Category: pick your poison Page 102 of 141

Okay, let’s do our usual thing on Wednesdays and talk about a couple upcoming shows happening in Chicago soon. The first I’d like to get to today is The Dig, who will be playing at The Tonic Room next Friday, October 12th. By the way, if you’ve never been to The Tonic Room, let me say that it’s one of the cooler small venues in town. Great place to see a show. But as for The Dig, they’ve been making a name for themselves these last few years, playing shows around the country with bands like The Walkmen and The Antlers. Their 2010 debut album Electric Toys earned them early respect, but their new album Midnight Flowers really brought them into their own. Stream the whole record here. They’ve got just the right mixture a good modern indie rock band should have these days, from guitars to synths and strong vocal harmonies. The energy is there too, which the band channels into their dynamic live performances. Don’t miss seeing them if you’ve got the chance. Tickets are $10 for this 21+ show and are available for purchase here.

Next up, if you enjoy a good piano rock band now and then (who doesn’t?), you might want to be aware of the Jacob Jefferies Band. While the piano does play a big part in their sound, guitars play a large role too, hence the descriptors of both piano and rock. Think of them sort of like if Ben Folds had a musical baby with Tom Petty. Their latest single “Suffocate My Heart” earned them Buzzworthy status at MTV, which between you and me doesn’t mean that much these days, but any praise is a good thing. They have a tendency to be poppy and fun, which makes it seem like only a matter of time before they’ll be playing large venues and have multiple songs on the radio. Until they get there though, they’ve got a show at the Elbo Room on Thursday, October 11th. It starts at 8pm, is a 21+ show, and you can get tickets here.

Okay, now it’s onto today’s Pick Your Poison. Great set of tunes today to help you get over the hump that is mid-week. Don’t miss tracks from A.C. Newman (ft. Neko Case), Brainstorm, Ceremony, Mardeen, Steffaloo and WRITER’s cover of Santigold.

A.C. Newman – Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns (ft. Neko Case)

Andre Williams – But’n

Atlas Genius – Symptoms (Wild Cub Remix)

Brainstorm – Maybe a Memory

Ceremony – Everything Burns

City Brat – Savage Friends

Dishes – DAMP

Fenster – Oh Canyon (Slow Steve Remix)

Honey Mustard – Talk

Mardeen – Oh Dad

Silent Redemption – Chariots of Fire

Steffaloo – Would You Stay

Telephoned – Last Time (Krystal Klear Remix)

WRITER – Disparate Youth (Santigold cover)

Zhu – Solteria

SOUNDCLOUD

Daft Punk – Superheroes (Solidisco Remix)

Deaf Club – Break It Slow

DZ Deathrays – Dollar Chills (Cadence Weapon Remix)

Gypsy and the Cat – Sorry

Nu Sensae – Sleeping Blouse

Rhye – The Fall

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s new album release day. I’m pleased to bring you a list of artists that have new stuff out this week, so feel free to check some of these out if you’re so inclined: Balmorhea, Beth Orton, Dark Dark Dark, ERAAS, Flying Lotus, Frank Turner, How to Dress Well, Immigrant Union, John Cale, Joseph Arthur, Lightning Bolt, Maserati, Matt and Kim, Moon Duo, The Mountain Goats, Muse, Sun Airway, Taken By Trees, Tift Merritt, Tilly and the Wall, Tori Amos, Ultraista, The Vaccines and Why? I’m not going to say what I recommend out of that bunch, but there are definitely a few gems in that pile. There are also a few gems in this pile of mp3s below, all part of today’s Pick Your Poison. Don’t miss downloading tracks from Damon Moon and the Whispering Drifters, Elliott BROOD (covering David Bowie), JAN, Kuky Tala, Lord HUron, Prince Rama and T.H. White. RAC’s remix of Mayer Hawthorne is pretty good too. In the Soundcloud section I’ll advise streaming tracks from The Joy Formidable, Lust for Youth, Madrid and WIN WIN.

Adian Coker – Airs & Graces

Alexx Foxx – Giving You Up

Beacon – Feeling’s Gone (Fort Romeau’s Shibuya Edit)

Damon Moon and the Whispering Drifters – We Make Our Own Traditions, Homesick Blues

D.O.E. C.I.G.A.P.O.M. – Summertime Stroll

Elliott BROOD – Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie cover)

Ikil Oriion – Stup!d Retarded

JAN – How to Beast

Kuky Tala – Turi

Lord Huron – The Stranger

Los Jardines de Bruselas – On the Moon (Together)

Maus Haus – No More Girls

Mayer Hawthorne – No Strings (RAC Remix)

