2011 So Far

I have been doing a lot of traveling this month so that has given me tons of time to listen to new material, but not a lot of time to blog about it. So far I have been listening to Cloud Nothings, Toro Y Moi, Cut Copy, Tennis, James Blake and Smith Westerns. Cut Copy's new album 'Zonoscope' has floored me. This could have staying power like Toro y Moi last year and Beach House. Zonoscope is dancy, catchy, retro, just perfect. I was blown away after my first listen and it has been getting constant play since. I just want to dance every time I put it on.

I also really like the new Smith Westerns LP 'Dye It Blonde'. They really nailed the right tone for that album. Whatever they are using for their electric sound works out perfect for them. They are going to blow up this year. I really enjoy the new Tennis album despite it getting some beatings on the internet. It's a minimalist album...it's just so soothing to me.

Cloud Nothings and Toro y Moi had two of my favorite albums from last year, but I fear they may have hit the sophomore slump. Cloud Nothings album is still good, overall their lyrics are too repetitive. Their new song Should Have does kick major ass though. Toro teased me with two amazing new tracks 'New Beat' and 'Still Sounds' the two videos I posted before this. They are instant pop gems that I can't stop listening to. The only problem is, they are the only two tracks on the album I am completely in love with.

People have some serious hard ons for the James Blake album, but I don't see it. Maybe I'm not deep enough or I need to listen to it a few more times, but I'm not sold on him. There is one song that I really like on it. 'Wilhelms Scream' is a great track. Well I am off to the Dirty D for the weekend, download this playlist! It's what im jammin to.

Best of 2011 Playlist http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LLCO0S6P

Oxygen Ashtray's Albums Of The Year

1. Toro Y Moi - Causers of This

  2. Beach House - Teen Dream

3. Wild Nothing - Gemini 

 4. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

 5. Cloud Nothings - Turning On

6. Beach Fossils - Beach Fossils

7. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

 8. The National - High Violet

 9. The Arcade Fire - Suburbs

 10. Magic Man - Real Life Color

11. Girls - Broken Dreams Club Ep

12. Morning Benders - Big Echo

13. Wavves - King of the Beach

14. Beast Coast - Crazy For You

15. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

16. Happy Birthday - Happy Birthday

17. DOM - Sun Bronzed Greek Gods

18. Teen Daze - Four More Years/Everything

19. Childish Gambino - Culdesac

20. Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

21. Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
22. Twin Shadow - Forget
23. Tennis - All their music
24. The Drums - The Drums
25. Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz
26. Surfer Blood - Astro Cast
27. Sleigh Bells - Treats
28. Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
29. Vampire Weekend - Contra
30. Tallest Man on Earth - Wild Hunt
31. Gayngs - Relayted
32. MGMT - Congratulations
33. Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
34. Ariel Pink - Before Today
35. Harlem - Hippies
36. The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
37. Marcus Eaton - As If You Had Wings
38. Delorean - Subiza
39. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
40. Jonsi - Go
41. Matt and Kim - Sidewalks
42. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
43. Woods - At Echo Lake
44. Frightened Rabbit - Winter of Mixed Drinks
45. Crocodiles - Sleep Forever
46. Bonobo - Black Sands
47. Emanicpator - Safe in the Steep Cliffs
48. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
49. Owen Pallett - Heartland
50. Yeasayer - Oddblood
51. Deer Hunter - Halcyon Digest
52. How to Dress Well - Both Albums
53. The Walkmen - Lisbon
54. Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me
55. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
56. Free Energy- Stuck on Nothing
57. Salem - King Knight
58. Four Tet - Love in You.

Well there it is! My favorite albums from the year 2010! It has been a decent year, with the early stuff having some real staying power. Toro Y Moi takes the #1 spot. I love everything Chazz does and that album is literally perfect. Every song on the album has had its moment at the #1 spot. Beach House is #2. Victoria Legrand is a goddess with the most beautiful voice ever. Teen Dream is another perfect album from start to finish. I find their music to be so visual. Wild Nothing, they are real talent. I saw them live this year, great guys and amazing performers. Their album is 80's fuzzy guitar dream pop. My favorite! These songs are so catchy to me. These three albums were by far my favorite from this year.

