Toluu

gorilla vs. bear: try to remember always just to have a good time

mp3s for sampling only. you should really be buying this stuff on vinyl anyway. if you are the owner of a sound file, and would like it removed, holler at us.

here we go magicDecember 29 2008

Joining the likes of SALEM, Alela Diane, WAVVES, Girls, Ducktails, and a few other new-ish artists from whom we expect (relatively) huge things in 2k9 is Brooklyn's Here We Go Magic. His/their self-titled debut has been steadily growing on me over the last few days, recalling some of the warmer, weirder bits of Cass McCombs' best work, and at times, as the Fader points out, Graceland (though not in an aping, Vampire Weekend-y kind of way). Look for the record in February on Austin's Western Vinyl:

mp3:
here we go magic :: tunnelvision

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goodbye horses and merriweather post pavilionDecember 26 2008

harlem

Here's the second installment from Harlem's "Cover of the Month Club," in which the Austin group offers up this relatively faithful and straightforward lo-fi take on Q Lazzarus' "Goodbye Horses." I posted about the song's mild resurgence a few months back, but if you're unfamiliar, you might recognize it from this scene, which scarred me for life at age 13.

mp3:
harlem :: goodbye horses (q lazzarus cover)

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elsewhere:


(photo)

I'm sure most of you guys have heard Merriweather Post Pavilion by now, and while our expectations for this thing were pretty unrealistically high, it really is kind of unlike anything we've ever heard. To call

mp3: new black lips :: "starting over"December 23 2008

Taken from the band's upcoming LP, 200 Million Thousand, due out February 24, 2009:

mp3:
the black lips :: starting over

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new vivian girls :: "girl don't tell me" (beach boys cover)December 22 2008

Vivian Girls have started shipping their Surf's Up Fun Pack, which comes complete with a t-shirt, button, postcards, and the limited Surf's Up 7" (which features 3 new songs), all for $20. The b-side holds the group's charming lo-fi cover of "Girl Don't Tell Me," an old Beach Boys favorite. Listen to the Girls' take, as well as the Beach Boys' original version, below:

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elsewhere:

Banjo or Freakout offers up this haunting rendition of a Christmas classic:

mp3:
banjo or freakout :: silent night

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A few more SXSW '09 bands confirmed, including Wale, Friendly Fires, 8Ball & MJG, and more. Check em all

gorilla vs. bear sirius/xm blog radioDecember 18 2008

GvsB's weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio program airs today at noon (and again at midnight) EST on the new Sirius XMU. This week's episode features new music from Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti, Bosque Brown, Grouper, CFCF, Fever Ray, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...

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gorilla vs. bear blog radio | thursday, december 18

1. ariel pink's haunted grafitti :: can't hear my eyes
2. nirvana :: sliver (home demo)
3. WAVVES :: weed demon
4. grouper :: false horizon
5.