Have you listened to the new Los Campesinos! song?  If you haven’t this is your chance, and I advise that you do so.  It’s a departure from their previous recordings, but not by much…I think it satisfies both the fan that wanted something different, and the ones that want more of the same twee pop that made them what they are.  I’m really looking forward to their new album, and from the looks of it these first couple tracks they might be slowing down, but I think that only means they are growing as musicians and a band.

[mp3] Los Campesinos!- “The Sea Is A Good Place to Think About the Future”

I don’t feel like this is that much of a departure from “Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time” or the other new song that I posted a while back (I’ll take the opportunity to post it again now that I can make it bigger):

Los Campesinos!- “Who Fell Asleep…”

While I’m excited about the album I also worry about the future of the band.  Aleks is such an important part of both the bands live show, and recorded presence I’m afraid to hear what will come after her departure.  Will the band even be able to perform old songs?  Only time will tell.  I guess what I’m trying to say is…Aleks  you will be missed.

Links:

• Los Campesinos! records can be purchased  here.
• more on Los Campesinos! can be found here.

Two nights ago Los Campesinos! started their US tour with a ‘secret show‘ at Union Pool, and Girls opened.  It is always refreshing to see an opening band that totally blows you away, and Girls did just that.  I hate to admit, but this was my first time listening to Girls, and now I am one of the many eagerly awaiting their new record on True Panther.

This was one of the best shows I have seen in quite sometime, but that was no surprise because I am reminded every time I see Los Campesinos!  that they are in fact the best live band touring today.  The capacity of Union Pool is only 74 people, and the show didn’t even feel sold out (I don’t think it was, or maybe some people left after Girls played).  I recently got a flip video, and it seems to be talking pretty decent video (and audio isn’t too bad either)… and I was able to get a couple songs at this very intimate show:

LC!- “International Twee X Core Underground”

LC!- “Who Fell Asleep…” (unreleased)

You can watch these videos in a slightly larger format here.

Los Campesinos!, Girls, and Smith Westerns played at Webster Hall last night (thank god that I didn’t have to go there to see LC! play), and have a whole big long tour lined up…if you are in any of these places you should catch them, it will be awesome!  Beware, I don’t think Smith Westerns are playing all of the dates.

August 2009 Tour Dates:

• 05 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
• 06 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
  
• 07 Indianapolis, Bluebird Nightclub
  
• 08 Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
  
• 11 St. Louis, MO Firebird
  
• 12 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
  
• 14 Austin, TX Emos Outside
  
• 15 Dallas, TX Granada Theatre
  
• 16 Houston, TX Warehouse (Studio)
  
• 19 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
  
• 20 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
  
• 21 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
  
• 22 Pomona, CA Glass House
  
• 23 Costa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar
  
• 25 Las Vegas, Nevada Beauty Bar
  
• 26 Visalia, CA Howie And Sons Pizza
  
• 28 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Festival
  
• 29 San Diego, CA Street Scene

Buy Los Campesinos! albums here.

Now all I have to do is wait for the new LC! album to come out…no release date as of yet.

More on Los Campesinos! here.

This is my first venture into the video thing.  I’m using Vimeo.  Keep an eye on the blog…videos of Destroyer from XX Merge are to come.

Charlotte, friend of Los Campesinos! and part of Judy and the Blumes, recently did a cover of the Los Campesinos’ track “Heart Swells/Pacific Daylight Time”.   Initially I’m skeptical of covers, but if they are good I embrace them…and Charlotte’s is extremely sweet sounding and impressive.  A wonderful minimalist rendition of one of my favorite tracks from We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.

Charlotte, thank you for sharing with Gareth so that we can all enjoy it:

[mp3] Charlotte- “BST (GMT +1)” (Los Campesinos cover, via LC!)
Buy the original here.  See Gareth’s post here.

Los Campesinos!‘ have finished recording their new album, but while we are waiting for new songs we can still get some new recordings (of old songs).  On July 3rd Daytrotter released a really wonderful five song session with Los Campesinos!   I’m happy to hear these alternate versions, and think the session turned out great…check it out:

[Stream/mp3] Los Campesinos!’ Daytrotter Session!

More on Los Campesinos! here.

Big news was posted on the Los Campesinos! blog this morning:

This is a difficult announcement to have to write, and one we’d have hoped we’d never need to, but it is with a heavy heart we in Los Campesinos! need to announce the forthcoming departure of Aleks Campesinos! from our number.

After three years of LC!, in an incredible journey that has gone from inaudible student union side room gigs to playing infront of thousands in Caracas city centre; Aleks is now, as she always intended, departing the band in order to return to her studies. (read more)

This news of Aleks’ (pictured right) departure comes just on the tail end of their recording of the follow up full length to Hold On Now, Youngster (yes, they don’t consider We Are Beautiful We Are Doomed an album just an ep).