Mock & Toof – Sleeper

My Radio – Life is a Bitch Slap

Neonfaith – Mercury

Prince Rama – Those Who Live for Love Will Live Forever

T.H. White – Scene & Modify

The Tom Fun Orchestra – Animal Mask

Two for Flying – WTF

Yuzima – Vote for Obama, Yeah

SOUNDCLOUD

The Joy Formidable – This Ladder Is Ours

LexiconDon – City Lies

Lips – We Don’t Have Much Time

Lust for Youth – Behind Curtains

Madrid – Sad Song

WIN WIN – After the Wait

What a start to the week! I don’t know about you, but I’m not the biggest fan of Mondays. Today though, was pretty spectacular music-wise. First, Death Grips got into a fight with their label, Epic Records. See, they promised their fans they’d be releasing two records this year. The first was The Money Store, which came out in April. They completed their second record, “No Love Deep Web” a few days ago, and it was slated for an October 23rd release. Epic backed out of that release date though, and told the group they’d now like to release it “sometime in 2013.” Well, one of the things you probably shouldn’t do is piss off guys that call themselves Death Grips. In a series of angry tweets last night, they said they were just going to put the record up on their website starting at midnight PST on October 1st (today). As they said, the label people will be hearing the album at the same time as everyone else. Well, not only did it go up on the site for streaming, it was up for free download too. Of course since then their site has crashed and will probably take a few days to repair. In the meantime though, feel free to stream/download No Love Deep Web from Soundcloud, or just download the whole thing via Mediafire or DepositFiles. Nobody’s trying to stop them from giving it away, at least not yet. Once that genie is out of the bottle, there’s not really any way to put it back in anyways. The cover art, by the way, features the album title written in marker on an erect penis. I’m not going to link to that, and if you want to find it, do a search for it. So yeah, a new Death Grips album (which may or may not be your thing) being given away for free is great and worth it, in my opinion. Also great news: Godspeed You! Black Emperor have announced they will be releasing their first record of new material since 2002. Not only that, but it’ll be available for purchase in two weeks (Oct. 16th). The title of the new album is ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!. If you’re a fan of the post-rock collective, then start getting excited now. For more information on that, and to preorder, simply go here. Okay, now let’s do today’s Pick Your Poison. Don’t miss tracks from Beaten By Them, Broke For Free, Guards, Jemez Mountain Hawkz, Marine Electric and Peace. The Canyons Wooly Mammoth Remix of Tame Impala is worth a download too. In the Soundcloud section, stream new and interesting stuff from Example, Star Slinger, Teen Daze and Tennis (covering Television).

Beaten By Them – Jet Age

Broke For Free – The Gold Lining

Deison – Room 4

Dolfish – Grown Ups

Dream Boat – Sea to Sky

Frank Rabeyrolles – Listening to Tago Mago (Franklin Edit)

The Growl – With the Sharp End of a Trowel

Guards – Silver Lining

How to Dress Well – Cold Nites (Pete Swanson Remix)

Jaggery – Hostage Heart

Jemez Mountain Hawkz – California Sound

Kim Fai – Good Life (Paul Thomas Remix)

Legendary Wings – Paper Roses

Marine Electric – Murder Mile

Peace – Tattoo

Souldrop – Turn Back Time

Steffaloo – Would You Stay

Tame Impala – Elephant (Canyons Wooly Mammoth Remix)

Tony Resta – Into the Future

Trapped Mice – Mona Lisa

SOUNDCLOUD

Example – Close Enemies

Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch – Etimasia

Paul Buchanan – Wedding Party

Star Slinger – Ladies In The Back (Feat. Teki Latex)

Teen Daze – Spirit

Tennis – Guiding Light (Television Cover)

Happy Friday! Remember when that Rebecca Black song was popular because of how excruciatingly bad it was? I despised those that took the song seriously and used it as their theme song for days like today. These days we’ve got a far better option to get us pumped for the weekend. It’s far better, and best appreciated in video form, though only listening to the audio provides some inspiration if only because you recall the images and dancing while doing so. But this trend too shall pass. I’m reveling in the moment though, and am starting to wonder if there is a quintessential song that we can call the all-time weekend-starter. Like, if you had to pick a single song to listen to on Friday afternoon for the rest of your life, what would that song be? I don’t know if I could make that sort of commitment, though if I did it’d probably have to be something classic I’ve loved for years and wouldn’t ever get tired of. It’s a tough choice. Chew on that while you’re relaxing in front of the TV or something this weekend. In the meantime, please enjoy these fresh from the harvest mp3s in today’s Pick Your Poison. Highlights include tracks from Autumn Owls, Crystal Castles, Cultfever, dEUS, Dracula Lewis, The Glitch Mob, Midnight Magic, Naytronix, and Parade of Lights. In the Soundcloud section please keep an eye on streams from The 1975, Dinosaur Jr, Milano Sun and PAWS. Have a great weekend!

