

The second question people ask when they look through a telescope is "How much do they cost?!"

IF someone had a deck on their house, or an open back yard with a view of part of the sky, and a tiny bit of wonder about the universe, I would recommend this telescope and eyepiece kit as a cheap but high quality way to get started observing.

Orion Telescopes: Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
http://www.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=8942

The scope is pick up and move, designed to be hauled around, or up and down stairs. Since aperture really is everything, you can grab more photons with the 8" version of this same scope. Gets a teensy bit awkward because of size, so I recommended the 6". My scope is 9.25", so your milage may vary. Everybody has different perceived levels of hassle. We bought this 6" scope for our cousins & their 3 kids in rural Arkansas last Xmas. They love it. Never an excuse not to head outside with it & this scope can put up with much abuse.

This is a nifty little eyepiece kit that would last one quite a while without modification. Light, portable, fairly comprehensive & good quality without breaking the bank.

Orion Telescopes: Celestron 1.25" Telescope Eyepiece and Filter Accessory Kit
http://www.telescope.com/Celestron-125-Telescope-Eyepiece-and-Filter-Accessory-Kit/p/5631.uts

If you're short on cash, you can snag this bundle that gives you a 2x Barlow lens and some sky maps.

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-XT6-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-amp-Beginner-Barlow-Kit/p/27160.uts

A Barlow lens doubles the magnification of any eyepiece, so in this instance, the 25mm piece that comes with the scope is instantly transformed into the equivalent of a more powerful 12.5mm eyepiece.

If one wanted some books to help get started, they could do much worse than these.

http://www.telescope.com/NightWatch-Astronomy-Book-4th-Edition/p/51521.uts

http://www.telescope.com/Accessories/Astronomical-Maps-Charts/Orion-Beginning-Stargazers-Toolkit/pc/-1/c/3/sc/52/p/20034.uts

There are also crazy amazing resources online and via mobile.

So, if somebody me asked for a basic setup to get started, this is what I would recommend. You would likely be shocked! Shocked! at what you can see even under the heinous light pollution of Chicago sodium vapor lamps. If we can see planets, clusters, galaxies, comets, & nebulae here in Chicago, as long as you was outdoors under clear skies, you could see much more.

What's Inside: Shin Joong Hyun

Half the reason you should buy releases from Light In the Attic is their packaging. These guys aren't just digging up old records to reissue because they think you'll dig the sounds, they want you to have a complete product to enjoy, packaging and all. So, if you're ever on the fence about picking up LITA releases, you might be interested in this new feature: What's Inside! The label will be offering up videos showcasing what you get when you buy their latest CD or LP. This one's for Shin Joong Hyun's Beautiful Rivers & Mountains. The CD is out now, LP comes this Tuesday.



There are more videos at Lightintheattic.net.

Telekinesis on Jimmy Fallon

Hey, look, it's Telekinesis on Jimmy Fallon!

Let the Samarov media blitz begin!

Our friend Whet Moser (@whet) just posted a great Chicago Magazine blog piece on Dmitry Samarov (@samarov), his art, and his new U Chicago Press book, Hack: Stories from a Chicago Cab. Saying that Dmitry is the best cabbie artist, or cabbie author, or author artist, is like saying Tara Key is the best female guitar player. It diminishes both sides of the equation. Dmitry is an excellent writer, artist, and cab driver.

Dig it:

September 24th: Rainbo Club "Pictures of Books" show opens. Reception 4-8pm
October 1st: Rainbo Club Hack: Stories from a Chicago Cab book release & reading. 4-8pm
October 1st: saki "Music and Baseball" art show opens.
October 4th: Myopic Books Samarov reads from "Hack." 8pm
October 7th: saki event "Music & Baseball" Opening reception. Music by Chris Brokaw. 6-9pm
October 14th: Lloyd Dobler Gallery "Hack" Opening reception 6-10pm.
October 17th: Chicago Public Library Mayfair Branch "A Fare to Remember" discussion with fellow author and Chicago cabbie Jack Clark. 6:30pm
October 26th: The Whistler "Hack" reading w/music by Darts & Arrows 9pm

Prepare to be Samaroved and prepare to like it.

(No word on whether you can get a lift from him to or from any of these events.)

Swans @ Bottom Lounge Tonight!!!

Quite possibly the greatest live band in the world, currently.

Schubas Pig, Swig & Record Dig 10/1!

I guess that's as big as the picture gets... well, hey, if you can't read it, we'll be out at Schuba's two Saturday's from now for the Pig, Swig & Record Dig. It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. There will be cheap drinks, a roasted pig(s), and tables to peruse from all the best stores and labels in town, including US, Laurie's, Dusty Groove, P Rex, & Thrill Jockey. See you there!

Low 'Long Division' LPs!

I just received word that our batch of Low 'Long Division' LPs are in transit & should arrive on Tuesday!

saki After Hours: Predictive Gaming for Substandard Films

On Friday September 30th, get ready to play the game that everyone is talking about (everyone we know, at least).

