MORE GOOD STUFF

For me, there's pretty much nothing better than a lazy, sunny, Sunday afternoon spent unhurriedly thumbing around a record shop. The prospect of copping that one album I've been coveting non-stop the past few weeks, or, even better, the excitement of stumbling onto a new favorite through some chance of impulse is a satisfaction I find nowhere else. So yesterday at Sonic Boom was a great day.

More great stuff of late . . .

BLK JKS - Mystery EP

Seems this South African band's hype train has been steady rolling since a while back, but I was firmly in the dark until I threw on a pair of headphones yesterday at a listening station and was left slack jaw by "Lakeside." Here's an interesting bit about the group from the NY Times (via the BLK JKS' blog):

"Now and then it’s easy to guess that Blk Jks, from Johannesburg, are an African band on their four-song “Mystery EP”. That’s when they go bounding into three-chord South African township grooves in “Lakeside” or overlay the reggae foundation of “Summertime” with syncopated guitars. But Blk Jks make their music in a global swirl of possibilities; they are an art-rock band...While the lyrics (mostly in English) ponder philosophical quandaries — “All the wise men ’round the world don’t know the answers” — the band’s quick-fingered, multilayered vamps well up out of murky echoes, piling jubilation atop the anxiety, before submerging again."

The band is signed stateside to constant hitmakers Secretly Canadian. Here's hoping a full length is on the near horizon.

V/A - Dark Was The Night Compilation

A great idea for a great cause, this all-stars-of-independent-rock-get-together-for-charity album actually delivers the goods in full. The list of contributing artists is certainly stacked, but the best part is how the songs aren't disappointing recording-session throwaways or b-side filler. Just about every track is a worthy original, and the few that are not are either new arrangements of previous material or covers of traditional songs. A few highlights are posted below, but if there was ever a time to pay for the music . . .

The project was produced by Aaron and Bryce Dressner of The National in collaboration with Red Hot, an advocacy group for AIDS awareness. You can read more about their benevolent campaign and gawk the playlist over at darkwasthenight.com.