Alex Vans – Chase the Night

Army of Freshmen – America, You’re Breaking My Heart

Autumn Owls – Patterns

Cave Painting – So Calm (Vondelpark Remix)

Crystal Castles – Wrath of God

Cultfever – Strangenecks

dEUS – Ghosts

Dracula Lewis – Permafrost

Electric Empire – Changin’

The Glitch Mob – We Can Make the World Stop

Kodaline – All I Want (Everything Everything Remix)

Marian Call – Highway Five

Matt Bauer – Tonight We Get to Sing Our Songs

Midnight Magic – Diamonds

Naytronix – In the Summer

Parade of Lights – Just Give It Up

Red Clover Ghost – Cowboy Killer (Days Fade Away)

TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb – Eyewitness On the Run

Tumble 4 Ya – Like Me

Two Door Cinema Club – Sleep Alone (The Golden Pony Remix)

SOUNDCLOUD

The 1975 – Sex

Bastille – Free Love (Original Mix)

Dinosaur Jr – Pierce The Morning Rain

Hammock – (Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die

Milano Sun – If You Go Home Alone

PAWS – Sore Tummy

I am what you would call a Beach Boys fan. The reason I word it that way is because I’m a bit selective in my fandom of the band. If you want to talk about Pet Sounds or Surfin’ USAr or even a greatest hits record, I’m on board. Most of the other stuff I could care less about, save for a handful of songs. I respect their legacy, but don’t really like some of the inter-band drama they’ve had over the years. To me, Brian Wilson’s return to the Beach Boys in the last couple years was a bit of a triumph, especially after his personal difficulties. For much of 2012, the band has been celebrating their 50th anniversary by reissuing some of their classic albums, recording a new one and touring around the world. I happened to see them when the tour came through Chicago last May, and it was a great time. They played all the hits, and to see all the remaining members together on stage was a genuine treat. Unfortunately all is not well with the Beach Boys. Mike Love, who owns the Beach Boys name, announced a couple days ago that following the band’s final UK tour dates coming up he was kicking Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks to the curb. Basically Love said he only got everyone back together to make a ton of money surrounding the 50th anniversary of the band, and now that they’re done with that he doesn’t want them around anymore. On the other end, Wilson said in an interview that he, Jardine and Marks had so much fun during this tour and can’t understand why Love wants them gone. Jardine has backed an online petition to try and keep the original Beach Boys intact. What’s ironic to me is that a guy with the last name Love could be so heartless. I’m just glad I got to see them together before this whole thing blew up. I wish them all the best and hope they can find a way to settle any differences there might be. Okay, let’s talk Pick Your Poison for today. Recommended tracks come from Cardio, Dazzletine, Immigrant Union, KOPPS, Night Moves, Paper Diamond and Undesirable People. In the Soundcloud section don’t miss streaming songs from Andrew Bird, The Weeknd and Woods.

Birds & Batteries – I Want You (DOOMbird Remix)

Calvin Love – Magic Hearts

Cardio – My Old$chool

Dazzletine – Plumage

Eleni Mandell – Bun in the Oven

Gus By Heart – Hideous Sounds

Idea the Artist – Sheep Jumping Fences

Immigrant Union – My Heart’s A Joke

Kjartan Blue – Old Woman

KOPPS – Digitalis

NEØV – Windvane
NEØV – Windvane (Korallreven Remix)

Night Moves – Headlights

Paper Diamond – The 40 Thieves

Parker & the Numberman – Farmer’s Heart

Silver Medallion – Money Can’t Buy

Tusks – In the Beginning / Give It Time

Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know (E-603 Remix)

Undesirable People – Eugenics

Ungdomskulen – Facemask (Stockhaus Horse Face Remix)

Zucchini Drive – Gospel Oak (ft. Elissa P)

SOUNDCLOUD

Andrew Bird – Three White Horses

The Bet – Bourne

Champs – St. Peters

People Get Ready – Windy Cindy

The Weeknd – Sirens (Rough Mix)

