Alright, here we go. 2013. I did a little personal inventory'ing and tasking over the weekend and really think this year is going to be a banner year for all the projects I've involved myself in. I've got great feelings about VHX, I'm going to continue to flesh out this latest version of yewknee, I've got no less than five records on the schedule for yk records, a redesign for We Own This Town worked up in my head and maybe even a resurgence of few other projects if I've got time along the way.

Hopefully you've got something big planned as well. If so, do you track your progress anywhere? Do you broadcast your plans to create some public responsibility for yourself? Does such a site exist?

tremendomore

The folks over at Unpakt recently launched their service allowing users to compare prices between moving companies - sort of like Priceline for Movers. As promotion for their existence, they're putting together a series of videos looking at different companies and how they exist in the physical world. There's a slight disconnect there but go with it! The first video in the series, Innovators on the Move: Casey & Jamie profiles the fearless leaders at VHX - along with the rest of the New York team. I was fortunate enough to be in town when they shot this so I appear to be part of the local team! Huzzah!

It's a great video and I'll be sure to check out Unpakt the next time I'm on the move.

Right at the tail end of 2012, Self played a reunion show at Exit/In. Given that my first professional foray into the World of Web was at Spongebath Records, I was quite excited. I had the honor of getting a t-shirt made for the event so I turned to Lee Floyd to help out in the illustration department. In no time flat he had conjured up this great design and we were off and running. There are still a few shirts left so nab one while you can. They may* never be printed again!

* that's a guess, they may do a reprint of hundreds more. I've really no idea. Regardless, go get one

hippykiller1

kyle

kyle

Shallow Rewards

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wwwm24ru

photoopsmusic

I'm not quite ready to return to fulltime blog duties yet but I did want to give a heads up that I, finally, finished off a mix that's been sitting in my Inbox Playlist since mid-November. Lost in the Fog is a rather lengthy compilation but I think it covers a lot of solid, enjoyable, ground. I plan on having my 2012 Summation Mixes done soon enough but, in the meantime, this is a real ear treat.

Lost in the Fog
[ Single MP3 | Single M4A | Individual MP3 ZIP | Stream It ]

1. TV Torso - Clear Lake Strangler
2. Feral Hymns - The Sense of Collapse
3. Tame Impala - Apocalypse Dreams
4. The Faint - Evil Voices
5. Forget Cassettes - Lady Lazarus
6. TETTIX - Pestolence
7. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dreamsicle Bomb
8. The Octopus Project - Mmmkit
9. Penicillin Baby - Television
10. Jasmin Kaset - The Salesman
11. Nahnee Bori - Singing to the Night
12. Roy Ira - The Dustbowl
13. XTC - I'd Like That
14. Fiona Apple - Dull Tool
15. Tony Castles - Senators at the Rodeo
16. Stereolab - Captain Easychord
17. Moondog - D For Danny
18. springtime carnivore - Last One To Know
19. Jason Lytle - Your Final Setting Sun

PvPcom

JWATNL

fishytautog

Ted Martens

Sander van den Berg

David Mattingly

DraykeFields

At some point in early 2012 I decided it would be a good idea to choose a band with a deep catalog and familiarize myself with their entirety of offerings. After a little consideration I decided it was high time to dive fully into the works of XTC. I was already a huge fan of Black Sea, had enjoyed what I'd heard from Drums and Wires and had it on good authority that I wouldn't be disappointed if I continued onward. --more-- I can officially say that I met my goal and procured their White Music to Wasp Star, I've heard it all (minus the Dukes of the Stratosphear stuff). On the whole, the band delivered exactly what I expected they would - smart songs that evolve over their long career from punk-era art to flourishing pop. If you are not already, I suggest you getting familiar with their back story, read up on their highly revered status and dive right in. But where to start?

The first two records, White Music and Go2, might be a little abrasive to keep you locked in so I say you start where I did - with Black Sea. Or, just dive into this handy playlist I made you that should give you a pretty decent overview.

I'd call the experiment a success. The question is now, what artist do I tackle in 2013?