FUTURE SOUNDS BEST OF 2008 - THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN 2009

I actually have a really hard time with 'Best Of' lists each year because it's sometimes hard to put in perspective which bands, songs, albums, etc meant the most to you - which ones you played ALL the songs more than others with just one or two tracks - which ones marked a special moment that year or struck some personal connection. In a world where the iPod and iTunes has changed the way we encounter and devour music, so many have great individual songs, or just good songs, but it takes a real focused effort to turn out 10-13 cuts anymore that are comprehensive and interesting.

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2008

Benji Hughes – A Love Extreme – New West Records
Birds & Batteries – I’ll Never Sleep Again – Self-released
The Botticellis – Old Home Movies – Antenna Farm Records
Christopher Denny – Age Old Hunger – 2:59 Records
The Ettes – Look At Life Again Soon – Take Root Records
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes – Sub Pop
King Tuff – Was Dead – The Colonel Records
The Muslims (Aka The Soft Packs) – The Muslims – 1928 Recordings
The Weight – Are Men – The Colonel Records
White Denim – Explosion – Transmission


TOP TRACKS OF 2008

Adele – Hometown Glory
Alberta Cross – Old Man Chicago
Belaire – You Really Got Me Going
Benji Hughes – The Mummy
Benji Hughes – Tight Tee Shirt
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
Born Ruffians – Hummingbird
The Cave Singers – Seeds Of Night
Christopher Denny - Time
The Dodos – Fools
The Felice Brothers – Frankie’s Gun
Fleet Foxes – Oliver James
Girls – Lust For Life
Glasvegas – Geraldine
Graveyard – Lost In Confusion
The Heavy – Colleen
Hockey – Too Fake
Human Highway – The Sound
I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco
Ida Maria – Oh My God
Jamie Lidell – Figured Me Out
The Kills – Cheap & Cheerful
Little Comets – Joanna
Loch Lomond – Carl Sagan
M.I.A. – Paper Planes
Magic Wands – Black Magic
Meaghan Smith – I Know
MGMT – Time To Pretend
Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down
Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today
Radiohead – House Of Cards
Santogold – Lights Out
Stricken City – Tak o Tak
{{{Sunset}}} – Diamond Studded Caskets
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
Tenlons Fort – Forever Is A Long Time
Vertigo Smyth – Comfort Me
Violens – Violent Sensation Descends
Wisely – Through Any Window
The Yelling – Blood On The Steps


10 ARTISTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2009

AVI BUFFALO

THE BROTHERS MOVEMENT

THE BUILDERS & THE BUTCHERS

DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES

THE FEROCIOUS FEW

FITZ

HOCKEY

LILOFEE

VIOLENS

WET PAINT

THE YELLING

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 12.22.08

Listen HERE

Here's today's playlist...Happy Holidays!

Future Sounds #7 – 12/22/2008

Hatcham Social – Berlin – So So Happy Making – Fierce Panda
The Pity Party – H.O.T.S. – Orgy Porgy EP – Unsigned
French Miami – God Damn Best – French Miami – Unsigned

BREAK

The Frontier Brothers – Ego Protection – Space Punk Starlet – Unsigned
The Filthy Souls – Coz I Know Who You Are – Demos – Unsigned
Like A Fox – Night Person – Where’s My Golden Arm? – Transit Of Venus
Wet Paint – Bad Education – It Rots – Trial & Error Recordings

BREAK

Lemon Sun – Same Ole Ground – Lemon Sun – Unsigned
Django James & The Midnight Squires – Giving Tree – Demos – Unsigned
Mean Tambourines – Airwolf – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

Joe Purdy – Dress Is Too Long – Last Clock On The Wall – Unsigned
Jessica Lea Mayfield – For Today – With Blasphemy So Heartfelt – Polymor Sounds
Pillars Of Silence – Guilty Hands – Pillars Of Silence – Unsigned
My Pet Saddle – Ill Fait Beau – EP – Unsigned

BREAK

Cheeky Cheeky & The Nosebleeds – You Let Me Go – Demos – Unsigned
Ram Di Dam – Flashbacks – Ram Di Dam – Mock Turtle Records
Little Comets – Joanna – Demos – Unsigned
Make Model – The L.S.B. – The L.S.B. Single – Unsigned

BREAK

Fitz – Winds Of Change – Songs For A Break-Up Vol.1 - EP – Unsigned
Mugison – To The Bone – Demos – Unsigned
Honey Claws – OrOr – Honey Claws Part II – Unsigned

BREAK

Violens – Already Over – Violens EP – Unsigned
Dead Snares – City Sparks – Speak The Language – PopAntiPop
Apteka – The Sheet – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