Woods – Give Your Light Off

I have a certain admiration for Prince, and it’s not just because of his basketball skills. I’d like to think that almost everyone in the world has at one point or another in their lives enjoyed a Prince song. Whether it’s the millennial staple “1999” or classics like “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Little Red Corvette,” the man has a catalogue most other artists would envy. More unfortunate is that the Purple One hasn’t had a legitimate hit in over a decade. People still love the guy, even if they don’t particularly care for what he’s been doing more recently. In that respect he’s more like a David Bowie, whose last few albums were mere footnotes. Prince has gotten a bit smarter these last couple years, and instead of going around trying to record and push new material, he’s simply touring because that’s one area of his life that’s still very lucrative. People still flock to see Prince in concert, and they’ll pay high prices for it too. Over the last few months he’s been playing around with touring structures too, holding down residencies in several U.S. cities. His biggest residency so far has been in Los Angeles, where he played 21 dates over the course of a month. Now he likes to claim that every show is unique, but I find it hard to believe that you’re not going to run into some similarities when you play 21 shows in the same place. Anyways, it got me really excited when at the start of this month, Prince announced a Chicago residency. No specifics were given, except that there was one show scheduled for September 24th at the United Center. Second and third shows would later be added as well, for the two days immediately after that. Now that they’re finally here, it seems like tonight will be Prince’s last show in Chicago for the foreseeable future. So L.A. gets 21 shows, and Chicago only gets 3? Unless he’s going to announce more Chicago shows, I’m upset. Here I avoided buying tickets to those shows, figuring that with at least 5-10 shows that still might be scheduled, it’d be easier to get tickets later on. Now on this last night, I’m kicking myself. Then again, reviews for the Prince shows in Chicago haven’t exactly been stellar, with most saying his band does most of the hard work, that he barely picks up a guitar, and when he does it’s only for a minute and doesn’t include an extended solo. Also, at the first show there was a debacle involving a second encore. Fans were left waiting for 30 minutes, then the house lights came up and most left. About 15 minutes after those house lights went up, Prince came back out and played a couple more songs. Almost everybody was gone by that point. Waiting 5 minutes for an encore is excruciating, so I can only imagine what 45 minutes feels like. I haven’t checked to see if he pulled the same stunt on Night 2. We’ll see about Night 3 later. Anyways, if Prince announces any more Chicago shows, I’ll be sure to let you know, as I’ll probably be getting tickets myself. So let’s tackle today’s Pick Your Poison. Recommended tracks come from Cold Showers, Communist Daughter, Departures, One Finger Riot, Sons of the West and Triad God. In the Soundcloud section, stream Passion Pit’s remix of Crystal Fighters, The Knocks remixing Two Door Cinema Club, and a brand new Tegan and Sara single.

The Amends – It’d Be Nice

Angels Heart – Under the Black Light

Cold Showers – Violent Cries

Communist Daughter – Ghosts

Crystal Shipsss – Burning Kingdom (Universal Fight Mix)

Decomposure – Black Snow

Departures – Pillars

Echoes de Luxe – Hold On
Echoes de Luxe – Don’t Change

Freelance Whales – Spitting Image (Little Daylight Remix)

Free Swim – Chumps Like Smee

hitRECord – Electric Loss

LI-ON GREVIER – Genevieu

Master Shortie ft. The Cataracts & Leaf – Thank You

Miike Snow – Pretender (Dem Slackers Remix)

Milk3y Microphone – Know You Love Me

The Ocean Floor – Big Screen TV

One Finger Riot – Miles

Privet – Don’t Chew With Your Mouth Full

Scott & Charlene’s Wedding – Footscray Station

Sons of the West – Call You Home

Triad God – Remand

SOUNDCLOUD

Crystal Fighters – At Home (Passion Pit Remix)

Johnny And The Giros – I Don’t Need A Lover

Neneh Cherry & The Thing – What Reason Could I Give (Kim Hiorthoy remix)

NZCA/Lines – Airlock

Tegan and Sara – Closer

Two Door Cinema Club – Sleep Alone (The Knocks Remix)

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for me to run down the list of artists releasing new material this week. Be on the look out for fresh music from Ben Sollee, Bettye LaVette, Chris Cohen, deadmau5, Dragonette, Dum Dum Girls, Efterklang, Green Day, Hauschka, Jason Collett, John Zorn, Joseph Arthur, The Killers, Lavender Diamond, Levek, The M’s, Machine Birds, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Mumford & Sons, Murder By Death, No Doubt, Patrick Wolf, Ringo Deathstarr, The Soft Pack, Talib Kweli, Unnatural Helpers, and Yoko Ono with Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore. There’s some interesting stuff in there, just as there’s some interesting stuff below in today’s edition of Pick Your Poison. Don’t miss tracks from Crime and the City Solution, Eight Belles, Cadence Weapon’s remix of Liars, Maybeshewill, Sea of Bees, Tweak Bird and Your Youth. In the Soundcloud section, stream some good stuff like Lissvik’s remix of a great new Chad Valley track (ft. Glasser), along with something from Clubfeet.

Alexis – Goldstar

Crime and the City Solution – I Have the Gun

Diva – Inverted Image

Eight Belles – Nolchi

Escort – Starlight (RAC Remix)

G-Eazy – Plastic Dreams (ft. Johanna Fay)

Liars – Brats (Cadence Weapon Remix)

Maybeshewill – Red Paper Lanterns

Olivia Broadfield – You’re Not Mine

Pony Boy – Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings (Father John Misty cover)

Radiohead – Creep (Bomb Coltrane Remix)

RTB2 – God Will Be the One to Blame

Satellite Stories – Sirens

Saucy Monky – Awkward

Sea of Bees – Gone (Live in London)

Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child (Landis Remix)

Tweak Bird – People

Why? – Strawberries

Wild Smiles – Sweet Sixteen

Your Youth – Thick Gold (Bodied)

SOUNDCLOUD

Arto Vaun – Heart Wrapped In Cellophane

Chad Valley ft. Glasser – Fall 4 U (Lissvik Remix)

Cheval Sombre – Red Moon

Clubfeet – Heartbreak (feat. Chela)

