Memphis Mix: Otis Redding, Big Star, Lucero

Visited the great city of Memphis yesterday, always try to listen to these guys on the way home... If you're ever there, be sure to include Soulsville (the Stax/Volt studios on McLemore) in your visit.

Otis Redding: "My Girl"



Big Star: "September Gurls"



Lucero: "Wasted"

Capsula: "Sun Shaking"

Heard on a KEXP podcast, love the guitars. Would you call this psychedelic?

Soft Black: "The Earth is Black"

From their 2009 album of the same name...

Centro-matic: "Atlanta"

Just a beautiful song...

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: "Soldiers Get Strange"

I can't recommend Isbell and his music highly enough. He's a hell of a songwriter, his music rocks and live, they really turn it up.

Generationals: Con Law

You know how it is, when a friend tells you about a band, you make a mental note, listen to a little bit, something happens, you get distracted... then much later you come upon them again on a KEXP podcast, hear a full song in a different context, and find yourself wanting to spread the word?

Well, anyway... check out the Generationals. Recommended to fans of the Shins, Avi Buffalo, stuff like that. Video is for "Angry Charlie".





And here's another song from their website:

Old Stuff Friday (Guitar God Edition): Dick Dale, Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Stevie Ray Vaughn...,

Dick Dale and the Del-Tones, "Misirlou"



Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Purple Haze"



Cream, "Strange Brew"



Stevie Ray Vaughn, "Texas Flood"

The Thermals: "I Don't Believe You"

"I Don't Believe You" is a song off their latest album Personal Life (due out Sept 7). This live video is from earlier this year before the album was released. Very good quality video, and a good live sound:

Abner Trio: The Giant Crushes You

Found this via Indie Surfer Blog, and really like this band's sound.

The two homemade videos I found don't do the music justice, so go to the website and listen and/or download:

The Giant Crushes You

Minutemen: "This Ain't No Picnic"

The 80's were all about d boon, weren't they? Who's that other guy in the video?

No sense saving this for Old Stuff Friday...

The Black Keys: "Set You Free"

Once you get past the fact that all this is being done with two guys, you're left with the music... which is spectacular, live or on record.

Guided by Voices: "Auditorium/Motor Away"

Will I eventually post the entirety of GbV and Robert Pollard online video content on this blog?

Unless someone figures out a way to stop me, yes I will.

Madlib: "Slim's Return"

This is from Shades of Blue on Stone's Throw Records... would you call this hip-hop or funk or jazz? Whatever, I love this stuff.

Budos Band: "Volcano Song"

Their new album, Budos Band III, seems to be enjoying some acclaim... well deserved. This is "Volcano Song", from that new album. They're also featured on the background of an NFL Network commercial "All Business". Come to think of it, they'd be perfect backing up John Faccenda, wouldn't they?

The Aliens: "Magic Man"

Their best song is "Setting Sun", from Astronomy for Dogs, but they've disabled the embedding... so you will have to go find it.

I'm starting to wonder how I could have missed the Beta Band, these guys and Steve Mason... maybe the whole was less than its parts?

Steve Mason: "Lost and Found"

This sure is great... never paid much attention to Beta Band, will give them another listen now. Album is Boys Outside, released back in May.

Old Stuff Friday: Neil Young, Barry White, Elvis Costello

Neil Young, "Don't Let it Bring You Down"



Barry White, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love"



Elvis Costello, "I Don't Wanna Go to Chelsea"

Guided by Voices: "Hold On Hope"

It's heartfelt, big-sounding acoustic ballad day here at When You Motor Away... enjoy it while it lasts.

Richard Buckner: "Ocean Cliff Clearing"

Richard packs a lot of expression into relatively small space. His electric stuff is even better because the music is so good it really fleshes out well, but this is a good quality recording of an acoustic version of this song. If you like it, check out the full version on Since. In fact, if you don't have a copy of Since, I highly recommend that as your next purchase.

Julie Ocean: Long Gone and Nearly There

That's the name of the album, the best song is "#1 Song", but this one is real good too. Former members of Velocity Girl. This is from 2008, one can hope they haven't been kicked out of the music business by now, and that a new album might be forthcoming...

Guided by Voices: "I Am A Scientist"

"I am a lost soul, I shoot myself with rock and roll"

Well said, Robert.

Semion: "The Contender"

Check out some very high quality power pop. Why stuff like this doesn't sell or play on radio, I just don't understand. Another discovery courtesy of the late lamented Pop Culture Press...


The Contender - Semion

Semion | MySpace Music Videos

Centro-matic: "Triggers and Trash Heaps"

I think these guys just sat down and played this live. The caption by the person who posted the video says "This is the first time these boys played this song together". If you ever get the chance, see them live... you won't find many people who love their work more than Will Johnson.

Guided by Voices: "My Valuable Hunting Knife"

One of 27 spectacular lo-fi slices of heaven on Alien Lanes... pure joy.

Built to Spill: "Conventional Wisdom"

Hope you like guitar solos and Renaissance Fair training montages!

Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night

Kinda like the Jesus and Mary Chain, but with a very good female vocalist. Husband and wife team from Canada... I like everything I've heard so far.

Video for "Albatross":

Dead Confederate: Sugar

New album due out August 24. This is their official video for "Giving It All Away"... J Mascis actually plays the guitar solo.

