Author Archives: Robert Duffy

Favorite Albums of 2011: Robert Duffy

Posted on December 13, 2011 | 9 comments

What a great, interesting year for music consumption. Spotify gave me the ability to discover tons of new music and keep up with the current scene, while iTunes Match allowed me to rediscover music that was collecting dust on my disconnected external hard drive.

My favorite albums of 2011 are filled with the usual suspects that I’ve come to love over the years (Wilco, The Decemberists), but this year, more than ever, are a bunch of bands that are completely new to me. Here’s a list, complete with MP3s, streams, videos, and whatever relevant links I could put together.

Bonus: Spotify playlist featuring all of the albums plus a few others that didn’t make the top 10 cut.

10. The War on Drugs, Slave Ambient

MP3: Come to the City

9. I Break Horses, Hearts

I Break Horses – Winter Beats by Bella Union

8. Alina Simone, Make Your Own Danger

MP3: Glitterati

7. Wild Flag, Wild Flag

MP3: Glass Tambourine

6. tUnE-yArDs, w h o k i l l

MP3: Bizness

5. Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch the Throne

Listen: Otis

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9 Comments

Posted in 2011 Favorites, MP3

Tagged Alina Simone, Destroyer, I Break Horses, The Decemberists, The War on Drugs, Thurston Moore, tune-yards, Watch the throne, wilco, Wild Flag

A Very Ohio Christmas, Volume 1, Now Free

Posted on December 7, 2011 | Comments Off

Last year Donewaiting and Each Note Secure released A Very Ohio Christmas, Volume One featuring acts from all over Ohio. Phantods, Super Desserts, Brainbow, Adam from Southeast Engine, No No Knots, and many others were involved. Today, we are releasing the album as a free download to spread the holiday cheer.

We hope to do a second volume next year which we want to tie into a Kickstarter vinyl release. More details next year.

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Posted in Music

Wish Granted! Bicentennial Bear’s “All I Want for Christmas (is an Afghan Whigs Reunion)”

Posted on December 7, 2011 | Comments Off

Bicentennial Bear wished for it last Christmas, and one year later dreams do come true. The Afghan Whigs are reuniting!

Celebrate by listening to their song:

<a href="http://ohiochristmas.bandcamp.com/track/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-an-afghan-whigs-reunion">All I Want for Christmas (is an Afghan Whigs Reunion) by Bicentennial Bear</a>

On Sunday 27th May 2012 Alexandra Palace will host the first show in 13 years from Cincinnati’s rock legends THE AFGHAN WHIGS. Formed in 1986, the bands career from then until 2001 saw them release six acclaimed albums highlighted by the classic Gentlemen LP in 1993. Fusing classic rock with grunge-era distortion and a heavy soul influence, Afghan Whigs were one of the most renowned live bands of their time and this long awaited reformation will no doubt be a very special event.

ATP are also pleased to confirm their return to Asbury Park, New Jersey USA where they will follow last year’s debut in that city with a 2012 I’ll Be Your Mirror event, the Saturday night of which will be headlined by The Afghan Whigs and curated by the Whigs’ frontman Greg Dulli. Tickets & accommodation for the three day event running September 21st-23rd will go on sale in early January 2012 when the start of the fantastic line-up will also be announced – fans can sign up now to receive info about a pre-sale.

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Posted in Music

Tagged Bicentennial Bear, The Afghan Whigs

MP3: Rock N Roll Santa by Yo La Tengo

Posted on December 2, 2011 | 1 comment

MP3: Rock N Roll Santa

Released in 2002 at one of their famous run of Hannukah Shows in Hoboken, here’s Yo La Tengo celebrating the other holiday in December.

1 Comment

Posted in MP3

Tagged Christmas Music, Yo La Tengo

R.I.P Southgate House

Posted on November 28, 2011 | Comments Off

Each Note Secure posted the rumor earlier and then got confirmation from the owner.

After more than thirty years in continuous operation as a music and arts venue under the ownership and operation of Ross Raleigh, the Southgate House will host its last show on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2011.

“While we are deeply saddened to close 24 E. Third Street, it’s been a great run and it’s been a great privilege to be the steward of such a grand building all these years,” Raleigh said. “There have been many great memories made here, but the history is in the people and the music, not just the building, and the show must go on.”

The owners hope to find a new location for the venue.

Southgate House was definitely one of my favorite venues to go to when I lived in Ohio, and it’ll certainly be missed in the region.

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Posted in Music

Listen: She & Him “Christmas Day”

Posted on November 27, 2011 | 1 comment

I love Christmas music. For one month it dominates my playlists to the point of unhealthy obsession. Luckily, bands like She and Him continue to put out new recodings, and this year they’ve done a full LP of holiday tunes. Stream the song above and check out the complete tracklisting after the jump.

Bargain shoppers take note! The album is currently onsale for just $5 on Amazon MP3.

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1 Comment

Posted in Stream

Tagged Christmas Music, She and Him

Video: “Benefits” by North Highlands

Posted on November 18, 2011 | Comments Off

I recently discovered Brooklyn band North Highlands, and have been giving their new album, Benefits, a lot of spins on my iPod. You can stream their entire album on Bandcamp. Their latest video is directed by Nate Buchik.

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Posted in Video

Tagged North Highlands

Lou Reed Wants You To Buy His $400 Earbuds

Posted on November 16, 2011 | Comments Off

Can you even imagine Lou Reed wearing earbuds?

With aesthetics chosen by the mastermind himself and unsurpassed Klipsch quality, it’s a product he doesn’t just get behind — he puts his name on it. Literally. Each package comes complete with an actual Lou Reed autograph.

But we won’t put words in his mouth. Instead we quote Lou, who says, “I have been a fan of Klipsch for eons. I enjoy the beauty of the unhyped bass-the clarity and depth of detail and extraordinary comfort of the headphones. These are my Klipsch. Serious headphones for the serious listener.” (more)

It may be time to Save Lou Reed.

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Posted in Music

Tagged lou reed

SXSW 2012 Music Festival Band Announcement #2

Posted on November 15, 2011 | Comments Off

SXSW just posted another update of bands performing at next year’s SXSW Music Festival:

Alabama Shakes (Athens AL)
Asking Alexandria (York UK-ENGLAND)

Atlantic/Pacific (Brooklyn NY)
Bad Weather California (Denver CO)
Belligerence (Portsmouth UK-ENGLAND)
Ben Howard (Devon UK-ENGLAND)
Blouse (Portland OR)
Capsula (Bilbao SPAIN)
Choir of Young Believers (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Dikes of Holland (Austin TX)
Duran (Bogotá COLOMBIA)
Edison Chair (Austin TX)
Electric Eel Shock (Tokyo JAPAN)
Electric Wire Hustle (Wellington NEW ZEALAND)
Elias Haslanger (Austin TX)
Extrawelt (Hamburg GERMANY)
Fallulah (Copenhagen DENMARK)
Films of Colour (London UK-ENGLAND)
Go Back To The Zoo (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
Hunters (Brooklyn NY)
Idiot Glee (Lexington KY)
J.R. Patton (Dallas TX)
Juan Cirerol (Mexicali MEXICO)
Lanie Lane (Sydney NSW)
Led Er Est (New York NY)
Lilly Wood and the Prick (Paris FRANCE)
Lonsdale Boys Club (London UK-ENGLAND)
Lucero (Memphis TN)
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