The Ramona Flowers – Dismantle and Rebuild

Talk Normal – Cover

With mere days until the release of their new album Uno!, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong entered rehab over the weekend to take care of his substance abuse problems. Did you know he had substance abuse problems? Apparently a lot of people weren’t aware until this past Friday, when the band played a show at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas and he freaked out on stage. As the story and video attest, Armstrong got extremely upset when festival organizers apparently told him the band had one minute to wrap up their set. This was after they started 30 minutes late because an artist or two before them played for too long. “You’re kidding me. I’m not fucking Justin Bieber, you motherfuckers,” he said. “Let me show you what one fucking minute means.” At that point, both he and bassist Mike Dirnt then smashed their guitars and walked off the stage. After the incident, the band released a statement saying they apologize if anyone was offended by what happened at the fest and that their set was not cut short. Anyways, that happened Friday and Armstrong entered rehab on Sunday. A number of their promotional appearances in support of the new album have been postponed for the time being while he gets the help he needs. Armstrong was also hospitalized earlier this month and the band had to cancel a show in Italy because he was reportedly suffering from “severe dehydration.” You’ve got to wonder whether or not that was true in light of what’s happened. As a Green Day fan since their early days, I’d like to wish Armstrong the best and a swift recovery. Hopefully the trio of records they’re putting out over the next few months turn out okay too, rather than sounding like some drug-addled mess. Okay, let’s get to this Monday edition of Pick Your Poison. Please enjoy downloads from AbdeCaf, Amen Dunes, Analog Players Society, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Mac DeMarco, One Finger Riot, A Shoreline Dream and Windsor Drive. Stars remixing Diamond Rings and vice versa are both pretty good as well. In the Soundcloud section, don’t miss streaming tracks from Bat for Lashes, Earlimart and The Sea and Cake.

AbdeCaf – Never Know

Amen Dunes – Sixteen (Demo)

Analog Players Society – Hurricane Season in Brooklyn

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Suburban Space Invader

The Cairo Gang – Now You Are One of Us

Clickbones – Too Lumbering to Sleep

Diamond Rings – Runaway Love (Stars Remix)

Finn Riggins – Benchwarmers (Mwahaha Remix)

Grape Soda – Obvious Signs

KOPPS – Mourning Sex (ft. Joywave)

Little People – Aldgate Patterns

Lysv – Kill Me Deadly

Mac DeMarco – Freaking Out the Neighborhood

One Finger Riot – Miles

Paperfangs – Everyday (Buddy Holly cover)

REY – Natural

A Shoreline Dream – 103

Stars – Theory of Relativity (Diamond Rings Remix)

TRAILS AND WAYS – Midnight City (M83 cover)

VIMES – UpStairs

Windsor Drive – Sleepwalking

SOUNDCLOUD

All Eyes – Lost You Once

Bat For Lashes – All Your Gold

Cuckoo Chaos – Super Skeleton

Earlimart – 10 Years

FISHING – Choy Lin

The Sea and Cake – A Mere (Demo)

There are about 5,245 jokes that can be made from the fact that Fiona Apple was arrested earlier this week in Texas after a border patrol stop complete with drug sniffing dogs discovered 0.1 pound of hash and 0.1 pound of marijuana stowed in a backpack on her tour bus. Apple admitted that the drugs were hers, and she was taken to Hudspeth County jail where she was later released after posting $10,000 bond. If you’re going to crack a joke using any aspect of her song “Criminal,” this is your cue to do so. They’re easy jokes to make, really. What she really needs is a good defense (see what I mean?). Anyways, I want to take a moment to wish Fiona nothing but the best, which she clearly wasn’t getting if she resorted to smoking hash. I woke up yesterday morning (when the news of her arrest broke) with her song “Anything We Want” inexplicably in my head. Sadly, it seems she was not able to live out the lyrics of the song, because she wouldn’t have been arrested otherwise. If I were a member of that police force, I would have let her go. It’s also probably why I’m not a police officer. But that’s another story for another day. Let’s get to this weekend-starting edition of Pick Your Poison. Highlights today include tracks from Ball of Flame Shoot Fire, The Bloody Angle, Delay Trees, Lucius, Silent Rider, Stillwater Giants and Vices. In the Soundcloud section, stream good songs from Candy Claws and Josephine Foster. Have a great weekend!

