The Walrus is a Philadelphia-based music blog written by Michael. You may send me stuff through the send a tip page or email me. All mp3s should be sent as links. NO ATTACHMENTS, PLEASE. If I like your music, chances are I will write about it.
DISCLAIMER
mp3s on this site are for promotional purposes only. If you wish to have an mp3 removed please contact me.
Kudos to Dead Oceans for putting these two bands on the same bill. Although I missed the majority of the opening band (members of Bishop Allen), I must say that just the combination of Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band’s indie-prog-math-insanity and Bishop Allen’s thinking man’s folk pop made for a great musical evening. Here are some brief thoughts on each band’s set, along with some cool photos shot by Walrus pal Tiffany Yoon
During their stop in Philly with Bishop Allen, I finally got to meet 5 awesome folks from Seattle whom I have been in contact with ever since one of them (you know who you are!) sent me a cryptic and entertaining video nearly a year ago on MySpace–before the band had recorded a single song. Since then, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band have signed to a label and have released an awesome album, which has garnered praise from blogs like Stereogum and magazines like Spin. Last Friday I finally had a chance to meet them and ask them a few questions…
One of my favorite new bands, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band have taken a break from their awesomely strange PSAs to direct an official music video for “Cheer For Fate”. Themes of delusion, reflection and change are presented in a beautiful scrap-book style…and the band breaks stuff, which is always cool.
Pick up their debut album from Dead Oceans and I highly recommend that you catch them on tour with Bishop Allen. The songs sound great and Marshall is SICK on the drums!
Everyone living in Philly should make their way to The Church tomorrow night to see one of the best bands in pop music, Bishop Allen, along with Walrus BFFs Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band. If you like great songwriting, it’s a must! Get the details on Facebook.
New Bishop Allen video “Dimmer”
Classic Mt. St Helens Vietnam Band promo:
Bishop Allen are touring in support of their excellent new album Grrr and MSHVB are supporting their debut EP. Dead Oceans has them both, along with free MP3s from both bands!
Still unsigned (!?) remix artists The Twelves have just released a new awesome mixtape called Episode II and the highlight for us is the new remix of Fleet Foxes‘ “White Winter Hymnal,” one of our favorite songs of the year (check out the video here). It’s a well-played re-interpretation that adds a bit of fun while still retaining the original’s beauty.
See the stellar tracklist and download the full mix from our friends at Discodust.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
We posted about the beauty that is The Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal” a few months back, and now Pitchfork has premiered the Seattle folky-fivesome’s official video for the song, which is subtly animated in a cool Jan Svankmajer/Gumby/Brothers Grimm kind of way:
Their excellent s/t album is available now from Insound.