LC! have also announced that before Aleks leaves they will be touring again, which includes their largest indoor shows to date:

August 2009
04 New York, NY          Webster Hall
05 Washington, DC      9:30 Club
06 Cleveland, OH         Grog Shop
07 Indianapolis, IN      Spin Nightclub
08 Chicago, IL               Lollapalooza
11 St. Louis, MO            Firebird
12 Kansas City, MO      Record Bar
14 Austin, TX                Emos Outside
15 Dallas, TX                 Granada Theatre
16 Houston, TX            Warehouse (Studio)
19 Albuquerque, NM    Launchpad
20 Tucson, AZ              Club Congress
21 Los Angeles, CA      El Rey Theatre
22 Pomona, CA            Glass House
23 Costa Mesa, CA      Detroit Bar
25 Las Vegas, Nevada  Beauty Bar
28 San Francisco, CA  Outside Lands Festival
29 San Diego, CA         Street Scene

This tour comes as both exciting and depressing news to me.  Yes, it’s sad that Aleks is leaving the band, but it is even more sad for New York City LC! fans that we have to see them play in Webster Hall.  I hate that place…at least LC! can make any venue positive.

Aleks left a personal note on the LC! blog this morning, and I don’t really feel that it is appropriate to quote it, but if you would like to read it…you can find it here.

End Note: I had a lot of problems getting this post up…sorry for multiple track backs, wrong twitter links, and any other problems that might have occurred.  I think I have everything straight now.  Again sorry for any confusion.

This past weekend Los Campesinos! played two sold out shows at the Bowery Ballroom.  Below are some pictures that I took during the Valentines Day show (2/14/09).  This first one is my favorite.

for more of my photos click here.

This list has taken much longer than expected.  There were a bunch of albums that I liked in 2008, but I feel that this is pretty comprehensive, but the ones that made this list I truly liked from beginning to end…in my opinion solid records.

For example, I really loved the No Kids record (Come into My House), but I was much more into the R&B songs versus the world music songs…and for that reason it didn’t make my list.

Some things got left off because I didn’t get them til early 2009 (examples are Wavves- s/t and Castanets – City of Refuge), but somethings that I didn’t get into until the end of 2008 shot up to the top ten (mainly Grouper).  I was going to do a top 10, but I have been into the blogging and I wanted to do something bigger (also see my best of 7″ and 12″ singles of 2008).

Welcome to my Top 25 albums of 2008:

25. Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls (Mauled By Tigers Records / In the Red)

24. Eat Skull- Sick to Death (Siltbreeze)

23. Abe Vigoda – Skeleton (Post Present Medium)

22. Desolation Wilderness- White Light Strobing (K Records)

21. Matmos – Supreme Balloon (Matador)

20. Arthur Russell – Love is Overtaking Me (Audika)

19.  The Dodos – Visitor (French Kiss)

18.  Xiu Xiu – Women as Lovers (Kill Rock Stars)

17. David Byrne & Brian Eno – Everything that Happens Will Happen Today (self released)

16. Beach House – Devotion (Carpark)

15. The Magnetic Fields- Distortion (Nonesuch)

14. Titus Andronicus – Airing of Grievances (Troubleman Unlimited)

13. Bonnie Prince Billy- Lie Down in The Light (Drag City)

12. Lord Dog Bird - s/t (Jagjaguwar)

11. Burning Star Core – Challenger (Hospital Productions/ Plastic Records)

10. No Age – Nouns (Sub Pop)

9. Thee Oh Sees- The Master’s Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In (Tom Lab)

8. Times NewViking- Rip it Off (Matador)

7. High Places- High Places (Thrill Jockey)

6. Karl Blau- Nature’s Got Away / AM (K Records / Whistler)

5. Grouper- Dragging a Dead Deer Up A Hill (Type)

4. Deerhunter – Microcastle / Weird Era Cont. (Kranky)

3. Mount Eerie- Dawn / Lost Wisdom / Black Wooden Ceiling Opening (P.W. Elverum and Suns)

2. The Music Tapes- For Clouds and Tornadoes (Merge)

1. Los Campesinos! - Hold on Now, Youngster / We are Beautiful, We are Doomed (Wichita/Arts & Crafts)

Los Campesinos!, who made two of my favorite records of 2008, are about to hit the road with Titus Andronicus, but before the tour kicks off they are going to play a free in store at Sound Fix tomorrow.

I know these shows at Sound Fix can be super crowded, but it’s not so often you get to see a band the size (both physically and popularity) of Los Campesinos! play such a small venue.  I just hope that I can get there early enough to make it inside.

If it is half as good as when the Mountain Goats or Jens Lekman played there it will be amazing.

If not I guess I’ll see them in February.

Video for “Death to Los Campesinos!”

Photo via the Guardian UK.