Ball of Flame Shoot Fire – Buddy

Benbrick – They All Say

Ben Labat and the Happy Devil – Revival

The Bloody Angle – The Bloody Angle

Constables – Are We Still Here

Delay Trees – HML

Elephant12 – Holiday

The Invincible Summer – Runaway

Joe Doris – Halfway to Paris

Kyp Harness – Autumn Leaves

Lucius – Turn It Around

Midnight Spin – Neuroin

New Hands – Whichever Way You’ll Have It

Silent Rider – Skin

Snowblower – When My Heart Hurts

Stillwater Giants – Not Like the Others

Talibam! – All Your Money

Tony Resta – There’s No Best

Vices – Human Being

Visitor – Coming Home (Vanguard Remix)

SOUNDCLOUD

Candy Claws – Two Airships

Colin Munroe – Over It

Heart Of Hearts – Unbound

Josephine Foster – Blood Rushing

Post War Years – The Bell

Solidisco – Set Me Free (Original Mix)

After detailing a pair of good shows hitting Chicago this Friday night on yesterday’s edition of Pick Your Poison, I realized I forgot to tell you about one more show that’s happening in town on Saturday night. You may have heard of Marco Benevento through a number of channels, though perhaps his most famous work has been a part of the Benevento-Russo Duo. There was also the time he became part of Trey Anastasio’s backing band during the mid-00s when Phish had temporarily broken up. But his solo work has been as equally interesting as his collaborations, highlighting his main instrument the piano with a host of other bells and whistles to move in sonic directions you might not otherwise imagine. His songs have ranged from free-form jazz infusions to post-rock soundscapes and beyond. Underneath it all there’s an overwhelming pop sensibility too, which makes a new song like “Limbs of a Pine” (ft. Kalmia Traver of Rubblebucket) that much more engaging. Anyways, Benevento is touring in support of his brand new album Tigerface that came out last week. He’ll be at Martyr’s on Saturday night at 9:30pm for a 21+ show with the Mike Dillon Band. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. You can buy them online here. If you’re free on Saturday, this isn’t to be missed. Among the mp3s below not to be missed as part of today’s Pick Your Poison, let me recommend tracks from Dialogue From A Silent Film, Jim James’ remix of Floating Action, Freeze-Tag, Holmes, Machine Birds, Ruarri Joseph, The Standstill and Vitalic. In the Soundcloud section, you’d best stream every song listed because they’re all good.

Blind Architect – Cure Me Dementia

Boy Friends Club – Drip Tropical

Candy Bars – Violets

Dialogue From A Silent Film – Carbon Monoxide

Floating Action – Not What I Came For (Jim James Remix)

Frank Rabeyrolles – Listening to Tago Mago (Lockhart Remix)

Freddy Hall – Train Wreck

Freeze-Tag – Eskimo

Holmes – Caught on Fire

Khalid Quesada – Radio Silence

Machine Birds – If I

Mark Mallman – Double Silhouette

.message – Murky Pash

OLGWI – Rusty Kind of Soul

Ruarri Joseph – Anyway

Souldrop – Your Love (Unmastered)

The Standstill – Endless Winter

Stumbleine – Fade Into You (Mazzy Star cover ft. Steffaloo)

Vitalic – No More Sleep

SOUNDCLOUD

The Coathangers – Merry Go Round

Dead Can Dance – Opium

Field Mouse – How Do You Know

The Hood Internet – One For The Record Books (ft. AC Newman & Sims)

Indian Handcrafts – Terminal Horse

Levek – Girl In The Fog

Sometimes I like to feature an upcoming Chicago show or two on this site, both to keep local readers’ concert calendars updated and also to let everybody know about some great live acts in case the tour also passes through your town. Today I’m going to tell you about two shows happening in Chicago this Friday, one from some high profile artists you may have heard of and the other from a much lower profile but equally exciting act. Let’s start with the higher profile one.

The Aragon Ballroom isn’t my favorite place to see a show, nor should it be yours, but sometimes a lineup is just too good to avoid going there. Friday night’s show features Silversun Pickups, School of Seven Bells and Atlas Genius, and it’s the sort that qualifies as important and nearly essential. Silversun Pickups are touring in support of their latest album Neck of the Woods, which I liked quite a bit even if other publications felt differently. One thing a lot more people agreed on was that School of Seven Bells’ latest album Ghostory is very good and well constructed, even as they suffered the exit of Claudia Deheza, who made some incredible harmonies with her sister Alejandra. Having seen both of these bands perform live before, I can attest that they both put on great shows worth seeing. The wild card on this bill is Atlas Genius, who after releasing their debut EP Through the Glass earlier this summer have quicky become a buzzed about, hypeworthy band. Have you heard their song “Trojans” yet? It’s remarkably catchy, as are “Back Seat” and Symptoms“. You’re definitely going to want to arrive right when the show starts at 7 to see them perform. It’s an all ages show, tickets are $32 and available for purchase here, or possibly at the door.

For something completely different on Friday night, and hypothetically you could go to this once the Silversun Pickups show lets out, UK avant-electro composer Max Cooper will be headlining a show at Vision Lair. The guy is really talented, especially when you look at how he “Reconstructs” Michael Nyman’s “Secrets” or remixes Hot Chip’s “I Feel Better“. His current 10-date U.S. tour is in support of his forthcoming Conditions EP, which features a collaboration with the art rock band Braids. Needless to say, it’s fascinating stuff. I’m sure Cooper doesn’t put on a typical live show either, or at least not the sort of one you’d expect from today’s electronica artists. Given that it goes from 10pm-4am, this is a 21+ show. Tickets will be $15 at the door, which is relatively inexpensive when you look at a lot of other club shows in and around Chicago on weekends. If you’d like additional info, here’s a link where you can find out more.