The next installment of saki After Hours is a special one. We are skipping the music this time (as we are preparing for a most glorious Halloween installment) and going with a movie. But, if we've learned anything from the Concatenating Pedals show, we'll know that Bob Dey's Tank Engine Man isn't going to just let a movie play without causing problems.

Which brings me to explain the rules of what we are calling Predictive Gaming for Substandard Films

Participants will be shown a terrible and mostly unknown film for which they will be asked, at predetermined key points, to wager upon the likelihood of an upcoming event. Participants will wager upon various unknowns such as: Who is going to die first? Where will the next scene take place? What will be the outcome of a particular story arc? Etc. They will be given a set of four potential outcomes from which to choose.

At the beginning of the game, a synopsis of the movie will be read, and participants will be provided with specialized poker chips for use in the wagering (bets will be place on a roulette style table). At the end of the game, the chips will be returned in exchange for stamps on a stamp card. Get enough stamps and you get free things!

Come one, come all! This is a special event because it is the test run of an event that will end up being held monthly at Schubas. For participting in this test (and helping us work out the kinks) each participant will receive three bonus stamps on their card. (Very nice!)

Friday, September 30th, 8 PM, Free, BYOB, We've got the popcorn. RSVP on facebook if you desire!

Album Stream: Zola Jesus "Conatus"

Oh, hey, Thursday, what you got for me? A full album stream of the new Zola Jesus, complete with a track-by-track breakdown from Nika? Okay, I'll bite....

40 minutes later

Woah! That was awesome. Thanks, Thursday! You're no longer Friday's bastard cousin.

Mikal Cronin 8.1 on Pitchfork!!

Straight from the Pitchfork presses! Our boy Mikal Cronin's debut album on exclusive Trouble in Mind received an 8.1 today! Not too shabby! Here's what they had to say about it:

"On his eponymous debut, Mikal Cronin proves he can hold his own. It's an album of wistful, psychedelic pop that pits lush and layered arrangements against needle-pinning power chords. Like Segall's latest, Goodbye Bread, Cronin's solo turn finds him dialing back his thrashier impulses in order to clear space for singer-songwriter-style introspection. But when the curtain of lysergic gristle is pulled aside, it turns out that they're not the same person, after all. Even when he goes all Neil Young, Segall still retains an affable beach-dude demeanor. Cronin turns out to be the more vulnerable voice-- Elliott Smith in throwback dress, minus the self-loathing. And, like Smith, he has an ear for arrangements."

"Album opener "Is It Alright" pivots from Beach Boys-worthy harmonies to chugging chords to jangling acoustic guitars before, finally, spinning off into an outro that sounds like Jethro Tull gone hardcore punk. It's no so much that Cronin knows how to effectively layer instruments (though he does) or collage disparate ideas together (though he does), but that he knows how to use dynamics to his advantage. On "Gone" he works soft-to-loud changes, dropping the bridge down to a whisper before bounding back up for a final, climactic freak-out. At the end of "Again and Again", Cronin drops out the rhythm section, rebuilding the song over a gentle falsetto melody."

Kick ass! Read the full review here. CDs and LPs of this release are still available. We also have some of the limited color vinyl version left, just for saki customers, and direct CTD, Ltd accounts! Who says summer is over?

CTD Press Update 9/20/11!

CTD Press Update 09/20/2011

Now Available Exclusively/Semi-Exclusively from CTD:

FEATURED:

Crock

“Grok”

Jackpot Records: jpr019

YOUTUBE video for “Eat Your Hat Out”:
“"Eat Your Hat Out" by Crock featuring Sam Coomes of Quasi and Spencer Seim of Hella.”

http://www.jackpotrecords.com/products/view/4633/7

Youtube viewer: “I think I like it”

BROOKLYN ROCKS:

“The band's sound is built off the fuzzed-out / freaked-out urban electonica of bands like Suicide to which the band add elements of space rock, Zappa / Pavement style free-form deconstruction, dark stoner riffs and pounding industrial squiggles and rhythms.” http://brooklynrocks.blogspot.com/2011/09/crock-grok-cd-review-jackpot-records.html

PORTLAND MERCURY:

“This collaboration really does appear to be equal parts Hella and Quasi...” http://endhits.portlandmercury.com/endhits/archives/2011/08/03/crock-no-more-dumb-fun

Cronin, Mikal

“Mikal Cronin”

Trouble in Mind: tim031

OWL MAG:

“like many of California’s rock revivalists, Cronin’s debut is incredibly loose and feels fresh and innovative on repeated listens.” http://www.theowlmag.com/album-reviews/mikal-cronin-by-mikal-cronin

Online DJ Mixing on the fly

Thanks to a link from @brainwashedcom, I found cloudmix.it, a free form online DJ mixing environment. Meat Beat Manifesto, Legendary Pink Dots, Bowery Electric, Ceremony, tons more. Check it out and start mixing

Here's to Taiwan!

This is exactly the kind of balanced, unbiased, interpretive, 3D dramatic reenactment journ-imation which this country sorely lacks. 