One Little Plane – Sunshine Kid – Demos – Text Records
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Who’s Asking – Weepy EP – Unsigned
The Red Labels – Playdoh – Demos – Unsigned
The Hands – Lies Lies Lies – The Hands – Unsigned

BREAK

The Steeples – Loosy Lucy – Loosy Lucy Single – Easy Money Records
Human Highway – The Sound – Moody Motorcycle – Suicide Squeeze Records
Gringo Star – All Y’all – Gringo Star – Unsigned

END OF PROGRAM

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: THE MOVIES + VOXHAUL BROADCAST @ SPACELAND

Free Mondays at Spaceland, and this month it's THE MOVIES, a band we adore, plus old friends we haven't seen much of lately - VOXHAUL BROADCAST.

SUNDAY NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: SNOW IN LOS ANGELES MUSIC FESTIVAL

FMLY is presenting a line up this Sunday night at The Echoplex that's impressive: FOOL'S GOLD, RUMSPRINGA, Haim, Entrance Band, THE MAE SHI, Daedelus, and BUSDRIVER.
It's all ages and it lasts from 5pm-Midnight.

PHOTOS FROM LAST NIGHT'S DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES SET

Last night's performance at the NY Underbelly party at the 3 of Clubs by DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES was a command performance by a young band that in 2009 will be everywhere.

THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR JANUARY

We're wasting no time in 2009 to kick things off in high fashion up at THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO at Harlot. FS fav's LOVELIKEFIRE make a return visit to the place they destroyed almost a year ago. Newcomers and band with lots of buzz -- FRENCH MIAMI join them in our first 2-band Rumble to date in SF. Another huge score is DJ AMPLIVE (Zion I) joining Mr BAGEL RADIO, Bagel Ted at the DJ booth.

Another new addition to the Rumble: SF team is STRANDED IN STEREO, coming on board to help blow the party out even larger. As always, FREE with RSVP, $5 if you don't.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES + THE YELLING

Don't be confused, NEW YORK UNDERBELLY presents a party tonight at the 3 of Clubs in Los Angeles called Between A Rock and a Hard Place. It's their first stab here and the line up they have put together is excellent.

Our favorites, DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES open things up at 9pm sharp.

THE BROBECKS follow, before the lethal rock of THE YELLING blows you out. I'm not familiar with THE FLING, who round out the bill, but I'm told good things.

09:00 - Django James and the Midnight Squires
09:45 - the Brobecks
10:30 - the Yelling
11:15 - the Fling

Free admission before 11 on the Underbelly list - $5 after; otherwise, after 11, it's $10 bucks. Complimentary Spaten Beer from 9-10PM.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: THE BUILDERS & THE BUTCHERS @ THE MUSIC BOX

A band that I believe will be a breakout band in 2009, THE BUILDERS & THE BUTCHERS are in town tonight at THE MUSIC BOX, supporting Amanda Palmer & The Danger Ensemble. They are on first of three, but get there early, it's worth it, these guys from Portland have a live show that is unreal.

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 12.15.08

Listen HERE

Here's today's playlist...

Future Sounds #6 – 12/15/2008

Friska Viljor – We Are Happy Now (la la la) – Bravo! – Crying Bob Records
Ram Di Dam – Flashbacks – Ram Di Dam - Mock Turtle Music
Grand Pocket Orchestra – Little Messy – EP – Unsigned

BREAK

Harlem – Witchgreens – Free Drugs – Female Fantasy Records
The Ringers – Jaguar Moves – Headlocks & Highkicks – Unsigned
Hotpipes – Future Bolt – Future Bolt – Liquid Panda Records

BREAK

Pin Me Down – Cryptic – Pin Me Down – Kitsune
We Have Band – Hear It In The Cans – Single – Kitsune
Ladyhawke – My Delirium – Paris Is Burning – Modular Records

BREAK

French Miami – Science Fiction – French Miami – Unsigned
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nosebleeds – You Let Me Go – Demos – Unsigned
Lilofee – Where The Fallen Stars Lay – Lilofee – Unsigned

BREAK

Violens – Spectator & Pupil – Violens EP – Unsigned
Days – The Simple Thing – Downhill EP – Shelflife Records
Tenlons Fort – Forever Is A Long Time – Forever Is A Long Time EP – Haunted Maggot Records

BREAK

Ellie Goulding – Guns & Horses – Demos – Unsigned
Gramercy Arms – Automatic – Gramercy Arms – Reveal Records
Aaron Bruno – All I Need – Demos – Unsigned
Belaire – You Really Got Me Goin’ – Exploding Impacting – Indiedirect Records

