Bears And Bullets Albums Of The Year (#10-#1)

Continuing from yesterday, here are the top ten selections for Bears and Bullets Top Albums Of 2012:

Lollapalooza 2012: Day Two Review

If we're keeping a tally, and we aren't, Lollapalooza's Saturdays usually end up being the strongest of the weekend. In 2008, it was Rage Against The Machine. In 2009, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs filled in for The Beastie Boys when MCA was first diagnosed with cancer. In 2010, Phoenix played the biggest show of the band's career. And last year, it was front and center for My Morning Jacket.

Predictably, 2012's Saturday stacked up as the strongest day of the weekend with the top-billed headliner Red Hot Chili Peppers slated to perform on the park's south side. But why Saturday ended up being the most memorable of the weekend was for completely different reasons.

Day Two:

Glancing at Saturday's schedule, there was enough quality acts to not only fill out the day, but to skip entirely. Looking at it again, there were several very-notable acts I neglected to see, including the aforementioned Chili Peppers. The trip started early with FIDLAR.

FIDLAR

Every year there's one small band that every Lolla-goer that ventures outside of Perry's falls in love with. For me, seeing FIDLAR at the Double-Door the previous Thursday really helped solidify their reputation as one of the most fun punk acts around. So while I was plenty familiar with the setlist, including a scorching closer of "Wake Bake Skate" in which lead singer Zac Carper jumped into a frenzied crowd to spit off the final 30 seconds, the excitement never dwindled. As one of the very few punk shows of the weekend, it was a fun change of pace and worth the early Saturday heat.

Pushing quickly while trying to cool down as much as I could, the next move was to Jeff The Brotherhood and right to Delta Spirit. Both performances were spirited, especially considering how extraordinary the heat had become during the Midwest's lengthy drought. Delta Spirit lead-singer Matthew Vasquez, at the end of his performance, was dunking his head in buckets of water and pouring them on eager fans jumping in the front rows. Still drenched in his own sweat, he nearly passed out at the end from the pure exhaustion.



Thereafter, the day drifted in another direction. Dry, grey clouds set an overcast - something most of us wanted but kind of feared at the same time. Venturing off, you noticed merchandising tents closing and small flocks gathering towards the entrance. If you were in the park last Saturday, in Chicago, or just watching CNN, you know what followed - a full evacuation. The rain is never so much of an issue as wind and lightning are. Considering those factors, along with a recent string of stage collapses at music festivals, the evacuation was actually a very good thing. For those who made it out and didn't waste their time, taking a break and letting the park cool down made the night that much more pleasant.

The delay only lasted from 3:30-6 p.m., pushing other performances back just an hour. Almost immediately upon reentry, The Tallest Man On Earth resumed Lolla festivities with one of the weekend's best sets. Going on over his scheduled play time, Kristian Matsson never seemed to slow down. Rounding off hit after hit from his previous three albums, it was clear that he resonated deeply with his fans who never seemed to leave.

Tallest Man On Earth

From then on, electing to skip both Franz Ferdinand and The Weeknd, I made a station at the Google Play stage through Washed Out, Twin Shadow and that night's headliner Frank Ocean.

Washed Out

While Washed Out did what they could considering their circumstances, and Frank Ocean's set was electric, the curiosity of the night laid with Twin Shadow. Sound problems and a rushed set forced the band for an extremely quick set (about seven songs), but what was seen was absolutely electric. The benefit of playing later at night than originally scheduled added a special element, which also leaked into Ocean's set.

Frank Ocean

Personal sets - truly personal - are actually fairly rare during music festivals. But for those around for Ocean's set, you truly felt a personal vibe. His on stage props streamed constant cartoons that any of his fans can identify with, while he constantly addressed his screaming onlookers. Culminating with the full 10-minute version of "Pyramids," it was a stellar way to end things on a very eventful Saturday.

Best Performances: FIDLAR, Tallest Man On Earth, Twin Shadow, Frank Ocean
Worst Performances: Washed Out

Highlights: "Wake Bake Skate" by FIDLAR, "There's No Leaving Now" by The Tallest Man On Earth, "Five Seconds" by Twin Shadow, "Pyramids" by Frank Ocean.
Lowlights: Evacuation

Lollapalooza 2012 Must-See Artists Pt. IV

Today we'll continue our Lollapalooza countdown with part four.

#4: The Tallest Man On Earth
Obsession doesn't necessarily explain my recent fascination with The Tallest Man On Earth. Of course, I have an absolute urge to hear anything and everything Kristian Matsson creates, and I'm fairly confident saying that he's my favorite new artist in the past several years - but obsession is a strong word. In reality, I'm just very sure that he's one of the best artists working today and his ultra-romantic folk music is otherworldly.

Matsson will be performing at 5:15 p.m. on the Playstation stage, Saturday, August 4.



#3: M83
Even before 2011's utterly spectacular Hurry Up, We're Dreaming was released, M83 were something of a joyful enigma. The work of Anthony Gonzalez hasn't appeared at Lollapalooza since 2005 - the first official year the festival was stationed in Grant Park, standing with smaller festivals and venues for a few years.

However, after the band's last album and standout single "Midnight City," the band has become a full-tilt must see act, growing in popularity faster than ever before. And after their celebrated performance at Coachella, it's hard to say that M83 isn't one of the biggest non-headliners this year.

Gonzalez and the band will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on the Sony stage, Friday, August 3.