"I'm Gonna Freeze"

The first single from the new Chelsea Crowell album, Crystal City, is out. A cute video for a better song. Can't wait to hear the whole thing. In my dream, she will do an in-store at saki.

New Releases @ saki 9/20!!!

Jens Lekman - An Argument With Myself CD & LP
Nurses - Dracula CD & LP
Evangelista - In Animal Tounge CD & LP
Megafaun - S/T CD & LP
Fiona Apple "Extraordinary Machine" LP (re-issue)
Azita "Disturbing The Air" LP
Meg Baird "Seasons On Earth" LP/CD
Cave "Neverendless" LP/CD/CASS
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "Hysterical" LP/CD
Mikal Cronin "S/T" CD/LP
Liminanas "I've Got Trouble In Mind" b/w "Je M'En Vais" 7''
Tammar - Visits CD & LP
Los Destellos - Constelacion LP
Primitive Motion "By Arc Or By Chord" CASS
Veronica Falls "S/T" CD
Sic Alps "Battery Townsley" 7''
Akira Sakata w/ Jim O'Rourke with Chikamorachi "And That's The Story Of Jazz" CD
Akira Sakata & Chikamorachi "Live At Hungry Brain" LP
UV Pop "Just A Game" b/w "No Songs Tomorrow" 7'' (Re-issue, Cabaret Voltaire prod.)
Zounds "The Redemption Of Zounds" LP
Trust - Bulbform 12"

Best. Prom. Ever.

Not really a prom, but still...

Iggy and the Stooges performing at Farmington High School in Oakland County, MI on December 5, 1970

More photos courtesy of Vintage Everyday.

FMC: Money From Music Survey

Future of Music Coalition launched its first-ever survey to gather valuable insight into all the ways musicians and composers make music these days. Survey closes October 28th, if you're a musician or composer please take it here if you get a second! The data will be very important in strategizing new ways to support artists using today's economic position and technological resources. Here's an article detailing the reason for and implications of the survey


Take the survey here!

Dmitry Samarov: All Over Chicago

Dmitry Samarov (Chicago's favorite artist-cabbie-author-blogger) is all over the Chicago Reader these days. He's listed as their top literary-pick for the fall, plus they talk with him in the latest issue, just in time for the release of his new book Hack: Stories From a Chicago Cab.

There are two upcoming events celebrating its release!

October 1st: Samarov reads at Rainbo Club from 4-8pm!

October 7th: saki event: Dmitry Samarov: Music & Baseball Opening from 6-9pm! 

In the recent Reader article, Samarov talks about the art he draws at concerts, "'When you're looking at something, it's changing all the time,' he says. 'I'm trying to incorporate some of that--an acknowledgement that you can't freeze moments.'" His work will be up at the one and only saki for the month of October with the themes Music & Baseball. Please come see it, and especially try to make it out for the October 7th opening! 

It will be great for many reasons that I will now list. The art we'll be displaying is different from what is usually displayed...as the opening suggests, it is focused on music and baseball-- radical! Samarov will be doing a reading from his new book Hack: Stories From a Chicago Cab, and there will be signed copies for sale at the opening! Also, we're kinda into music over here at saki, so we lined up a pretty kickass musical guest, Chris Brokaw from Codeine & Pullman! We're so excited to have a coupla heroes of ours in the store and to celebrate their work. Please join us! Beverages and hors d'oeuvres provided for you by saki!! 

To sum things up: Samarov's art, book reading, signed books, Chris Brokaw, lovely people, food, free event. If you missed the other two links to the facebook event, here it is again...RSVP if you're so inclined!

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210211692374661

Hideout ticket giveaways!

There's a lot of great people that we are excited to work with in Chicago, but none of them top The Hideout. We've got some guest list spots to give away for a few upcoming Hideout shows. Same ol' deal. By something from the band at saki and we'll get you on the list.

The Hideout Block Party 9/24!
Buy anything from Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, White Mystery, Jon Langford, Booker T. Jones, The Eternals or Dosh!

Joan of Arc 9/30!
Buy anything from Joan of Arc, Brokeback & Coins!

David Daniell/Douglas McCombs 10/6!

Sonoi & A Tundra 10/13!

Rock n Roll for Girls

FINALLLLLLYYYYYY there's some media material out there encouraging girls to be loud. A few much needed media resources for girls who rock have sprouted up in the past year or so. For girls who don't want to associate with corporate and societal standards of what girls should be interested in, it's hard to navigate in the media world. A lot of girls don't even know that mainstream interests don't have to appeal to everyone. It took way too long of me feeling uncomfortable in malls to realize that I didn't have to be there.

These publications respect girls no matter what age, treat them as mature human beings but provide support and excitement about the fact that they have so much they can learn and do. For some advice on how to rock, be reminded that it's never too early or too late to learn something new or start respecting yourself and your ideas, or keep up to date with what's new with the legitimately cool kids check out these new releases.