BREAK

The Growlers – Barnacle Beat – Greatest sHits – Unsigned
King Tuff – Just Strut – King Tuff Was Dead – The Colonel Records
The Rosewood Thieves – Silver Gun – Silver Gun – Unsigned

BREAK

Sweet Jane – Where’s Your Money? - Blackboots & Blackhearts – Dead Flower Records
Simon Says No – Sleeping Heart – Ahoi De Angst – Unsigned
The Brothers Movement – Someday – The Brothers Movement – Unsigned

BREAK

Fan Death – Veronica’s Veil – Demos – Unsigned
Weave! – Bravery – Weave! – Unsigned
My Toys Like Me – Sick Couple – Where We Are – Unsigned

BREAK

Black Taxi – Pretty Mama – Black Taxi EP – Unsigned
Hockey – Song Away – Mind Chaos – Capital Records
I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – Island Records UK
B.R.A.M. – Messages – B.R.A.M. – UnsigneD
Two Door Cinema Club – Eat That Up It’s Good For You – Demos – Unsigned

END OF PROGRAM


*Bold denotes debut appearance by artist on the Future Sounds radio program

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: NICO STAI @ SPACELAND

Tonight at Spaceland, our good friends NICO STAI are playing with THE MOVIES, and it's Free.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: THE RINGERS @ SPACELAND

Furious! Dangerous! Sweaty! THE RINGERS perform tonight at Spaceland with VAN STONE. Stage time is 10pm, meet me down there.

THE SHOW TO BE AT THIS WEEKEND IN LOS ANGELES

It's the holiday season and so it's a good time for charity, and on Saturday night at The Echoplex the 'Wear A Sweater' party with an incredible line up of LA bands:
CASTLEDOOR
HAPPY HOLLOWS,
EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS
AMNION
THE PITY PARTY
THE DEADLY SYNDROME

$5 - well worth it for these bands.

LITTLE COMETS & CLARE MAGUIRE SIGN RECORD DEALS

The Brits are still signing good bands to major labels. This week, LITTLE COMETS, the band who's song 'Joanna' we've been playing quite a bit on the WOXY show and in the offices, signed to Columbia Records UK. The Newcastle four-piece have had weasels chasing them for some time, Columbia lands the prize.



The 20 year old soul singer from London, CLARE MAGUIRE, has also been signed to Polydor Records in the UK. Her song, 'Strangest Thing' we've been in love with for months now and could be the next in line on the Amy-Duffy-Adele run of English ladies that have made an impact.

THE FINAL PIN ME DOWN SHOW OF 2008 @ THE DELANCEY TONIGHT

Thursday, December 11th - $7
12:00am - 12:30am Sub Rosa
10:45pm - 11:15pm Pin Me Down
10:00pm-10:30pm Moving Mountains
9:15pm- 9:45pm Prawn

Milena and Keith will be performing an acoustic set of PIN ME DOWN songs tonight, and showing off some new songs at The Delancey. Stage time is 10:45pm.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: INTRICATE MACHINES @ SILVERLAKE LOUNGE

Hopefully you heard the Future Sounds on-air performance on Little Radio months ago when LA's INTRICATE MACHINES came in and performed, but if not they're playing live tonight at the Silverlake Lounge at 9:30pm. The band has a cinematic quality to them, on the RADIOHEAD side of the fence at times, while kinda GRIZZLY BEAR-like or BEACH HOUSE at other times. One of my favorites is "With You Within".

The band has sent us THIS LINK where you can download the entire EP for a short time, so spend a moment now and download before it's pulled down.

SHOWS IN LOS ANGELES TONIGHT

Our friends, LONGWAVE, headline the Troubadour tonight. Maybe you caught them on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic this AM? If not, I'm sure you heard their Future Sounds session on WOXY? WAR TAPES are also on the bill.

Another one of our really good friends, WEIRD DREAMS, formerly LOW FLYING OWLS (FS01), are playing the 3 of Clubs tonight - their first show as this line-up. We're lucky enough to have them play THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES in January.

Prefer ladies with heavenly voices? OBI BEST and RACHEL GOODRICH are at HOTEL CAFE tonight.

POP LEVI (FS27) and San Francisco's FRENCH MIAMI are at Spaceland tonight for Club NME & Indie 103 Presents.

BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM: PAVEMENT'S STEREO

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY: LIVE LONGWAVE

Listen HERE

Here's today's playlist...

