http://www.npr.org/series/142852713/50-favorite-albums-of-2011-from-npr-music
probably had to be there: Tom Waits - Bad As Me
there even though everyone is sick of it: Adele - 21
dunno why it’s there: Sonny Rollins - Road Shows, Vol. 2
glad it’s there: Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
some hipster kid put it there: James Blake - James Blake
shoulda been there: Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation
Coldplay releases Mylo Xyloto, which proves not interesting enough for me to have listened to it yet.
Florence + the Machine album Ceremonials slated Oct. 31st hits internet in stream. Can it still be found?
Newbury Comics (in Boston) claims to have received something by Phantogram called Nightlife available for 6.99. Website says mini-album isn’t out til 11/1. Investigation pending.
She & Him release A Very She & Him Christmas, though I’m certainly not ready.
caught my ear
Future Islands // Team Me // Portugal, The Man // Alex Winston // Sons & Lovers // Kyla La Grange // Great Mountain Fire // Neon Indian
I read an interview some time ago where somebody asked Justin Vernon why he released For Emma, Forever Ago as Bon Iver instead of as Justin Vernon. His answer, and I’m paraphrasing over maybe two years time, was that he wanted to give fans of the music something that was theirs, something that could be theirs, something that wasn’t him.
At the time, I thought this was ample justification for my own music moniker (then White Bear Lake) despite not having any bandmates (or, then, intention of bandmates). In reality, I’ve never liked my name, and I didn’t see it being evident of myself or my music, not like Van Morrison or Andrew Bird or Steely Dan.
I passed through a number of other monikers (Yolanda & Steve…, Common Courtesy and The Presidents, The Presidents, Yours) and would still lay claim to membership in Mister James Diver and 1930’s Era Hominid, defunct though they may currently be by distance. Quite recently I changed from Yours (it’s taken) to River Fox.
What I’ve noticed in a very short amount of time is really the opposite of what Justin Vernon said. Or maybe not the opposite, but the supplement. The 180 degrees of what he said. The name has given the music something to be. It’s forming a sound. River Fox only resembles all the other stuff I’ve done. It’s terribly exciting.
An LP is in the works. I hope to release it this January.
And the Steely Dan thing was a joke.
