From dirty paws and the creatures of snow.

I was hearing a fair amount of hype about this band and how they sounded like Edward Sharpe and/or Arcade Fire and/or Sigur Ros, etc., so I was a little shy to check them out, but I'm glad I got over that, as it's a pretty solid album. Song of the day from album of the week goes to Of Monsters And Men "Dirty Paws". Give it a chance.

http://ofmonstersandmen.is/

Contributor Magazine | IN FRONT OF US: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Eric David Johnson exploring the space and hanging out with friends, Beta Petrol, Teenage Teardrops, Ladies & Gentlemen and Zen Mafia in Los Angeles California.

http://www.contributormagazine.com/1065.php

And those words are stained upon your skin.

If you haven't heard it yet, you should really check out Hanni El Khatib's album "Will The Guns Come Out".
Super solid release.
Here's a gem to entice you.

http://www.hannielkhatib.com/
http://innovativeleisure.net/?page_id=45

Ruffling the feathers.

An article in this month's XLR8R and tons of amazing people participating, both new and old (Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Shlomo, Toro Y Moi, Baths, Shigeto, Bibio), in this scene.
I've loved this kind of music for years and seen this thing coming down the pipeline for awhile now.
Super glad to see it's positive, vibrant and blooming.
Keep it up, you weirdo beat-heads.

http://www.anticon.com/index.php?section=artist&target=Baths&js=yes

XLR8R "Beat Happening":
http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2010/07/beat-happening-seeds-planted-fly

Oh, to see it with my own eyes.

Listening to the Local Natives album again right now.
Overall, I have to say that it's a solid record.
Lots of similarities to Fleet Foxes, Band Of Horses and Grizzly Bear, for sure, but they're on their own trip too.
The only sore spot for me is their cover of the Talking Heads "Warning Sign".
That's a tough one to take on, in my opinion.
And then it kind of ends breaking up the album in a weird way.
That said, it's a good as a whole and I really love this song.

http://www.thelocalnatives.com/
http://frenchkissrecords.com/bands/profile/local_natives/

DJ Bunny Ears' Top Albums Of 2009.

2009 was a heck of a year for me.

It included living in two cities (Los Angeles and New York), 
a new job (at Young & Rubicam), 
getting a heap of my vinyl stolen (so maddening),
and most importantly, falling in love with Bailey (soon to be married).

I also never worked harder in my life and therefore logged a lot of hours in my office, at my laptop, listening to tons of music.

So here it is, after much deliberation and possibly forgetting some things, 
that I present to you,