I first heard them on a podcast last year, couldn't remember the name and kept meaning to look them up... and here they are, two weeks from the release of a new album! I like this song...

Joe Henry: Blood From Stars

Fortunately, Henry is not too busy producing the likes of Bettye Lavette, Aimee Mann, Elvis Costello, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Solomon Burke to generate great albums like 2009's Blood From Stars...

Here's an acoustic video of "Channel" from that disc. Go find the album version, too... it's a great example of how this guy puts a song together.

Los Lobos: Tin Can Trust

Their latest is, as you'd expect, excellent... I always find myself hoping for more Hidalgo vocals, but that's a personal preference. I really can't think of anything of theirs I don't like a lot. Wish they'd play Nashville.

Video of "Rita" from The Ride. Greg Leisz on pedal steel, you've heard him often (Dwight Yoakam, Matthew Sweet and Jim Lauderdale, among others) and he is terrific here.

Old Stuff Friday

Old Stuff Friday: Time to jump in the time machine...


Junior Murvin: "Police and Thieves"




Stevie Wonder: "Living for the City"




Joe Ely: "Dallas"




The Records: "Starry Eyes"

Wild Nothing: Summer Holiday

Nice little rock song with jangling guitars and sweet harmony vocals a la Yo La Tengo, discovery courtesy of KEXP podcast "Music That Matters". Debut record is Gemini, no website but they do have a myspace...

Video for "Summer Holiday":

Dinosaur Jr.: Farm

Farm was one of my favorite albums of 2009, Dinosaur Jr.'s sound is just wonderful when they get it right and they did on this song... here's the video for "Over It".

Mogwai: Summer

They've got a new live album Special Moves and live video Burning coming out soon (in US the disc is scheduled for 8/31 release), and pre-release screenings are taking place around the country...

Video of "Summer", from the album Ten Rapid, hard to believe this song is 14 years old...

Guided by Voices: Gonna Never Have to Die, Retirement Speech, Tropical Robots

A rock song, a retirement speech, hilarious observations and a lovely ballad... I think the best thing about Robert Pollard is the extra value he brings to the table. Lots of bands can rock, lots of guys can get up on stage and make you convulse in laughter, and lots of guys can write lovely songs about Alabama policemen, but who can do all three?

Centro-matic: Rat Patrol and DJ's

From the 2009 double disc Dual Hawks... Like everything about this band, but especially like the drums on this one.

Henry Clay People: Somewhere On the Golden Coast

Touring with the Drive-by Truckers, who have proven to have excellent taste in music... Love this band, their slacker punk aesthetic, the great guitars and the singer's voice...

Here's a video from Fuel TV (via MetaCafe):

The Henry Clay People - "Working Part Time" - The best bloopers are here

Avi Buffalo

Very nice self-titled disc on Sub Pop... probably my favorite new band this year. I guess they are reminiscent of the Shins. Check out this video, and check out a lot more at their website...

Avi Buffalo: What's In It For? (Glasshouse, Pomona 02/17/10) from Lisa Michelle Bielsik on Vimeo.

American Princes: Never Grow Old

Pretty sure this is another discovery courtesy of the late, great quarterly music mag Pop Culture Press... I hope those folks are in a happy place, I still listen to the discs that came with the magazines often...

Video of "Never Grow Old"... these guys have such a great sound.



Website: American Princes Myspace

Boston Spaceships: Our Cubehouse Still Rocks

Their new one, due out Sept 7. Boston Spaceships seems to be the outlet for Bob's power pop side, but there's still plenty of that on the Pollard discs and even a little on the Circus Devils discs... Here's the video for "Let it Rest For a While"... Spectacular pop-rock song!

Robert Pollard: We All Got Out of the Army

He's planning to release a total of five new albums in 2010, plus a "Classic GBV Reunion Tour"... so far, the Pollard album We All Got Out of the Army is very good, the Circus Devils' Mother Skinny has its high points, and what I've heard about Moses on a Snail is very good indeed... And a new Boston Spaceships disc is due out Sept 7...

This song is from We All Got Out of the Army, Video from YouTube, by "savannasaurus"

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: I Learned the Hard Way

First heard about this band from Doyle at Grimey's, and will always owe him a favor for that. Like the Black Keys, these folks are a testament to the ability to be successful by finding a good sound and knocking it out of the park. Video from Newport Folk Festival via Boston Phoenix:




http://vimeo.com/13806339 from Boston Phoenix on Vimeo.

Centro-Matic: "Calling Thermatico"

From Centro-matic.com:

There’s a new release coming up for September. “Eyas” is comprised of seven additional songs (six previously unreleased) we recorded during the Dual Hawks sessions, including our take on Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”. Matt Pence has floored us again with his documenting, mixing and mastering, and the release will feature our old friend Mark Ray’s artwork. Songs included on this one are:


Christmas ’83
No, They Ain’t Mine
Cracking Of The Seal
Liquidation Heart
Water 4 Legs And Lungs
Inhabitants
All Night Long

Video of "Calling Thermatico":



Centro-matic: Calling Thermatico from Undertow on Vimeo.

Black Keys: Brothers

Just fantastic... if you set out to create a rock band from scratch, grow it organically and somehow make each album just a little more awesome than the one before (although it's arguable that they'll ever top Rubber Factory), you couldn't do much better.

Video of "Next Girl" from The Late Show: