JayeL Audio

I don’t know why I didn’t see this coming. Combining my current favorite Atlanta band and one of my favorite Southern rock classics, Turf War meets CCR. Turf War gives “Bad Moon” a little extra twang and Southern garage rock. Why not?
Bad Moon Rising by turfwar
Turf War on tour:
2/10 – ATLANTA, GA – 529 BAR
2/11 – AUGUSTA, GA – SOUL BAR
2/12 – BIRMINGHAM, AL – WORKPLAY
2/13 – NEW ORLEANS, LA – SIBERIA
2/14 – AUSTIN, TX – 29TH STREET BALLROOM
2/15 – DENTON, TX – ANDY’S BAR
2/16 – NORMAN, OK – THE DELI
2/17 – TULSA, OK – SOUNDPONY
2/18 – MEMPHIS, TN – LAMPLIGHTER

As we continue on. Here are #30-#21 of my favorite joints of 2011. Stream the whole list at Spotify (and tell a friend).
#40-#31

30. The Weeknd – The Morning
Abil Tesfaye turned mystery into a buzz R&B hasn’t seen since Drake traded a wheel chair for a mic. “The Morning” capitalizes on that mystery crafting an ode to strippers that utilizes a beat Timbaland and Missy wish they created in the Ginuwine/Aaliyah days.

29. Toro y Moi – New Beat
The funk of “New Beat” creeps up on you when you aren’t expecting it. Toro Y Moi’s thinly veiled syncopated rhymes and falsetto expertly blend with the cacophony of synth and 70′s disco grooves. If Off the Wall era Michael Jackson were here he would be impressed.

28. St. Vincent – Cruel
Stranger Mercy has many star making moments, but “Cruel” finds Annie Clark at her most pop friendly moment. From the enchanting string opening, to Clark’s bubbling vocals and the see-saw guitar make a fetching song out of the narrator’s lament of spiteful human nature. Something many songwriters can’t do.

27. The War On Drugs – Baby Missles
The video for “Baby Missles” sets the tone perfectly for The War on Drugs’ throwback rock sound. A little Boss, some Joy Division and a slice of Arcade Fire influence this insistent track about exploration and discovery. The harmonica kills it on this one.

26. Frank Ocean – Novacane
Ocean may have graduated to the big leagues by being asked to work with Jay-Z, Kanye West and Beyonce, but I still think his own work trumps his recent assignments. The inescapable emotional journey of “Novacane” compares viagara, Auto Tune and affections of multiple women to the feeling of draining his body numb.

25. Alabama Shakes – I Found You
Could there be a band with more buzz going into 2012? The Alabama Shakes exploded with a 4 track self-titled EP full of soul-inspired blues songs with blistering enthusiam by lead singer Brittany Howard. “I Found You” expresses the jubliation of a newly discovered love.

24. Caveman – Thankful
“Thankful” beckons with lead singer Matthew Iwanusa’s airy vocals amid a subtle combo of percussion, warble guitar and synth. The dreamlike track floats by with the repetitive phrase: “thankful are my friends with remorse”.

23. Cut Copy – Hanging On To Every Heartbeat
Cut Copy managed to slow down their whirring parade of rock and dance anthems on Zonoscope for a song perfect for a walk on the beach. Part Empire of the Sun, part MGMT, “Hanging On To Every Heartbeat” balances psychedelic effects with enough guitar strumming to allow you to “drift away so you might never see the light of day”.

22. M83 – Steve McQueen
Anthony Gonzalez aka M83 frontman is an expert in these types of new wave/ambient anthems. It doesn’t get much more epic than the outro of “Steve McQueen” and shouting “just waiting” over and over.

21. Turf War – Cheers to the Years
In what I can only describe as southern garage rock, Turf War crafted their catchiest track yet in “Cheers To The Years”. Be sure to bang this on your next drive through the deep South.

photo via Joakim Johnson and available for purchase at Threadless.

New music time. It may only be July, but this edition may have one of my favorite tracks of the year in Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know”. Go ahead and try to ignore the chemistry with Kimbra and the chorus that will somehow inch into your mind multiple times a day. Aside from that bombshell, Wilco, Mumford & Sons, The Drums and Real Estate show off wares from their next efforts. Tennis and She & Him showcase female driven throwback covers and Fair Ohs continue on their threat to own summer of 2011. Later, Heavy Roc artist Samuel gets his Postal Service on in honorable fashion and The Knux come up with a summer anthem with the help of Scott Mescudi. Last but not least, GA’s own Turf War comes up with their most potent offering yet in “Cheers To The Years.” Ask Laura, I haven’t stopped listening to it for two weeks.

JayeL Audio 7-26-11 – DOWNLOAD (.rar)

1. Wilco – I Might
2. She & Him – Oh Boy (Buddy Holly cover)
3. Turf War – Cheers to the Years
4. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know ft Kimbra
5. Mumford & Sons – Home (live on KBCO)
6. me&LP – La Belle Tocade
7. Jonquil – Get Up
8. Swimsuit – Sunlight (.mp3)
9. Acid House Kings – Under water
10. My Morning Jacket – Holdin On To Black Metal
11. Real Estate – Its Real
12. Fair Ohs – Everything is Dancing
13. Sean Bones – If You Hear A Knock
14. The Knux – Run ft Kid Cudi
15. Fitz & the Tantrums – Dear Mr. President
16. The Drums – Money
17. Samuel – Say Goodbye (.mp3)
18. Atlas Genius – Trojans (.mp3)
19. Theophilus London – I Stand Alone
20. Radical Something – Long Hair Don’t Care
21. Chromeo – When The Night Falls ft Solange (Breakbot Remix)
22. Tennis – Is It True (Brenda Lee Cover)
23. Trails – Animal (Miike Snow cover)

Let me know your favorites in the comments. Seriously.

Nothin’ wrong with some new Turf War. “Cheers To The Years” still has a bit of that garage rock these guys are so good at, but I’m feelin’ the Americana-tinge as well. Turf War’s Years Of Living Dangerously will be on the shelves (whats the term for digital shelves?) in September courtesy of Old Flame Records.

Turf War – Cheers To The Years (via Aquarium Drunkard)

Catch Turf War at these upcoming dates:
July 22 – Caledonia Lounge – Athens, GA
July 27th – The Earl with The Boom Bang and Ghost Bikini
July 30 – Buckhead Music Festival – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA

Speaking of summa summa time, Creative Loafing just let loose a self explanatory track from Atlanta’s own (by way of Augusta), Turf War. “Summer Time Booze” is about exactly what you think, but with Turf War’s signature garage rock and with a little bit of surf guitar to go along with it.
summertime booze by turfwar
Also check out previously released jam “Part Of My Heart”:
Turf War – Part of My Heart by favoritegentlemen
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