I gave Local Natives #4 because I love that album so much and it was re-released this year. Cloud Nothings are one of my favorites. Super reverby, you can hardly hear any vocals or actual guitar chords, but it's so raw. This band knows how to rock the fuck out, cheers guys! Beach Fossils are Lofi indie gods that have catchy guitar riffs that I love to try and re-create, you guys are true inspiration. LCD Soundsystem put out one of their best efforts yet. This album is so much fun, love throwing this on at a party and just having fun to it. The National and The Arcade Fire put forth extremely solid albums this year. They are both well established and are continuing to grow in different directions with their music. Magic Man rounds out the top 10 with some local talent. These guys built an album with depth and textures I was really impressed with. This album was in my top ten the moment I heard it.

I would like to mention that all of the albums on this list were good. If you made the list, I enjoyed your album this year. Morning Benders has some of my favorite songs this year, Wavves and Best Coast ruled our summer, the perfect soundtrack. Happy Birthday, you guys rock...keep being weird. Teen Daze, I don't want to just include Four More Years...I love everything you have put out so far. Each track gets better and better. Donald Glover, thank you for being my role model, you are the fucking man.

PS. Kanye's album didnt make the list...it was good but he's just not going on my list

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidaze yall, it's a busy time of year and I'm still working on my Cville write up...and my albums of the year list..plus trying to shop for everyone! But the write ups are almost done. Now you will have something to read once you're done reading everyone's best of list's that are already posted! However I have some music that I need to get in your hands NOW! Some holiday tunes for you...Kanye, Beach House, and Dent May all posted really great Christmas songs in the past few days. I also have the new Toro Y Moi and Beach Fossils tracks from their new albums coming out next year! So enjoy the your break and your Holiday...be sure to check back for my list soon!

FREE DOWNLOAD------->>>>  Get Drunk on Christmas Playlist

New Toro Y Moi Single - Leave Everywhere

Toro Y Moi has a 7'' single coming out July 20th via Carpark Records. It is now available for pre order. The song is very different then what we are used to hearing from Chaz. Instead of the electronic Macbook side, we get traditional instruments. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure Chaz recorded every instrument himself. The song, 'Leave Everywhere' has the perfect amount of lo-finess to it, just a little bit of re-verb on the vocals and guitars. You can still hear his great singing voice shine through, the song is super catchy. This really showcases what Chaz can do as an artist...he really is an all around musician. Download it below mannnnnn.

UPdate: here is the video for Leave Everywhere

Toro Y Moi - Leave Everywhere from Heidi Petty on Vimeo.

Toro Y Moi - Leave Everywhere by berman1125

Toro Y Moi - Yours Truly

It's been a while since I posted a Toro Y Moi track. 'Causers of This' is still my favorite album of the year. Now that it's summer time, it is getting even more plays on both ipod and vinyl player. Here he is performing 'You Hid' at Different Fur in San Fran. It is a very different take then the one heard on the album. It sounds fucking amazing. The vid was shot by Yours Truly and I grabbed it from GvB


TORO Y MOI "YOU HID" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Open Bar: Toro Y Moi

Before Chaz played Brooklyn Bowl, he stopped by Heathers to play a little guitar set. 2 songs not featured on Causers of This, 'Lately' and 'Absolutely'. This man does no wrong.

Toro Y Moi Remixes Tegan & Sara

The song 'Alligator' has been remixed 17 times. This is Toro Y Moi's remix...it's awesome, just like everything else he does. Still bummed about not being able to see him in Boston. But enjoy this remix. I also attached a live video from Toro Y Moi from the Brooklyn show. It's shot through disposable 3d glasses, wavy man.

Listen HERE
Free Download ----> HERE


Love: Whose Songs are Dreams in the Human Mind // Toro Y Moi [Part 1 of 2] from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Bostoned Pt.1 Recap - PPalm, Toro Y Nah, Beach House

Boston and I have a love/hate relationship...I hate the red sox and everything that has to do with Boston sports, also, the people of Boston are for the most part d-bags. However I do love the look and feel of the city. It's very beautiful, vintage, classy, and represenitive of our roots as a country. The music scene in Boston is second to none in New England....so naturally I am drawn to that too. I headed up Friday night with some friends for fun in the city.

Saturday was the Toro Y Moi and Ruby Suns show at The Middle East Upstairs. We found out via twitter that Toro Y Moi's stuff had been stolen at the show in Brooklyn and would have to miss the show...we were crushed. 'Causers of This' is my favorite album of the year and to be able to meet Chaz would have been perfect! It's okay he will be back in May, I will not be missing it! We showed up for the opener PPalm, local Boston electronica man. He is one of the Macbook artists that sing over bass heavy dance beats that they created. He has the Washed Out vibe going for him, and the crowd was feeling it. We stepped out for a smoke and then walked into a nightmare. Whatever the hell was playing on stage was atrocious. Some acoustic folk girl that was way out of tune on guitar and even worse with her voice. This plus the fact we couldn't see Toro had us so in the dumps...we left the show before Ruby Suns came on. I'm kind of ashamed of myself but I was pissed. We headed back to CT Sunday morning, I had to work.