Future Sounds #5 – 12/08/2008

Black Taxi – Wanted Man – New Demos – Unsigned
Links – Testify – Links (a Band) – Unsigned
Brazos – Mrs Virginia – A City Just As Tall – Unsigned

BREAK

Black Whales – Books On Tape – Black Whales – Unsigned
The Filthy Souls – Coz I Know Who You Are – The Filthy Souls – Unsigned
Thomas Function – Snake In The Grass – Celebration – Fat Possum
Hot Springs – Headrush – Volcano – Quire Records

BREAK

Lilofee – Lock & Key – Lilofee – Unsigned
Creature – Brigitte Bardo – Demos – Unsigned
I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – Island Records UK
Little Comets – Joanna – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

Rainbow Arabia – Holiday In Congo – Rainbow Arabia – Unsigned
Fool’s Gold – Surprise Hotel – 7” – Unsigned
Weave! – Bravery – Weave! – Unsigned

BREAK

LONGWAVE LIVE ON FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY AT ARTINSOUND STUDIOS

Satellites
I Don't Dare
Life Is Wrong

BREAK

Violens – Spectator & Pupil – Violens EP – Unsigned
Your Twenties – Caught Wheel – Caught Wheel – Germs Of Youth
Forest Fire – Fortune Teller – Survival - RMT
Pop Levi – Calling Me Down – Never Never Love – Counter Records

BREAK

Babystone – Ask Me (featuring Sly Stone) – Demos – Unsigned
Alexander G. Muertos – Salvation Comes – Demos – Unsigned
Clare Maguire – Strangest Thing – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

Les Blanks – Grand Kickstand – Shoot The Horse – Unsigned
The Diamond Light – Orphan – Demos – Unsigned
The Brothers Movement – Sister – The Brothers Movement – Unsigned
The Growlers – Soul Of Coral – Greatest sHits – Unsigned

END OF PROGRAM

*Bold denotes debut appearance by artist on the Future Sounds radio program

Longwave's Shannon Ferguson on Future Sounds

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: THE FMLY PARTY @ ENJOY HUMAN

A collection of excellent bands are playing THE FMLY blog's party tonight at Enjoy Human (downtown). Every party they put together is generally well-thought out and interesting and worth the trip.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: THE RUMBLE LA @ 3 OF CLUBS

After the ASCAP party, stay close in Hollywood and into a real drinking joint, the 3 Of Clubs for THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES. Oasis, smoasis, come on, if you haven't already seen them act relevant at least once over the years, give some new guys a chance. The report from last night's RUMBLE SF was that THE FEROCIOUS FEW murdered their set, one of the best performances at a Rumble SF to date. On at 10pm is THE GROWLERS, a band I'm anxiously awaiting because I've heard so much about their live set and have yet to see it for myself. MiCHAEL do what they do, hold it down and get people moving on the decks. Free if you RSVP, $5 if not.

Here's a picture of the FF at last night's Rumble SF, courtesy of Julie.

TONIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO: LILOFEE + SEBASTIEN TELLIER @ MEZZANINE

LOADED & MEZZANINE present a badasss triple bill this evening with SEBASTIEN TELLIER, HEARTSREVOLUTION and the incredible, LILOFEE. If you've been listening to the FS show on WOXY lately, you can't miss the Lilofee blasts that have got our inbox full of interest. Doors at 9PM, Lilofee is on at 10pm.

TONIGHT IN NEW YORK: A MILLION YEARS + THE KING LEFT @ MERCURY LOUNGE

Tonight at the Mercury Lounge in NYC, a band I've been watching for a bit, A MILLION YEARS, fronted by Keith Madden, who happens to be a great guitarist as well. Also on the bill is a band we've played on the radio show quite a bit, THE KING LEFT, plus The Kiss Offs and The Howlies. $10 is cheap in NY.

TONIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO: THE RUMBLE @ HARLOT

THE FEROCIOUS FEW are going to beat your asses tonight with a live set of music up in SF at THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO @ Harlot. Golden Gram of ROGUE WAVE will be our guest DJ, mixing it up with BAGeL Ted. Drinks specials, Vestalife giveaways, dancing......

FREE if you RSVP > http://sonicliving.com/theowlmag/therumble
$5 if not

BECAUSE SOMETHING IS HAPPENING AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS...DO YOU MR JONES

Last night's trip out to The Echo could be very accurately called a trip. I had been hearing of the "movement" taking place with a dozen or so bands happening that seem to be taping into a world sound, with tribal rumblings, painted faces and dancing (that's right, on the east side of LA). People at the show were even on boomers. Talking with people throughout out the night there was a growing sense of pride that a large number of artists could put down their competitiveness and share in something centered around art and rhythm and less about being obviously cool. While the three bands I observed had a common thread, they were all unique in sound and presentation.