Rookie Mag- Tavi's New Online Magazine

While this magazine isn't all about 15 yr old Tavi, she's a pretty important figure in the young-badass-girl section of society these days and the editor of this new online mag. You can read about her here. While Tavi got her name as a young fashion connoisseur, Rookie isn't a fashion blog. As Tavi explains in her editor's letter "Rookie is not your guide to Being a Teen. It is not a pamphlet on How to Be a Young Woman...Rookie is a place to make the best of the beautiful pain and cringe-worthy awkwardness of being an adolescent girl. When it becomes harder to appreciate these things, we also have good plain fun and visual pleasure. When you're sick of having to be happy all the time, we have lots of eye-rolling rants, too." It just kicked off this month and posts are three times a day (after school, dinner time, and late night). So far, a great well-rounded site with no painful "let's-appeal-to-teens" corniness. It's a positive place to explore and be annoyed and learn new things and hear new voices. I'm all about that! While its primary readers-of-relevance are adolescent and teenage girls, if you're not in that age- or gender-frame, not to fret! It's still a great read for a bit of nostalgia, some good new music, or even advice that's refreshing at any age.

Tom Tom Magazine

Tom Tom Magazine began in 2009, and is a magazine that focuses on girl-drummers. I love female drummers, and Tom Tom gives them much needed and deserved visibility in the rock world. Interviews, news, reviews, even a section on kid drummers! Not only are they a badass magazine, they have an awesome online presence, and do tons of collaborative shows, tours, and parties in different cities Some articles are available on their website, but I highly recommend getting a subscription, it's a kickass and very well done publication.

Record Collecting For Girls

New release! I haven't read it yet but I was  excited to see that SubPop put it on their facebook page. Written by a female music nerd for girls with record collections. Hopefully it holds up!

The Girls' Guide to Rocking: How to Start a Band, Book Gigs, and Get Rolling to Rock Stardom

The title is pretty self-explanatory...DIY ways to tackle all aspects of starting a band from a girl's perspective. Makes it seem easy and takes the fear away of being loud. It's got some first-hand advice from badass women rockers like Patti Smith, Kim Deal, and Kim Gordon and teaches girls a bit about Rock n Roll history along the way. Sweet resource to get girls playing music!

As always, this list could be bigger, and hopefully it'll keep trending in that direction!

CTD Press Update 9/13/11!

CTD Press Update 09/13/2011

Now Available Exclusively/Semi-Exclusively from CTD:

FEATURED:

Cronin, Mikal

“Mikal Cronin”

Trouble in Mind: tim031

ALLMUSIC GUIDE:
“Mikal Cronin knows all sorts of examples of what can be described as classic pop/rock is obvious from the first notes of ‘Is It Alright’ -- harmonies out of the Beach Boys, a building burst of melody that the Raspberries could have loved, and an echo-swathed verse that's both Phil Spector and the Jesus and Mary Chain. But by the time the keyboard drone pop of ‘Slow Down’ arrives, it's clear that Cronin's debut release, however tied together by his singing, seeks to not simply be yet another power pop showcase above all else, whether served up clean or with layers of scuzz.”

http://www.allmusic.com/album/mikal-cronin-r2250625/review

UNCUT:
“(Ty) Segall moves fast, though, and the very latest recordings that he’s been involved with - both involving a new name to me, Mikal Cronin - are pretty fantastic…Cronin’s S/T is no less exciting, but draws from a much wider range: the very first seconds are filled with a capella harmonies indebted to The Beach Boys’ ‘Our Prayer’.”

http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/index.php?blog=6&title=mikal_cronin_mikal_cronin&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

CLLCT:
“A rare pearl of gritty yet melodious garage fun tucked away amidst the usual bevy of electronic offerings. This is spot on execution of great songwriting and the venerable melody hook with lots of grease on the collar to boot by one Mikal Cronin.”

http://cllct.com/feed/burromusic/quicklynowgetalongbymikalcronin

EVERYBODY TASTE:
“as heavy and guitar-dominated as the mix is on tracks like "Get Along" and "Apathy," it's Cronin's vocal melodies and delivery that really shine and sink their hooks into the listener as they cut their way through walls of fuzz. Two listens deep and I promise you'll be singing along.”

http://www.everybodytaste.com/2011/08/mikal-cronin-get-along-apathy.html

DEATH AND TAXES:
“Judging from ‘Get Along’ and ‘Apathy,’ the upcoming LP sounds pretty promising. The two tracks build on the lo-fi fuzz of Mikal’s many West Coast affiliations but noticeably follow a more pop route with cleaner vocals, plenty of harmonies and nods to ’60s psych. It all creates a heavily infectious blend of garage rock.”

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/123711/listen-mikal-cronins-apathy-and-get-along-produced-by-ty-segall/

CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND Top 10 MP3s of the week - “Apathy”:
“This song is all kinds of amazing, from the machine-gun snare fills to the catchy-as-shit chorus where Cronin implores that he “don’t want apathy”, and you’ve no choice but to believe him. It’s a perfect mix of pop and fuzz to draw ears of all kind. Put it on, and put it on loud, why don’t ya?.”

http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/07/top-10-mp3s-of-the-week-729/

Shake Some Action

Aptly named after the Flamin' Groovies' powerpop masterpiece, Shake Some Actions Vol. 1 (SSA 2003) is the first installment in an eight part series highlighting an array of brilliant underground 70s rock, power pop and new wave gems from the UK, US, Ireland and beyond.

