"Rot Gut Domestic" - Margot & The Nuclear So and So's

"Holiday" - Port St. Willow

"Skeptic Goodbye" - You Won't

"Little Broken Hearts" - Norah Jones

"Shields" - Grizzly Bear

"Neck of the Woods" - Silversun Pickups

"Strange Land" - Yellow Ostrich

We added Nick of Port St. Willow to our roster of blog performin' buddies one year ago when he stopped by the couch during a trip out east. And, in typical time flies fashion, the gent has done a lot in the days that have passed by. Though some are huge (He released "Holiday", which Pitchfork  gave nearly eight thumbs up to) and some are far (a move from Portland to Brooklyn, which deserves massive musician street cred), he's been playing all over town so, naturally, we stopped by.  As he did one year back, Port St. Willow played the standout track "Amawalk" — only this time, the restrained, essential drumming of Jake Nussbaum added so much to Nick's soaring and heartbreaking voice. 

Don't believe us? Thankfully, technology made it possible to show, instead of tell you. Will this make writing obsolete? Who knows, but with tunes like these, we're fine with just lettin' 'em roll...

 Now, I've seen some tricks in my day — well, more like just a lot of David Blaine documentaries — but I have no idea how this shit happened. Or how it worked. Or why no one went, "wait, this is kind of a pain in the ass, no?" before blowing the rest of the video budget on value menu treats at Wendy's. But, thankfully for all of us, these artists are more dedicated to projects and less obsessed with Frostys than I am.

The (ed. note: brilliant) director discussed how big of an (ed. note: near-psychotic) endeavor this truly was, but you can't truly get a grip on how hard and deep-into-the-cranium-cavern this is without giving it a look. So, look. 9 movies, 9 cameras, one video. Makes all of those other one-shot videos look a whole hell of a lot less special. 

Couch Session #43: Jonquil

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Yerp, you heard that right. The walls are freshly painted in our favorite shade of Nickelodeon orange, the stuffed animals are snuggling like nothing's changed, and the couch is still as soggy, faded and stunning as always. We might be the only New Yorkers who have moved this many times and lived to tell about it, but if life's an adventure, we're glad to be it's magic carpet. Or something like that.

The Big Ugly HQ have bounced from Williamsburg to Bushwick to our new loft in Greenpoint, where we are just painfully close to Peter Pan doughnuts and awaiting your delivery of them to us as a housewarming gift. Any time of day! Any day. Any hour! (Sorry, Donald. Save me a half.)

If your little Brooklyn biking legs can't get you to the undisclosed location where music magic and internet recordings happen, then don't fret your head for a second. The best part of our big news is that you'll be able to get a peek at our new place so soon. Crazy-kooky-soon. Like, tomorrow soon. Check back in 24 for a glimpse at our newer (better) space, and a band we're terribly excited to share with you.

Over and out,

c+d

Couch Session #42: Yellow Ostrich

Our love for this band is nothing new,
which is why this isn't their first trip to Big Ugly — it's #2.
We had them back on the couch in our old place,
but with so much new music, needed a second taste.
And ladies and gents: it's as good as before,
possibly better, potentially classic, well-worth an encore.
I sat through this session, having not yet heard Strange Land,
a beautiful pile of writing and music of which i became an instant fan,
and these songs, unknown and new, simply blew me away,
leaving me joyous, cheerful, and in awe for two days.
Because these three gents, unlike a lot of bands shilling their craft,
are a curious few who keep their main identity intact.
These songs are more grown up, more varied than before,
back when Alex and Michael first walked through our door,
but even with another member, a new album and a fresh set list,
it's still Yellow Ostrich, their objective never lost in the midst.
These new tunes are more moving — truth, one almost brought me to tears,
but considering I listen to it three times a day, I've got a few good years.
Which song? Well, I'll never tell,
but you'll know when the goosebumps on your arm start to swell.
So, take a listen to these three stunners, and see how you feel,
as Yellow Ostrich's brilliance is yet again revealed:

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Couch Session #41: You Won't

It's weird, you almost wouldn't expect a kind sir named Josh to have that voice,
like it was assigned to him without reason or choice.
It could have been given to a weathered country lad, hands blackened from the soil,
Or a crooner long since passed, his talents a spoil.
You Won't, save for that high-flying apostrophe,
is in total, wholly and completely their own entity.
We keep hearing "The Shins," "The Shins!" The Shins on repeat,
but the comparison is lazy with a shade of self-defeat.
These comparative thoughts are just algebra to the listener's mind,
a broken-down equation to give feelings attachable signs.
In that case, at moments we see a newfound Dylan shining through each song,
with some of the most realistic, relatable lyrics we've heard in just as long.
We could say his songwriting's simplistic and brilliant, the melodies catchy as hell,
but there's just one word, one, simple word that resurfaces each time, and that is special.
At the end of the day, at the end of these tracks,
All we have left are the songs and the empty faces in the videos looking back.
But with each of these, and for some reason, this one like a hunch
we can reach into it, swim inside, and feel it so much.
I've done nearly nothing over 40 times, except for routines
(you know, pouring a glass of water, showering, calling a rude guy mean.)
But in the realm of thing I love, there are but few
that I think about, act on, and completely follow through.
We've shot so many sessions that they're their own new routine,
jamming them in on the days weekdays lie between,
but after this one, with its childhood infusions and shouts to Marty McFly,
well, shit like this just gets us high.
So take a listen to three songs you'll be enjoying like a seamless flow,
and let You Wont give you a spectacular, stunning show:

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Even if you haven't heard Matthew's music, there's something to grasp onto from just looking at him. No shoes necessary, perfectly on-point blue jeans, a sleep-ready henley, a haircut that's more Men's Vogue than musician and a handle on an instrument most typically used in folksy-throwback bands on Mercury Lounge's stage. Multidimensional in the finest of senses, it's tough to figure out what this guy's all about on the surface. And, as one of the kindest people we've ever met and deepest artists we've ever worked with, his music has a particular uncommonness that keeps us coming back for more.

Which, if your extend of knowledge about him still brims at the photos above, should change now. Now-now. Now-now-now-now-now. There are few people in this world who can master a spot-on Ginuwine cover or write a song called "Luminescent Braid" that's actually a chunk of musical poetry, and I'm confident in saying that Matthew might be the only name in that sliver between circles in the venn diagram of aforementioned skills. We're told he'll be bringing his weekly Washington D.C.-based Family Hemerlein showcases our way this year, and you can bet your butts we'll be urging the lot of you to come along with us. He may be far away for now, but soon, he'll be ours once again.

 

Couch Session #40: Tan Vampires

We just rarely find a band that sparks,
that certain song that lights an empty room left dark.
But with Tan Vampires, it was akin to a needle in hay,
that led us to their brilliant record all the way.
We're not religious, we don't believe in some things,
save for evolution, and perhaps birds and the bees,
but we wait and we wait while trying to find the right bands,
looking for that fit that's no less than iron clad,
and with these guys, we knew. It's that visceral tick,
the moment when everything seems to just click,
and even though we knew we were in love from the start,
it's their live performance that makes this stuff true art.
Jake's voice is undeniably special, just give it an ear —
he's the type whose shower singing will be the best thing you've heard all year.
Toy keyboards, accordions, a sack full of small cups —
even their instruments were a sign that we were in luck.
With dittys that share a border between heartfelt and sweet,
some sad, some reflective, but altogether a treat,
there were simply too many songs to capture, we got overwhelmed,
trying to pick a favorite was a decision we'd prefer not to helm.
So we recorded a bunch, and took the best out for you.
Here they are, Tan Vampires, a band it's time you knew:

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website

ARMS - Summer Skills

The Antlers - Burst Apart

Yellow Ostrich - The Mistress

Wye Oak - Civilian

Hooray for Earth - True Loves

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Wilco - The Whole Love

Milagres - Glowing Mouth

Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See

Phantogram - Nightlife EP

Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

Boy & Bear - Moonfire

Foster The People - Torches

Kanye West and Jay-Z - Watch The Throne

Adele - 21

tUnE-YarDs - whokill

Drake - Take Care

We leave you with one last thing, our Spotify playlist of some of our favorite tracks from the year.

Big Ugly Yellow Couch 2011 Favorites

See you in 2012,

Donald and Carlye