Friday, March 12th, 2010
Happy Birthday to me.
Nothing today. Just awesomeness.
Have a nice Friday.
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[mp3] Jonah Matranga – Birthday (Sugarcubes Cover) from Songs I Hope My Mom Will Like (1999)
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
You may notice a few differences between this list and the album list. I don’t feel I need to justify that due to the distinct difference between a song and a full album. These are the songs that I still listen to on repeat; they made me laugh, tear up, dance, think, and morph my own tastes into what they are today. So here in no particular order is my Favorite Songs of the Decade. Picking a favorite song is like picking a favorite child, it changes depending on your mood…
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Monday, January 4th, 2010
It’s been a while since 2006 and it’s about time Jimmy LaValle got back on the horse and started making music again. After hearing some of the new tunes at the Bottom of the Hill show last year, I was already excited to hear what else he had to provide. Luckily while I was on vacation, he released Falling From The Sun, an echoing and minimalistic vocal track with a bit more harmony than most Album Leaf tracks. This is a nice way to progress for an already gifted musician.
The new album, A Chorus Of Storytellers, will be available on the 2nd of February 2010 on CD, 2x LP, and digital download.
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[mp3] The Album Leaf – Falling From The Sun from A Chorus Of Storytellers (2010)
Jonah Matranga and Kevin Seconds recently released a split 7 inch vinyl through Canada’s Blacktop Records on Tuesday, December 22 2009. The vinyl features four brand new previously unreleased songs including Jonah Matranga’s I’ve Always Wanted To Write A Song Commanding People To (Dance!), a goofy dance tune not unlike Jonah’s tendency to get groovy and silly at the same time, the subtle and sweet Daylight by Matranga, Kevin Seconds’ rolling road tune Grip Yr Own and the harmonic and idiosyncratic Life Unknown by Seconds. The limited pressing of 1000 hand-numbered copies are available to purchase in Canada at all records shops through FAB Distribution. It will also be available online at various online outlets including the official Blacktop Records webstore at blacktoprecords.ca and interpunk.com.
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[mp3] Jonah Matranga – I’ve Always Wanted To Write A Song Commanding People To Dance! from Jonah Matranga/Kevin Seconds Split 7 (2009)
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[mp3] Kevin Seconds – Life Unknown from Jonah Matranga/Kevin Seconds Split 7 (2009)
Another February 2nd release to talk about is Midlake’s forthcoming album, The Courage of Others. To hype this release up, they have released two excellent tracks to tide you over until next month, Rulers Ruling All Things and Acts of Man. To top this Midlake-cake of awesome, the band will return to San Francisco on the 4th of March to the Great American Music Hall. Tickets here.
TRACK LISTING
* Acts of Man
* Winter Dies
* Small Mountain
* Core of Nature
* Fortune
* Rulers, Ruling All Things
* Children of the Grounds
* Bring Down
* The Horn
* The Courage of Others
* In The Ground
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[mp3] Midlake - Rulers Ruling All Things from The Courage Of Others (2010)
Friday, September 4th, 2009
He’s at it again. Lead vocalist of prolific rock band Far and all around genuine singer songwriter Jonah Matranga has digitally released a collection of unique covers from over the years. With the almost sensitive hip-hop version of Weezer’s Say It Ain’t So to to the delightfully sweet version of Jawbreaker’s Chesterfield King, this nice little package of covers delivers. Jonah does what I believe artists gutsy enough to pull off a cover should do, he re-interprets the song and makes it to his liking. Even at times enhancing the original message of the song, for instance, Johnny Cash’s I Still Miss Someone sounds like it’s reached another level of loneliness and inner isolation. I’m not saying any of these are better than the originals, but I am saying these songs do right by them.
You can purchase Random Covers, Vol.1 for $5 or less (sliding scale) here.
Random Covers, Vol.1 Track List:
Say It Ain’t So (Weezer)
These Days (Nico/Jackson Browne)
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding)
How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees)
Chesterfield King (Jawbreaker)
A Kiss To Build A Dream On (Louis Armstrong)
You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You (Dean Martin)
Heart Of Darkness (Sparklehorse)
I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash)
Irreplaceable (Beyoncé)
The National Anthem
Jonah Matranga – 
That’s How Strong My Love Is (Otis Redding) from Random Covers, Vol.1 (2009)
Jonah Matranga – Say It Ain’t So (Weezer) from Random Covers, Vol.1 (2009)
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Photo: Stefan Simikich
I know some folks don’t think much of me
Some of it, I don’t get
Some of it I can see
They think I’m nuts, they might be right
I’m in bed, I’m in love, I’m in a fight
It’s a strange way to be seen
Pushing, pulling, running, still
Daylight, daylight, daylight, daylight
Please be coming soon
Daylight, daylight, daylight, daylight
Please be coming soon
There’s a place in Northeast Michigan
A bunch of people moved out there
Making homes and building friends
Maybe I could go there too and I’d be born again
In Northeast Michigan
Jonah Matranga – Daylight (2009)
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
It’s Cinco de Mayo week, so put on that sombrero and grab that Corona (or Bud Light Lime if you’re a fucking idiot) and see some awesome Bay Area shows. Today you’re got chick magnet Ben Lee at Slim’s and the Campaign For Musical Destruction Tour with Kataklysm and Napalm Death tear through The Grand Ballroom tonight. Monday only has post hardcore outfit Polar Bear Club at Thee Parkside.
As for Tuesday, I’ll be at the Damien Jurado and Laura Gibson show at the Bottom of the Hill, Abe Vigoda will be at the UCD Coffeehouse in Sacramento, Jonah Matranga will make you smile at the Hotel Utah, and Murs and Tech 9 will perform at The Avalon Night Club in Santa Clara.
Still promoting their sing-along/clap-along album Xoxo Panda & the New Kid Revival, Her Space Holiday swing by the Bottom of the Hill on Wednesday with Boy in Static and City Light to spread the sugarcoated indie pop love. Iron & Wine will be doing his two sold out shows at the Swedish American Hall on Wednesday and Thursday and Cold War Kids play the Fillmore on Thursday as well.
Friday, Destroyer and AZITA rock out at Café du Nord, fresh off their recent dredg tour, From Monument to Masses play the Nickel City Arcade in San Jose. And finally, The Shins will be at the The Fox Theater on Saturday.
Hope to see you at the Damien Jurado show. After seeing him play with Jeremy Enigk last year, I’ve been hooked. Fellow Bay Area based music blog, ipickmynose did a great write up on his music and the evolution of an honest folk-pop singer-songwriter. Check it out.
Damien Jurado – Texas to Ohio
Her Space Holiday – The Boys and Girls
Polar Bear Club – Hollow Place
From Monument to Masses – The First Five
Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