Similar in style to the Messthetics series, this is going to make you scratch your head and wonder why you hadn't heard of some of these bands before.  

Here's a couple personal favorites and if you like 'em you should make sure to check out Sing Sing records where some great punk and powerpop records (just like this one) are being lovingly reissued.

Out of the Carrot Top Records Deeps

The Bitter Tears- Jam Tarts in the Jakehouse

Wanna hear an album of unhinged, theatrical, lewd storytelling? I mean, I don't want to answer for you, but yeah, you probably do. Don't you want to see what rusty brass instruments from a dumpster can do when a band starts bastardizing genres? Well, if I were you, I bet I would. Maybe not? C'mon these tubas and violins and horns are dented and cracked and not fully functional! I mean, at least you don't have to be subject to their live show...I mean, I understand that some awkward combination of cabaret-big band-avantgarde-uncomfortable-semi-degrading show... with mustaches, glitter, bride dress, and short shorts isn't quite everyone's deal. But, I guess it's kind of tempting. Well, if you ignored my answers for you, but still answered "Yes yes yes yes yes" to all these questions, The Bitter Tears album Jam Tarts in the Jakehouse is probably something you need to have.

The Bitter Tears throw you into the crazy genre pot and stir you around a while, or maybe they're not even genres just specific situations that the music is created for. Who knows. But I promise it's really fucking fun not being able to tell what's going on or what's happening next. So I'd say stop with all these questions, you gotta live your life might as well just stop thinking about it and do it. Listen to The Bitter Tears- Jam Tarts in the Jakehouse. It'll be quirky and hilarious and uncomfortable and refreshing and also, I promise, will actually sound great, and if I know you as well as I think I do, I think you'll be really into it. ORDER Jamtarts in the Jakehouse HERE or stop in saki to pick it up!

Also, I know you're pretty curious about these live shows. Check it.

01 Slay the Heart of the Earth by carrottoprecords

Marissa Nadler is playing Thursday!

I know we've mentioned this too much (or maybe not enough) but Marissa Nadler is playing an in-store set for us this Thursday! Marissa plays beautiful, haunting, pastoral folk. Her work is much beloved by pretty much every magazine and blog that's worth a damn. Tell your boss you don't feel so well and get out of work early. She's playing at 4pm and we're going to have to start this one promptly so she can get over to The Hideout before her show with James Vincent McMorrow. Don't miss it, or you will most certainly one day regret it.

Buy It At saki See It For FREE: Boris, Black Angels & more!

Hey, hey, hey, we've got some spots to give away for these upcoming shows at Metro! As usual, you just purchase an item from the band at saki and we'll put you on the guest list for the show:

9/28 The Rapture & My Gold Mask
9/30 Mates of State
10/8 Man or Astro-Man & Jaill
10/19 Boris & Coliseum
10/20 The Black Angels & Dead Meadow
11/3 Blitzen Trapper

See you soon?

New Alva Noto LP/CD "Univrs"

Carsten Nicolai (better known to most as Alva Noto) is keeping busy this year -- his esteemed label, Raster-Noton, released some terrific records by the likes of Kangding Ray, Cyclo, and Anne-James Chaton, and he is currently organizing a series of events to commemorate the imprint's 15th birthday this year, culminating in an event at the Berghain in Berlin this fall. In November, he will release "Univrs", a fine addition to his extensive catalog, and he has done one of his first DJ mixes ever, for Resident Advisor's podcast. Encompassing everything from MIA to Nine Inch Nails to Robert Hood and Pan Sonic, it's well worth checking. www.raster-noton.net www.residentadvisor.net

New releases @ saki 9/13/2011

Barn Owl "Lost In The Glare" CD & LP

Blitzen Trapper "American Goldwing" LP/CD

A.A. Bondy "Believers" CD

Gui Boratto "The Drill" 12''

Cant "Dreams Come True" LP/CD

Das Racist "Relax" LP/CD

Drums "Portamento" CD

Eddy Current Suppression Ring "Walking In Unison" 12''

Girls "Father, Son, Holy Ghost" CD/LP

Glenn Jones "The Wanting" LP

Golden Retriever "Light Cones" LP

Hagar The Womb "A Bright Shade Of Black" LP

Haunted House "Blue Ghost Blues" CD (Feat. Loren Connors)

Jimi Hendrix "Hendrix In The West" LP (re-issue)

Locrian "Dort Is Der Weg" b/w "Frozen In Ash" 7''

Laura Marling "A Creature I Don't Know" LP/CD

Memoryhouse "The Years" LP

Neon Indian "Era Extrana" LP/CD

The Raincoats "Odyshape" LP (re-issue)