We'll continue with Part V tomorrow ...

Tallest Man on Earth - Leading Me Now (Live)

From the frequently mentioned There's No Leaving Now album from The Tallest Man On Earth, this live cut of "Leading Me Now" comes courtesy as a promo from California's Carmel Guitar Co. Check out the video below and stop waiting to listen to the album.

Albums of the Month: June 2012

Albums of the Month - June 2012

With summer officially beginning, we're more than halfway through 2012. While the year started out casually slow, the succession of months has really displayed some intensely original and invigorating material. This past month featured one of the year's most hyped releases (and it delivered!), emerging artists, and one man who shows up on Bears and Bullets fairly often. Here are my favorite three.

3.) Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

Continually rising in from the San Francisco garage scene, Ty Segall's stamp on 2012 is more profound than ever. With his band's album Slaughterhouse (Insound), a blistering charm of cruising garage punk, an album collaboration with White Fence, and an upcoming tour with fellow San Fran-soon-to-be-legends Thee Oh Sees, Segall affirmed his name as the apparent torch-bearer to the late Jay Reatard. While there still seems to be a way to go before his name is put on the same pedestal as the Nashville punk pioneer, Slaughterhouse is the next step in that progression. Still unquestionably raw, especially on tracks like "The Bag I'm In," Segall put together his finest album yet.

2.) Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel ...
This year's front-runner for longest album title, the ageless (seriously, I don't think she ages) icon Fiona Apple's first album in seven years, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (Insound) continues the confusing mad-woman allure that is Fiona. She's cleverly affectionate, playing with the ideas of need, desire, and love to the point where the definition is null. There are few who can do this, mending through unconventional rhythms and vocal renditions to the poignant stories in songs like "Werewolf" and "Anything We Want." It's those sweetly chaotic moments, with Apple dolling out melancholy verse between odd-ball sounds, that give you a moment to step into the 34-year-old genius' mind. And maybe it doesn't make sense to you, but there's a serene satisfaction knowing it does to her.

1.) The Tallest Man On Earth - There's No Leaving Now
If you're familiar with Bears and Bullets, then you're aware of my outward affection of Kristian Mattson, The Tallest Man On Earth. On his third album, and first since 2010's The Wild Hunt, Mattson has found his unavoidable niche. The jarring, unequivocally saddening and uplifting style of modern folk music is usually nothing more than acoustics and an occasional piano, but his romantic verses are what keep pushing the limits of his artistic flexibility. Songs like the title track and "Little Brother" are impossibly emotional, evoking scenes that very, very few others are even capable of. But maybe I'm biased. 

New Tallest Man on Earth - 1904

There's something consistently astonishing from Kristian Mattson, more familiarly known as The Tallest Man on Earth. The first track from the Swede's upcoming There's No Leaving Now album leaked today, "1904." The album is scheduled for release June 12 via Dead Oceans, but there's no reason to wait. Grab "1904" here, via Rolling Stone.

Tuesday Bears: New Tallest Man on Earth - Weather of a Killing Kind

It seems Kristian Mattson, better known as the Tallest Man on Earth, has leapfrogged pretty much every artist outside of Radiohead in the, "Makes Me Jump Out of Bed" category of music; pretty odd to say of a folk artist, in that respect.

Adult Swim premiered the sixth song in their 2011 Singles Program with Mattson's heavily anticipated "Weather of a Killing Kind." For fans aware of the Tallest Man on Earth sound, its yet another solid example of his no-doubt-about-it excellent craftsmanship. For those who haven't heard him yet, please, please get to it.

The Tallest Man On Earth - Weather Of A Killing Kind by Bears and Bullets

Friday Bears: New Best Coast video - Gone Again

Daniel Garcia's new video for Best Coast's "Gone Again" is the second in Adult Swim's Singles Program, running since early June to August, with new videos from Mastodon, the Tallest Man on Earth, and more.

Yeah, the slow-motion and army scenario makes it seem somewhat ominous, but once the Snacks masks go on, no one should be worried.

Best Coast - Gone Again

Thursday Bears: New Tallest Man on Earth

Late last night, Consequence of Sound (via TwentyFourBit) we got first listen to The Tallest Man on Earth's (Kristian Mattson, if you forgot) newest, as of yet untitled song, from a live performance in his native Sweden. It's one of the rarer Mattson tracks supported by something aside from his acoustic variations, with subtle piano and drums crossing through the back. But more importantly, it's impossibly beautiful; a term I don't like to use too often.

Albeit live, it's definitely worth a listen.

Thursday Bears: New Tallest Man on Earth video - Love is All

The newest video for "Love is All" by the Tallest Man on Earth, off the Swede's latest album The Wild Hunt is a delicate showcase of a childhood Kristian Matsson, who, by this time, has achieved a wide status as one of the best folk artists in the world in only two short years.

Take it in.

The Tallest Man on Earth - Love is All

Tallest Man on Earth on Tunnelvision

The Tallest Man on Earth, less commonly known by his real name, Kris Matsson, recently performed his new singles "The Wild Hunt" and "King of Spain" on Pitchfork TV's Tunnelvision series.

The songs come from Matsson's superb new album The Wild Hunt, in which the Swedish folk singer/songwriter firmly establishes himself as one of the genres best (a good understatement) new artists. The performance was filmed in front of the aged back-drop of Manhattan's Highline Park, in case you were wondering.

The Wild Hunt is available now via Dead Oceans Records.

Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt and King of Spain