  1. Jónsi & Alex: Riceboy Sleeps
  2. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca
  3. Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest
  4. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion
  5. Here We Go Magic: S/T
  6. Atlas Sound: Logos
  7. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone
  8. Fanfarlo: Resevoir
  9. Little Dragon: Machine Dreams
  10. Mos Def: The Ecstatic
  11. The xx: The xx
  12. Favours For Sailors: Furious Sons
  13. Bill Callahan: Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
  14. Cold Cave: Love Comes Close
  15. Broadcast & the Focus Group: Investigate Witch Cults...
  16. Antony and the Johnsons: The Crying Light
  17. Foreign Born: Person To Person
  18. Major Lazer: Guns Don't Kill People-- Lazers Do
  19. Fuck Buttons: Tarot Sport
  20. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
  21. J. Tillman: Year In The Kingdom
  22. Tom Brosseau: Posthumous Success
  23. The Very Best: Warm Heart of Africa
  24. Jeremy Jay: Slow Dance
  25. Pink Mountaintops: Outside Love
  26. Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
  27. Taken By Trees: East Of Eden
  28. Miike Snow: Miike Snow
  29. Fever Ray: S/T
  30. Volcano Choir: Unmap
  31. Dan Deacon: Bromst
  32. Camera Obscura: My Maudlin Career
  33. St. Vincent: Actor
  34. jj (Sincerely Yours): jj n° 2
  35. Bon Iver: Blood Bank EP
  36. Real Estate: Real Estate
  37. Wilco: Wilco (The Album)
  38. Dodos: Time to Die
  39. Wavves: Wavves
  40. Paul White: The Strange Dreams Of…
  41. Sufjan Stevens: The BQE
  42. Bat For Lashes: Two Suns
  43. Neon Indian: Psychic Chasms
  44. Woods: Songs of Shame
  45. Sunset Rubdown: Dragonslayer
  46. DOOM: Born Like This
  47. Antipop Consortium: Fluorescent Black
  48. Andrew Bird: Noble Beast
  49. The Antlers: Hospice
  50. The Horrors: Primary Colours
  51. M. Ward: Hold Time
  52. Bear in Heaven: Beast Rest Forth Mouth
  53. Blakroc: Blakroc
  54. Yo La Tengo: Popular Songs
  55. Micachu and the Shapes: Jewellery
  56. Memory Tapes: Seek Magic
  57. Discovery: LP
  58. Telefon Tel Aviv: Immolate Yourself
  59. Dinosaur Jr.: Farm
  60. Bell Orchestre: As Seen Through Windows
  61. Washed Out: Life Of Leisure
  62. King Midas Sound: Waiting For You
  63. Rain Machine: S/T
  64. Kings Of Convenience: Declaration Of Dependence
  65. Girls: Album
  66. Akron/Family: Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free
  67. Megafaun: Gather, Form And Fly
  68. The Field: Yesterday and Today
  69. Nosaj Thing: Drift
  70. YACHT: See Mystery Lights
  71. Desire: II
  72. Julian Casablancas: Phrazes for the Young
  73. Dâm-Funk: Toeachizown
  74. Kurt Vile: Childish Prodigy 
  75. Passion Pit: Manners
  76. Black Moth Super Rainbow: Eating Us
  77. Iron & Wine: Around The Well
  78. The Flaming Lips: Embryonic
  79. Bowerbirds: Upper Air
  80. tUnE-yArDs: BiRd-BrAiNs
  81. A Sunny Day in Glasgow: Ashes Grammar
  82. Cymbals Eat Guitars: Why There Are Mountains
  83. Timber Timbre: S/T
  84. Wild Beasts: Two Dancers 
  85. Bibio: Ambivalence Avenue
  86. Magnolia Electric Co.: Josephine
  87. Alela Diane: To Be Still
  88. The Cave Singers: Welcome Joy
  89. The Veils: Sun Gangs
  90. Telekinesis: S/T
  91. Big Pink: A Brief History Of Love
  92. Bonnie Prince Billy: Beware
  93. Malakai: Ugly Side Of Love
  94. James Pants: Seven Seals
  95. Fink: Sort Of Revolution
  96. Nudge: As Good As Gone
  97. Mayer Hawthorne: A Strange Arrangement
  98. Eat Skull: Wild And Inside
  99. Sa-Ra Creative Partners: Nuclear Evolution
  100. Julian Plenti: Is Skyscraper