Rocket From The Tombs "Barfly" LP

Omar Souleyman "Haflat Gharbia: The Western Concerts" LP

Shimmering Stars "Violent Hearts" LP

St. Vincent "Strange Mercy" LP/CD

Superchunk "Foolish" LP/CD (re-issue)

Scott Tuma "Not For Nobody" LP

V/A "Back And 4th" CD (Hotflush label compilation)

V/A "Mute Records: Vorwarts" LP (compilation w/ exclusive tracks)

Wild Flag "S/T" LP/CD

Wooden Shjips "West" LP/CD

office ambience 9.12.11

Marsen Jules - DJ-Set - Drifting in the Liquid Air by Krill.Minima on Mixcloud

keeping doors closed since 2008

Girls Rock! + saki 4ever

Did you ever know any women in bands when you were a kid? Or teachers, adults, or mentors that said to put aside that classical violin for a day and pick up an electric one (and stop playing mozart for a sec while you're at it)? Or women that told you that the things you think are valid and important, and to be confident and kickass? If so, I bet that's a reason you're so awesome now. If not, that's what Girls Rock! Chicago aims to do for girls ages 8-16. 

We're super excited to announce what looks to be a wonderful partnership with one of my personal favorite non-profits, Girls Rock! Chicago. For those unfamiliar, Girls Rock! is a week-long camp held twice during the summer where girls ages 8-16 choose an instrument (guitar, bass, drums, singing, keyboard or, as of last summer, DJ!), form a band, and spend a week jumping between instrument lessons, band coaching, and songwriting. The women teaching them are counselors from all walks of kickassery around Chicago who show them a different kind of confidence, self-expression, and emphasis on music and other people, which is tragically not often showcased in role models for girls. These girls form legit bands within a week and perform a song of theirs at a showcase (two showcases were held this year for over 700 people at the Bottom Lounge). SO, with that information, there's a couple of things to keep in mind. 

1) Girls Rock! has been extremely popular around town and there's not always room for all the girls who want to rock. Let's give everyone around Chicago a chance to be part of the scene, hey?

2) Girls Rock! definitely needs some pals to help the girls stay supported and interested in music throughout the school year when camp's not in session.

We're excited to announce a collaboration between saki and Girls Rock! that will more or less include some combination of DJ workshop, zine making, film screening, women in rock info session, dance parties, and jam sessions throughout at least the months of October, November, December, and January. We'll be announcing them monthly, so please come out and support Girls Rock! and participate in some fun thangs!

The first event will be a FREE FILM SCREENING and PJ party of the Girls Rock! documentary about a girls rock camp in Portland and will be held Friday, October 21st. Previously screened at the Music Box Theatre, the director is allowing us to show it to whoever is interested for free at saki! If you're a Girls Rock grad or volunteer, interested in the program for you or your daughter, or just want to see girls rocking out, you're invited... kids encouraged! Kids-BYOPillow! Non-Kids, BYOB! See how girls develop and change in a week when they're given the resources and community to speak and scream and be heard.

Get comfy, eat some popcorn, and have a dance party to the beats and jams of two of Girls Rock!'s fresh new summer DJs. It's gettin chilly, come cozy up y'all. 

Check out the trailer: 

New Darling 7" on Cardboard Sangria!

Just received a few copies of Darling's new 7" Keep Out from Cardboard Sangria Records!

From the Cardboard Sangria site:

The Keep Out 7″ attempts to characterize the inner dilemma and turmoil of which life invariably consists. White is Night is a song of self-reflection in the brightest night of winter. It simplifies all the things that bring you down into the dirt beneath your shoes and the awareness of all that’s really important. Mako Sica explores the thought that life can turn on a dime. Lush green grass can abruptly change to barren earth and the brightest blue sky can turn ashen gray. Its the idea of remaining vigilant and the inability to stay inside.

Limited to 300 on red vinyl with download code!

Catch the record release show at The Burlington with The Father Costume and Architecture on 10/1!

Video: Youth Lagoon - Montana

Weekly Tape Deck posted the new video for Youth Lagoon's first single off their upcoming Fat Possum debut, The Year of Hibernation. The video was directed by Tyler T. Williams, who you should check out if you haven't seen any of his work before.

Thoughts on Hallowed Ground & Unlearned Lessons

My friend and fellow Chicago History Book Club member, Patrick Reardon @PatrickReardon, had this Op-Ed piece published in the Chicago Tribune yesterday.

Hallowed Ground 

So much of American life is about competition. It's natural that we would want to know which sacred ground — which hallowed ground — is in first place.  

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0909-hallowed-20110909,0,7298628.story

I like the article, and in a gentle way, it makes a valid point. As I thought about it further, I felt that it was perhaps too genteel in its tack. I wonder if we haven't gone off the rails completely by presuming to consecrate any ground.

An illustratrix, an 80's musician, and a pizza walk into a bar...

Almost certain that Emily Flake will be bummed to know that her name is just ahead of john oates mustache on saki blog hits.

3 incredible Epitonic saki Sessions this week!