Okay, now let’s tackle this Wednesday edition of Pick Your Poison. Recommended tracks today come from Black Forest Fire, Drug Cabin, Ending People, Heems, Midtown Dickens, Rosie Flores, The Soft Moon and Xiu Xiu. The Soundcloud section is thick with good songs available for streaming, including 2:54 covering Seal & Adamski, SURES, Teen Daze (ft. Frankie Rose), and Liars remixing The Twilight Sad.

Alexx Foxx & Ninetynine – Together

Black Forest Fire – Live News Feed

CIRC – Girls Thoughts

Drug Cabin – Whatever Never

Dying Machines – Await You

Ending People – Beat of My Heart

The Erratic Man – Back in the Day (Bless Beats Remix)

Get People – Cupid’s Curse

The Golden Pony – About A Minute (ft. T-Dome)

Heems – Let It Go (ft. Cee Gee)

Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders – Dumb Love

Midtown Dickens – Cross My Heart

Oreaganomics – All Thumbs and No Tung

Paul Avion – Self-Destroyer

Peter Doran – Julia

Rosie Flores – Working Girl’s Guitar

Simian Ghost – Wolf Girl (Slow Magic Remix)

The Soft Moon – Insides

That’s No Moon – According to Ancient Alien Theorists

Xiu Xiu – Quagga

SOUNDCLOUD

2:54 – Killer (Seal & Adamski cover)

Chaos Chaos – My Hands

SURES – The Sun

Swansea – Times Are Low

Teen Daze – Union (ft. Frankie Rose)

The Twilight Sad – NIL (Liars Remix)

As is tradition, I like to take Tuesdays to quickly list the artists releasing new material this week, in case you’re looking to buy and listen to some new music. This week is a good one and a nice start to the fall season. Be on the look out for fresh material from Aimee Mann, The Album Leaf, Ben Folds Five, Band of Horses, Brass Bed, Brother Ali, Catherine Irwin, Corin Tucker Band, Dinosaur Jr., Grizzly Bear, How to Dress Well, James Iha, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Josephine Foster, The Killers, Local H, Lymbyc Systym, Menomena, Mike Coykendoll, Natural Child, Nelly Furtado, Paul Simon, Rangda, Robert Pollard, Sic Alps, Sweet Lights, The Sea and Cake, The Whigs and Woods. Phew, that’s a lot of stuff. If something in there doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps a track or two in today’s Pick Your Poison will. Allow me to make some curation suggestions for you. Be sure to check out downloads from Agent Ribbons, Broke For Free, D A W N S, Fine Times, Firewater, Royal Canoe, Solos, Sombear, Tamarin and WRITER. In the Soundcloud section, tracks from Bassnectar (ft. Chino Moreno) and Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s cover of M83 are both good tracks to stream.

Agent Ribbons – Family Haircut

Beast Patrol – Disbeliever

Broke For Free – Like Swimming

Caviare Days – You’ll Qualify

D A W N S – So Help Me God

Emma – Kisameen

Fine Times – Strays

Firewater – A Little Revolution

Great Deceivers – Phantom Strength

GRMLN – Stand By Me (Ben E. King cover)

Hot Freak Nation – Everything Is Everything Else
Hot Freak Nation – Sunshine From the Heart

Lucem Ferre – Nothing’s Changed

Racing Heart – Soft Voices (Live)

Royal Canoe – Show Me Your Eyes

Solos – Carpe Diem

Sombear – Incredibly Still

Tamarin – Seems A Laugh

Travis Barker ft. Yelawolf – Push ‘Em

Vadoinmessico – Pepita, Queen of the Animals (Derby Sunshine Remix)

WRITER – Hot Days

SOUNDCLOUD

Bassnectar – Hexes (ft. Chino Moreno)

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Midnight City (M83 Cover)

The Fearless Vampire Killers – Mexico

Karoline Hausted – Tiffany

The Murder Barn – In Every Sea We Drown

Nina Nesbitt – Boy

Hey, so as you may have guessed because I promised such things, I’m back from vacation. And yes, I want to make sure you know that I had only a moderately good time. I wasn’t really ever able to enjoy myself and “stop and smell the roses,” but I did do a lot of traveling through the Southern U.S. I also got to stop in one of my favorite cities in the entire world, Austin, TX, which is a good time no matter what. Anyways, I’m feeling a bit worn down and tired from all the running around I did, so I’m taking it easy today. Of course this edition of Pick Your Poison is a bit super-sized, mostly because I’m backed up on emails and have a whole lot more mp3s than usual sitting in my inbox. Normally I would have given you most of these last week. But here we are, and it’s this week. Please enjoy tracks from Barcode, Brooke Waggoner, Dance Movie, Hyper Heart, INK, Nervous Cloud, Santah, Star Slinger and Twin Cabins.

