It could be completely inappropriate to toss Spoon in the “throwback” category because they were a huge game changer on the indie front and as far as I’m concerned, they are timeless. They are an absolute essential; I still find a way to sneak a Spoon song onto most CDs I make even now. Truth be told, I’ll probably raise my kids on their music. Seven really strong albums, I find it pretty difficult to argue with anything they’ve released. Their 1998 release “A Series of Sneaks” makes its way onto our throwback post today because somehow this album, in my opinion, managed to go by relatively unnoticed, which is odd to me because it is genius. It shouldn’t have been so easy to overlook or to forget about. Regardless of where this album stands in your heart or if you’ve even heard of it all, it is one that should be recalled. Here’s to old memories and new ones and everything in between.

The Minor Tough
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/02%20The%20Minor%20Tough.mp3]
Reservations
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/04%20Reservations.mp3]
No You’re Not
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/12%20No%20You%27re%20Not.mp3]
Advance Cassette
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/14%20Advance%20Cassette.mp3]
The Agony of Laffitte
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/16%20The%20Agony%20Of%20Laffitte.mp3]

Xtra Throbax

You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/03%20You%20Got%20Yr.%20Cherry%20Bomb.mp3]
Eddie’s Ragga
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/spooon/06%20Eddie%27s%20Ragga.mp3]

I would have dreams about Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane making music together and those dreams finally came true in the form of S.I.A.S. b-side “Little Illusion Machine” for which Sr.Kane provided the vocals. This is one of two songs that Arctics have released under the moniker “Death Ramps” which is pretty much just the band’s edgier alter-ego. This song is everything you’d have expected from a Miles Kane and Arctic Monkeys colab. It meets somewhere between “Rearrange” and “Don’t Sit Down (Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair)” with elements of “You and I.” It is something beautiful.
P.S. Download “Electricity,” Arctic Monkey’s last song from the Suck It and See era. Ergo, the last song they release before their next album (which is on the way woo-hoo). So much Helders. So much O’Malley. So many good things.

Arctic Monkeys – Electricity
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/DEATH%20RAMPS%20/Electricity.mp3]

Wildcat! Wildcat! is three of Los Angeles’ own brewing some fresh synthtastic indie jamz. They’ve only released two songs thus far but I’m sure once they release an EP or a full length they’ll make it pretty big in the indie scene. I’ve got them on my radar and you should too.

Wildcat! Wildcat! – End Of The World Everyday by Wildcat! Wildcat!

Wildcat! Wildcat! – Mr. Quiche by Wildcat! Wildcat!

Youth Lagoon has become a staple in my iTunes since his debut album The Year of Hibernation was released last year. This Daytrotter session has every right to be in your library as well. It’s fuggin good and he’s one talented dude.

Afternoon (Daytrotter Session)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/Youth%20Lagoon/02%20Afternoon.mp3]
Montana (Daytrotter Session)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/Youth%20Lagoon/03%20Montana.mp3]
Ghost To Me (Daytrotter Session)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/Youth%20Lagoon/04%20Ghost%20To%20Me.mp3]

Here’s some Monday morning juice to get your week started off on the right foot. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are essentials in my library and they recently released a track, “Victory Lap.” It’s packed to the brim with positivity and energy, charting Macklemore’s career from when he started at 17 to where he is now. He recently announced that he is working on a new album. I’m stoked.

Macklemore – Victory Lap
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/macklemore/23%20Victory%20Lap.mp3]

Free Candy

Macklemore – Fake I.D.
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/macklemore/_Fake%20I.D..mp3]
Macklemore – Otherside Remix ft. Fences
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/macklemore/Otherside%20Remix%20ft.%20Fences.mp3]
Macklemore – Can’t Hold Us
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/macklemore/Can%27t%20Hold%20Us%20%28Radio%20Rip%29.mp3]

dags

I like covers. A lot. They say a lot about a musician and their taste. Some times I make playlists with covers I find and like and think you should know about. This is one of those playlists.

Indie Covers Playlist, Part IV

^click to download

1. Unravel (Bjork Cover) by POP ETC
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/09%20Unravel%20%28Bjork%20Cover%29.mp3]
2. On the Beach (Neil Young Cover) by Radiohead
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/On%20The%20Beach%20%28Neil%20Young%20Cover%29.mp3]
3. The Cave (Mumford and Sons Cover) by Ellie Goulding (Live)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/The%20Cave%20%28Mumford%20and%20Sons%20Cover%29.mp3]
4. Bette Davis Eyes (Tori Amos Cover) by Sexton Blake
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/02%20Bette%20Davis%20Eyes%20%28Tori%20Amos%20cover%29.mp3]
5. Katy On a Mission (Katy B Cover) by Arctic Monkeys
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/Katy%20On%20A%20Mission%20%28Katy%20B%20cover%29.mp3]
6. Blue Tulip (Okkervil River Cover) by Bon Iver
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/Blue%20Tulip%20%28Okkervil%20River%20Cover%29.mp3]
7. The Agony of Laffitte (Spoon Cover) by Nada Surf
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/covers/COVERS%20MORE%20COVERS/07%20The%20Agony%20of%20Laffitte.mp3]

The Soft Pack

I was fortunate enough (understatement) to get tickets for the sold out Soft Pack/Arctic Monkeys show at the Glasshouse in Pomona this week. Though I’d already seen the Soft Pack once and Arctic Monkeys twice, I was really just excited to see them in such an intimate venue. Granted, Arctic Monkeys are one of my all-time favorite bands. There are times when I would rather stay in and listen to Arctics by myself than hang out with a lot of people–a slightly sad but true statement. And I’ve met and bonded with some of my best friends over Arctic Monkeys. They’re just one of those bands that if you love them, you loooooooove them. In any case, I was pretty stoked to see them again.

The Soft Pack opened for them and got the energy in the place really stirring. They’re just some cool dudes with cool style. Their beach-rock vibes are quite addictive and make for a pretty rad live performance. My only complaint was that their set was really short. I’d love to see them again, hopefully with a longer set list.

The Soft Pack-Extinction
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/08%20Extinction.mp3]
The Soft Pack-Right & Wrong
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/01%20Right%20%26%20Wrong.mp3]
The Soft Pack-Answer to Yourself
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/03%20Answer%20To%20Yourself.mp3]
The Soft Pack-Beside Myself
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/02%20Beside%20Myself.mp3]

I don’t really know where to begin with the Arctics’ performance other than it was all around the best experience I’ve ever had at a concert. It completely exceeded my expectations–which were high, mind you, because Arctics have a reputation as being stellar live performers. Their energy was incredible, their sound spot on. And on top of that, the entire audience was in love. The fact that the Glasshouse is such a small venue (the stage isn’t really a stage at all, it’s more of a ramp) only amplified the experience. My only qualm with their set list was that it ended. Other than that, they played everything I would have wanted them to, including two of their S.I.A.S. b-sides, Evil Twin and R U Mine? They came back for an encore and played Suck It and See, Fluorescent Adolescent and closed with 505. I hate to sound melodramatic or trite, but this show was the closest I have ever been to perfection. I’m dying to see them again in another small venue.

Arctic Monkeys-Do Me a Favour
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/07%20Do%20Me%20A%20Favour.mp3]
Arctic Monkeys-Suck It and See
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/11%20Suck%20It%20And%20See.mp3]
Arctic Monkeys-Love Is a Laserquest
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/10%20Love%20Is%20A%20Laserquest.mp3]
Arctic Monkeys-Evil Twin
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/the%20soft%20packkkkkk/Evil%20Twin.mp3]

To download: right click > save/download file