Ladies & gents, sorry for the late notice, but we've just fully confirmed THREE amazing Epitonic saki Session in-stores, all in the next week.

Tomorrow, September 10th @ 5pm we have Merge recording artist's Telekinesis. Yes, that's TOMORROW. Do not miss it! Then, next Tuesday, September 13th @ 4pm come out for Montreal dream-poppers, Braids! Finally, on Thursday, September 15th @ 4pm we've got one of our absolute favorites, Marissa Nadler!

I'm almost out of breath just typing this stuff. Please come out and enjoy the show, support the artists and have an all around great time with us!

Ram Hoss- PrixQuills (Azeda Booth)

Well, quick gush about Azeda Booth since they're giving away some new tunes for free. If you don't want to read about my intense affection for them, then skip the rest and just download it here. i won't be offended.

(Ram Hoss- PrixQuills is the new stuff, Tubtrek EP free download further down on the link page is the best thing to come out in 2010, and all the other stuff on page is 1/2 of Azeda Booth Jordon Hossack's project Free Nude Celebs. It's all free. You can't pay them for it. I tried. They won't take my money.)

Ran into this band Azeda Booth on a whim while visiting Calgary over a year ago now. Since then, whether i don't know what to listen to, am feeling perky about things in life, or am bummed or nostalgic about sumpn or other, their music fits, is perfect, and becomes significant. If you hear their only full-length album In Flesh Tones (Absolutely Kosher) or their free EP Tubtrek (Absolutely Kosher), the most accessible comparison is some sort of Baths-Sigur Ros-Animal Collective lewd & crude combo package. It's a duo, Jordon Hossack (vocals) and Morgan Greenwood (beats) and they are an untouchable pair.

Baths (Will Wiesenfeld) has an almost parallel enthusiasm for them as i do it seems, based on his facebook statuses:

Fyi. Azeda Booth has become on of the most important bands in my life. I just can't stop gushing about them. I've heard all these songs HUNDREDS of times, and I still get emotional.

Azeda Booth Azeda Booth Azeda Booth Azeda Booth Azeda Booth Azeda Booth Azeda Booth #AzedaBooth #AzedaBooth #AzedaBooth #AzedaBooth #AzedaBooth #AzedaBooth

Well, last week Jordon and Morgan graced us with some fresh new music, a short album called PrixQuills recorded under the name Ram Hoss. It happened just as it did the first few times 'round with In Flesh Tones and Tubtrek, you listen through it, and then again to get a lil more familiar so you can start forming opinions on what you like about it, why it's not as good the other stuff, what it's missing, what you've never heard before. And then suddenly these songs are somehow really important to you.

Well, that's how it works for me. Do a lil experiment and try it yourself!

Once again, download the new stuff and old EP Tubtrek (and don't miss the free download of In Red off In Flesh Tones...have it and hold it and hear it it's perfect) HERE

Dr. Caligari at Music Box Saturday

I love the Music Box Theatre. They only have a few more of their Silent Cinema Saturday screenings left. Tomorrow, Saturday September 10, at Noon, they are screening The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. "A plunge into the mind of insanity!" The screening will be accompanied by the awesome Music Box house organist Dennis Scott!

One of the best examples of German expressionism, THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI is a plunge into the mind of insanity; a nightmare realm in which light, shadow and substance are abstracted, a world in which a demented doctor and a carnival sleepwalker perpetuate a series of murders in a small community. (Robert Wiene, 1919, 75m)

Read more about this cool film here and go see it tomorrow! See you there. I'll be the guy with the largest popcorn they sell.

Buy It At saki, See It For FREE!

By now you should know all about our deal with Schubas & Lincoln Hall. If there's a show coming up at either venue that you'd like to see you can buy that artist's album at saki and we'll get you on the guest list with a friend! That's like the definition of "good deal." Here's some upcoming shows that we recommend:

UPDATE: Sorry, sold out shows are excluded from the promotion.

Schubas
Active Child, 9/16
Viva Voce, 9/19
Japandroids, 9/23 SOLD OUT
Peter Wolf Crier, 9/24
Asobi Seksu, 9/25
Megafaun, 9/28
Pig, Swig & Record Dig (no giveaways, but we'll be there, so come hang out!) 10/1
Gauntlet Hair, 10/14
The Rosebuds, 10/15
Nurses & Dominant Legs, 10/22
Sebadoh, 10/30
In Tall Buildings (As Deerhoof) 10/13
Loney Dear & Daniel Knox, 11/7

Lincoln Hall
Matt Pond PA & Rocky Votolato, 9/12
Tapes n Tapes, 9/16
Laura Marling, 9/22
Toro Y Moi & Unknown Mortal Orchestra, 9/24
The Horrors, 9/25
Starfucker, 9/26
Girls & Nobunny, 9/29
Wild Beasts & Twin Sister, 10/1 (Come over after the pig roast at Schubas!)
Twin Shadow & Diamond Rings, 10/2
Jens Lekman, 10/3 SOLD OUT
Besnard Lakes, 10/4
Mekons!!!!!, 10/5
Zola Jesus, 10/12
Neon Indian & Com Truise, 10/14
CANT, 10/18 (Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear)
Gang Gang Dance & Prince Rama, 10/20
Moonface, 10/26
Future Islands & Javelin, 10/30
Real Estate & Big Troubles, 10/31
Shlohmo & Shigeto, 11/4
A Winged Victory For The Sullen, Ken Camden & Benoit Pioulard, 11/6
A.A. Bondy, 11/8
tUnE-yArDs, 11/9 & 11/10 SOLD OUT
The Radio Dept. & Memoryhouse, 11/16
M83, 11/17 SOLD OUT

Spots are limited, so don't wait!