I get home after two sleepless nights in Boston and take a long hot shower. Then got on twitter. Beach House has 5 guest passes for their show in Boston. First five to respond got free passes, I was the fifth response. The only way to salvage the weekend was to drive straight back to Boston to see Beach House for free. My friends already had tickets...boys night out! I called out of work and headed back to the bean. Beach House was amazing...(if you don't believe we were there, check the pics.. we are in a few of them)...We found our way to the front row all the way to stage right, it was the perfect spot to see Victoria Legrand rock out on her keyboard. The band didn't even sound real, thats how good they sounded live. Absolutely flawless, identical to the records but played with more passion. Victoria's hair was all over the place as she kicked the ground to the drum beat of every song. They played everything you wanted them to and was even able to snag the setlist. I then drove back home to CT, for the second time that day.

All in all the weekend was a success. Toro Y Moi will be back in May, and I got to see Beach House thanks to Beach House...plus got the setlist! Boston I'l be back to see your fine ass on Thursday...Dum Dum Girls and Girls @ The Paradise...see ya then!

Thanks to http://slyke25.tumblr.com/ for the pics and vid...get job!

Bostoned

This week is a biggie folks...I'm heading up to Boston for the Toro Y Moi and Ruby Suns show Saturday night at The Middle East. I'm going up a night early for some devilish fun in the city with alllllll my friends. It should b a great time and I'm really looking forward to chill(waving) with everyone in the city. Then I will be heading back up to the bean on Thursday to check out the Girls show with Dum Dum Girls! I made a playlist for the ride up...and was kind enough to place it in a .zip file for you to enjoy...grab it, ya know if u dig music.

Here's a screen shot of most of the playlist...soo just get it okay
Free Download----> Bostoned.zip

The Wall Street Journal Covers Chillwave

READ IT HERE

The WSJ writes about how chillwave came to be and what the future could look like for chillwave artists

Toro Y Moi - Talamak Video

Toro Y Moi has my vote for best album of the year (so far). 'Chillwave' is in full affect for 2010 with acts like Neon Indian, Memory Tapes, Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, ect getting more attention. The music has a very heavy dance beat to it. With tons of synths, tons of keyboards, and lyrics that just float. I've been wanting to right a review for the Small Black/Washed Out show...just waiting for some photos and video. You can read the rest of what I had to say about Toro y Moi's album 'Causers of This' Here. Checking him out in Boston at Middle East Upstaris...soooooo fucking pumped for that

Here is the new video 'Talamak' from Toro Y Moi's debut album 'Causers of This'. Straight baller shit right here. The video is like the music, very sunny and very dreamy. I love the imagery ...beautiful nature shots, being with friends and shooting fireworks. Put this album on and go for a hike, bring some green inspiration. Thank me later.

Album Review: Toro Y Moi – Causers Of This

You know that feeling? After listening to the opening track of an album, you just get know that it's going to be a fantastic listening experience from start to finish. Well that's how I felt after listening to the opening track 'Blessa' off of Toro Y Moi's debut album 'Causers of This'. It has warped beats, dreamy vocals, and eventually moves into an electronic jam sphere. The entire album is drenched in exotic synths and heavy dance beats.

If you are trying to place Toro Y Moi aka Chaz Bundick into a musical category, he can be compared to the likes of other DIY lo-fi pop projects like Neon Indian, Washed Up, Emil and Friends. 'Lissoms' has that straight up Animal Collective/Daft Punk dance floor vibe to it. It really gets your toes tapping and is currently my favorite track. 'Freak Love' is a musical whirl. Repeating vocals and crackling white noise, it sounds like a record being spun at a very weird and fast pace. The song goes round and round in non stop rotation. I also really love 'Low Shoulders'. It has a real good summer feel to it with very catchy synth hooks. This album is a full-blast indie dance anthem if you will, a perfect way to welcome the new decade.

Also check out Chad's blog, he takes some really cool pictures http://www.toroymoi.blogspot.com/
Head on over to his MySpace to check out tour dates and more info. Hoping to check him out in Boston on March 27.

Key Tracks:

Toro Y Moi - Lissoms by berman1125

Toro Y Moi - Blessa by berman1125

Toro Y Moi Low Shoulder by berman1125