Alt-J – Something Good (Zeb Wayne Remix)

Barcode – Corporate Safe + Secure

Brooke Waggoner – Ink Slinger

Calaca Strides – Row By Row

Cuddly Shark – Body Mass Index

Dance Movie – Things Change My Dear
Dance Movie – ANAF

Die Antwoord – DIZ IZ WHY I’M HOT (Dom Dolla’s Bass Revamp)

Drew Ryan – Losing Hope (ft. Dylan Charbeneau)

Eastern Anchors – James the Viking

Eutopia – Life

Hyper Heart – Fill Me Up

INK – Ink Goes On

Khalid Hanifi – Hog Futures

Lilly Hyatt and the Dropped Ponie – Championship Fighter

Nervous Cloud – How to Get Murdered in a Made for TV Movie

Nicky Blitz – Blast Off

Santah – Indigo

Star Slinger – Take This Up

Tunde Olaniran – Brown Boy

Twin Cabins – Lake Love

Vigo Thieves – Forever

SOUNDCLOUD

Azita – It’s Understanding

Brighton MA – Touch

Civil Twilight – River (Ra Ra Riot Remix)

Fossil Collective – On & On

Nightlives – Underneath

Spring Offensive – Not Drowning But Waving

Hey, while I’m still away for the week, please enjoy this Pick Your Poison post in my stead. Unless I find some wifi, and have some serious time to do some work, this will be the last post on the site this week. Regular posting will resume on Monday, Sept. 17th. With any luck though, I will find wifi and things will continue uninterrupted. For now, please enjoy these mp3s from BRAINSTORM, City Brat, KOPPS, Lyke Giants, Picture Book, Turtle Giant, Ungdumskulen and Warning Light. In the Soundcloud section stream new stuff from Band of Horses and Mist Glider.

BRAINSTORM – Flat Earth

City Brat – Yeah It’s There

Dominic Lord – Pierce (Remix ft. Pusha T and Grimes)

Fort Fairfield – Danziger Straße

Jez Dior – Candles

KOPPS – Bastard Baby

Lyke Giants – The Reins

Makoto – 73 (Dynamic Remix)

Paris Jones – Everywhere I Go (ft. J. Valle)

Picture Book – In My Head

Turtle Giant – Germany I & II)

Ungdumskulen – Facemask

Vinca Minor – The Time of You

Warning Light – Exile of the Coast

SOUNDCLOUD

Band of Horses – Slow Cruel Hands Of Time

Disclosure – Latch (ft. Sam Smith)

Hidden Orchestra – Vorka

Kevin Daniels – Crazy Kind of Life

Lapalux – The Hours

Mist Glider – Chapter 14

Hello, if you’re reading this, it means I’ve gone on “vacation” for a week. The word “vacation” is in quotes, because I’m not relaxing on a beach somewhere sipping a margarita and generally enjoying life. No, I’m traveling the back roads of the United States, searching for…let’s just say something. Anyways, I’ll be back in a few days. In my stead, I have a couple Pick Your Poison posts, plus an album review. Look for those to show up throughout the week. If during my time away I find a spot with wifi, I’ll be able to answer emails and maybe even write up a few more posts for you to read, enjoy and download from. I can’t be certain that will happen, but if it does, it’ll show up on the main page of the site. Regular site business resumes on Sept. 17, 2012. Until then, please enjoy this Pick Your Poison. Highlights include tracks from Carolyn Mark, Catherine Irwin, Freddie Gibbs, Jackie Scott, Marissa Nadler (covering Fleetwood Mac), Paul Stewart, and Teitur. In the Soundcloud section, you can stream good stuff from Gentleman Reg, I Am Oak, Maserati and Patrick Wolf (covering Lana Del Rey).

Alt-J – Fitzpleasure (jim james apple C remix)

Carolyn Mark – Not Like the Movies

Catherine Irwin – Save Our Ship

Flutes – Auld Archie

Freddie Gibbs – The Hard (ft. Dana Williams)

Ian Place – Pitter Patter (Original Mix)

Jackie Scott – Don’t Mess With Me

Karlie Bruce – The Tulip

Marissa Nadler – Save Me a Place (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Mirel Wagner – No Death

Paul Stewart – Outpatient

Teitur – Jailhouse Gumbo Jones

Thomas Azier – Red Eyes

TKTTSM – Plastic Fantastic

Vinyl Williams – Harmonious Change

You’ll Never Get to Heaven – Drowning Out

SOUNDCLOUD

Elliott Brood – Graveyard (Feist cover)

Gentleman Reg – Make It Better

I Am Oak – Reins

Maserati – Earth-Like

Patrick Wolf – Born To Die (Lana Del Rey cover)

Solidisco – One More Chance (Original Mix)