Wilco + Mark Greenberg = CTR Heaven

Turns out Mark Greenberg of The Coctails (fyi this band was the reason Carrot Top Records started putting out albums) is listed as assistant producer on Wilco's mucho anticipated new album The Whole Love. He also made the video that was released today for Wilco's song Born Alone! Read more from NPR here

Congrats Mister Greenberg!

CTD Press Update 9/6/11!

CTD Press Update 09/06/2011
Now Available Exclusively/Semi-Exclusively from CTD:

FEATURED:

Sun Araw
“Ancient Romans”
Drag City/Sun Araw: sa012
ALTERED ZONES: Artist Profile:
“Guns blazing, the Los Angeles artist returns with his most sonically acrobatic and, depending on your taste, accessible material yet. It's the type of work that has the potential to broadcast Sun Araw's Technicolor pastiche of cosmic riddim, sacramental chants, scorched dub, and aquatic ambience far outside the niche catacombs where these sorts of abstract meditations like to dwell.”
http://alteredzones.com/posts/1868/artist-profile-sun-araw/

SCOUT MAGAZINE:
“Musically, he rubs shoulders with the great free jazzers, outside funkers and psychedelic avatars of years past. Aesthetically, he has constructed his own po-mo philosophy that borrows as much from West Coast hippy and new age detritus as critical theory approved by the academy. Rarely do we find a musician so self aware and so willing to explore the conceptual framework of his own music.”
http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/08/09/interview-cultural-excavations-at-a-yard-sale-with-cameron-stallones-of-sun-araw/

DUMMY:
“Ancient Romans takes over your mind, scorching and reeling like some ancient desert swept under a kaleidoscope, all noodly, lost-in-the-moment guitars, thick synths towering like old ruins, and all manner of brain-warping noise tricks strung out together.”
http://www.dummymag.com/new-music/2011/08/16/sun-araw-ancient-romans-album-stream/

BOSTON PHOENIX:
“The hypnotic fifth LP by Sun Araw — the five-year-old solo project of Angelino Cameron Stallones — is a double-vinyl spiral through deep zones of neo-primitive psych-drone noise.”
http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/125396-sun-araw-ancient-romans/

ALTERED ZONES: Zoned In:
“While Ancient Romans preserves the grainy and galactic analog dub sound of Sun Araw's own brief history, the concept and expanded instrumentation demonstrates exciting new directions, maturity, and ambition.”
http://alteredzones.com/posts/1789/zoned-sun-araw-ancient-romans/

A Winged Victory For The Sullen

More than just something to tide us over until the next Stars Of The Lid album, A Winged Victory For The Sullen's inaugural effort is a superb album in its own right -- a beautiful and blissed-out slice of shimmering ambience. AWVFTS is SOTL's Adam Wiltzie and Dustin O' Halloran, and they'll be performing at Lincoln Hall with fellow Kranky artist Benoit Pioulard on November 6th, as well as all over the country. AWVFTS' self-titled effort is out next Tuesday, and remember: as with all shows at Schubas and Lincoln Hall, if you buy it at saki, you'll be on the list for the show with a plus one!!!

Reminder: We have cool in-stores!

We really can't mention this enough: we've got two amazing... amazing... amazing in-stores lined up in the next few weeks! September 10th @ 5pm, Telekinesis is playing an Epitonic saki Session for us and September 15th @ 4pm, Marissa Nadler is doing the same. Seriously. Can you tell we're excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every one of those exclamation points is warranted.

New Releases @ saki 9/6/2011

Tindersticks - S/T (I) LP re-issue
Animal Collective "Danse Manatee" LP re-issue

Brotzmann/Vandermark/Gustafsson "Only The Devil Has No Dreams" CD

Clams Casino "Instrumentals" LP

HTRK "Work (Work, Work)" LP/CD

Jurgen Muller "Science Of The Sea" LP

Last Exit "Low Life" CD

Nucular Aminals "Nobody's Man" 7''

Peter Wolf Crier "Garden Of Arms" LP/CD

Rocky Votolato / Matt Pond PA "Split" 7''

Luke Temple "Don't Act Like You Don't Care" LP/CD

White Wishes "Come & Say Hello" 7''

Wu Lyf "Go Tell Fire To The Mountain" LP/CD

Xiu Xiu "Daphny" 7''