Opening up was RAINBOW ARABIA, a two-piece using a middle-eastern keyboard with sounds from a distance and a frontwoman that could play dubbie guitar parts and sing like a banshee. I had heard their name circulating around the CMJ chatter this year, and apparently they just finished a successful tour. I spoke with Danny from the band, and again this theme of pride was lifted at this network of friends playing music that supported a vision. Lee loved the band.

FOOL'S GOLD took the stage next, filling it completely with their 10 members, some from various LA bands of distant pasts, and this band gave us something part African, part middle eastern, almost yiddish music that was reminecent of a KING SUNNY ADE set. At this point in the night many people's trip started to turn into a bolder flash, and the dancing lifted with the tempos and I saw some people whose faces were melting.

The night was running an hour behind so the old man in me had to keep it to three bands and sadly I had to miss the headliner, WE ARE THE WORLD, which seemed to be what everyone was anxiously waiting for, but I did see WEAVE!, the band who put together this residency. As noted previously, references to THE SLITS come to mind immediately, but live there was more LiLIPUT and ESG in there for good dance-art measure. Here were four people that might not be the most talented technical players, but the 'feel' and the diving head first into the art approach over compensated any of that. I liked that they were unorthodox and didn't even line up on stage in a normal fashion. Last night I kept having that feeling that I had slipped back in time almost to the NO NEW YORK era, where commercial interests weren't present and inspiration was the status quo. Refreshing.

Now I know that Brooklyn will probably thump it's chest about the MGMT/YEASAYER scene that launched, and rightfully so they should be proud, and if part of the embers from that fire jumped west and landed in Echo Park, then an even bigger thank you goes out, because people dancing, being engaged in music and including others instead of holding what's cool for themselves, is worthy of appreciation.

Keep your eye on this pack of 12 or so groups playing shows together, it's worth the trip.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: SOMETHING INTERESTING IS HAPPENING @ THE ECHO

Lisa tipped me off to a bunch of bands that are all playing together tonight at The Echo and from a quick listen, it's all interesting (especially WEAVE!). It's free, my favorite price, and the whole line up is making noise locally> WEAVE!, RAINBOW ARABIA, WE ARE THE WORLD and FOOL'S GOLD. Check out what INFLIGHT AT NIGHT had to say about it and listen to some tracks HERE

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY: LIVE LOCH LOMOND

Listen HERE

Here's today's playlist.....recorded at our new home at ArtInSound Studios in downtown LA at The Brewery.

Future Sounds #4 – 12/01/2008

I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – Island Records UK
Dan Black – Yours – Yours Single – A&M
Django James & The Midnight Squires – Hurricane – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

Illinois – She’s So Blonde – Kid Cat - +1 Records
Telekinesis! – Tokyo – Ideas – Unsigned
Falcon – The Sandfighter – Falcon – Unsigned

BREAK

Lilofee – Destroy Me – Lilofee – Unsigned
The Good Natured – Heart Of Stone – Demos – Unsigned
Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool – Friendly Fires – XL Recordings
We Have Band – Hear It In The Cans – Kitsune
Delphic – Counterpoint – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

Royal Treatment Plan – Undercurrent – Undercurrent Single – Universal Records UK
The Muslims* (now The Soft Pack) – Future Rock – The Muslims – 1928 Recordings
Pistol Pistol – She’s So Hot – The Cause – Unsigned
Four Dead In Ohio – Jesus Won’t Dance In My High Heels – Fandango Label

BREAK

LOCH LOMOND LIVE IN STUDIO

Elephants & Little Girls
Field Report
Carl Sagan

BREAK

Jessica Lea Mayfield – Kiss Me Again – With Blasphemy So Heartfelt – Polymer Records
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons – We Should Fight – Inside The Human Body – Minty Fresh
The Wheel – Just For Me, But I Thought Of You – Desire & Dissolving Men LP – Public Service Records
Meaghan Smith – Poor – Take Me Dancing – Sire Records

BREAK

Golden Animals – The Steady Roller – Free Your Mind & Ride A Pony – HappyParts
The Ferocious Few – Heaven & Hell – Demos – Unsigned
Society Of Rockets – Time – Our Paths Related – Underpop Records

BREAK

Le Corps Mince De Francoise – Bitch Of The Bitches – Demos - Unsigned
The More Assured – I Want Your Despair – The More Assured – Unsigned
Violens – Violent Sensation Descends – Violens Single – Unsigned
Chester French – She Loves Everybody – Love The Future – Star Trak

END OF PROGRAM

*Bold denotes debut appearance by artist on Future Sounds