Compilations, Reissues and Honorable Mentions
Every vinyl release from Mississippi Records (Portland, Oregon)
V/A: Fire In My Bones
V/A: Warp 20 Boxset
Rodriguez: Coming From Reality
The Feelies: Crazy Rhythms
The Feelies: The Good Earth
Whitefield Brothers: Earthology
Big Star: Keep An Eye On The Sky boxset
Pylon: Chomp More
V/A: Spiritual Jazz – Esoteric, Modal + Deep Jazz From The Underground
SJOB Movement: A Move In The Right Direction
Mebusas: Blood Brothers
Charlotte Gainsbourg: IRM
V/A: Forge Your Own Chains
The Heliocentrics: Fallen Angels
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou: Echos Hypnotiques 1969 -1979
V/A: Ghana Special – Modern Highlife
V/A: Africa Boogaloo – The Latinization Of West Africa
Everything released on Minimal Wave Records
V/A: Zanzibara Vol. 5
V/A: Tumbele! – Biguine, Afro & Latin sounds from The French Caribbean
V/A: Singapore A-Go-Go (Sublime Frequencies)
Roj: The Transactional Dharma Of Roj
The Drums: Summertime
Edan: Echo Party
Madlib: Beat Conducta Vol. 5 & 6
V/A: Legends Of Benin – Analog Africa Vol. 5
V/A: Shadow Music Of Thailand (Sublime Frequencies)
V/A: Siamese Soul – Thai Pop Spectacular Vol. 2 (Sublime Frequencies)
V/A: Tropical Funk Experience
V/A: Local Customs – Downriver Rivival
Moby: Wait For Me
V/A: The World Is Shaking – Cubanismo From The Congo 1954 – 55
Kélétigui Diabaté: The Syliphone Years 1970-1976
V/A: Pop Ambient 2009
Animal Collective: Fall Be Kind EP
V/A: Cuban Funk Experience
Lafayette Afro-Rock Band: Darkest Light – The Best Of
Black Dice: Repo
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Loverboy
Arthur Russell: The Sleeping Bag Sessions
V/A: Cazumbi – African Sixities Garage Vol. 1
Monks: The Early Years 1964 - 1965
Coconot: Cosa Astral
Patrick Cowley & Jorge Socarras: Catholic
The Raveonettes: In And Out Of Control
Sonic Youth: Eternal
V/A: Open Strings
Helado Negro: Awe One
Laura Gibson: Beast Of Seasons
PJ Harvey & John Parish: A Woman A Man Walked By
God Help The Girl: S/T
Willie Isz: Georgiavania
Silversun Pickups: Swoon
Chester French: Love The Future
Ear Pwr: Super Animal Brothers III
Tabu Ley Rochereau: The Voice Of Lightness
Lucky Dragons: Open Power 12”
Nick DeWitt: Supernatural Punishment 12”
V/A: Eccentric Soul – Smart’s Palace
These Are Powers: All Aboard Future
V/A: Five Years Of Hyperdub
Juice Aleem: Jerusalem Come
Deastro: Moondagger
K-Os: Yes!
Zomby: Where Were U in '92? 
It Hugs Back: Inside Your Guitar
Weekends: Weekends
The Muslims (aka The Soft Pack): S/T
Elvis Perkins In Dearland: S/T
Bobby Birdman: New Moods
Hudson Mohawke: Butter
A.C. Newman: Get Gulity
Condo Fucks: Fuckbook
The Builders And The Butchers: S/T
Jay Reatard: Watch Me Fail
Richard Swift: The Atlantic Ocean
The Juan MacLean: The Future Will Come 
The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
Lotus Plaza: The Floodlight Collective
Beirut: March Of The Zapotec
BLK JKS: After Robots
Throw Me The Statue: Creaturesque
Califone: All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band: S/T
Bishop Allen: Grrr…
Phosphorescent: To Willie
Surfer Blood: Astro Coast
Group Doueh: Treeg Salaam
Swan Lake: Enemy Mine
Where The Wild Things Are (Soundtrack)
Dangermouse & Sparklehorse: Dark Night Of The Soul
Simone White: Yakiimo
Matt & Kim: Grand
Devendra Banhart: What Will We Be
Silk Flowers: S/T
Times New Viking: Born Again Revisited
Cotton Jones: Paranoid Cocoon
Box Elders: Alice & Friends
Lightning Dust: S/T
Asobi Seksu: Hush
Mount Eerie: Wind’s Poem
Zola Jesus: The Spoils
A Place To Bury Strangers: Exploding Head
Jon Hopkins: Insides
Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3
Choir Of Young Believers: This Is For The White In Your Eyes
Speech Debelle: Speech Therapy
Pens: Hey Friend! What You Doing
Vitalic: Flashmob
Lullabye Arkestra: Threats/Worship
Yura Yura Teikoku: Hollow Me/Beautiful
The Clientele: Bonfires On The Heath
The Avett Brothers: I And Love And You
Monsters Of Folk: S/T
Air: Love 2
The Mountain Goats: The Life Of The World To Come
The Legends: Over And Over
Clipse: Til The Casket Drops
Daniel Johnston: Is And Always Was
Panther: Entropy
Mirah (A)spera
Royksopp: Junior
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It’s Blitz
Drake: So Far Gone
Au Revoir Simone: Still Night, Still Light
The Heavy: The House That Dirt Built
Basement Jaxx: Scars
Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls: S/T
Hildur Guðnadóttir: Without Sinking
The Boxer Rebellion: Union
Hudson Mohawke: Butter
El Michels Affair: Enter The 37th Chamber
We Were Promised Jetpacks: These Four Walls
Savath & Savalas: La Llama
Prefuse 73: Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian

It was so clear to me that it was almost invisible.

This decade is beginning to wind down and so I am starting to go through all the music of this last year. Revisit, recollect, reminisce.
2009 was a tough one for me, but more importantly, it was a rewarding year,
that included best of all - falling madly in love with someone who I'll soon be marrying.

Early in the year, I was living in Los Angeles for a brief moment and one lunchtime I was lucky enough to catch an acoustic and intimate performance of Neko Case at Hotel Cafe.
Dyrayll was visiting me then and it was the near-end of my time there in that sunny, lonely city and on the verge of moving out to New York.
Later in April, a few months settled in to living with one another and still wildly in love, Bailey and I caught her again at the Nokia Theater.

Middle Cyclone is one of my favorite albums of the year and Neko Case's beautiful voice has followed me around and feels so much a part of the soundtrack of my life in 2009 - a year full of change, fear, loss, courage, redemption, and love.
True, true love.

Congratulations to Neko on her Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
She's got my vote.

http://www.nekocase.com/

Don't want you to be sad girl, don't want you to be afraid.

And here's the actual track. From the heart-shaped 7". 

I was jamming this track in my DJ sets all last fall and this past winter. 

Good times.

http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/7-inch/mayerhawthorne/just-ain-t-gonna-work-...

http://twitter.com/dickchicken