Friday Tunes, Part I

Due to bandwith issues and a general over-population in my /music folder, I’m going to start doing Friday Tunes, leaving the Soundblox with a few songs, updating not quite as frequently [or as prolifically] as before. Friday Tunes will typically up to ten songs that I’ve been enjoying the past week, a la Mark [who, by the way, happens to be a cutie. A married cutie.] complete with links to purchase if you are so inclined.

This week’s tunes are sort of all over the place. I hope you enjoy. Slow download speed? If you’re one of my pals, I’ll email a song to you.

Euphone is Ryan Rapsys, a dude who never fails to make me think “How the hell is that even possible?” when I listen to him play. Euphone is percussion-driven instrumental music that makes you want to dance, sing, and ogle. Rapsys’ resume finds him included in such projects as Gauge and Joan of Arc, but his talent far surpasses any of those unions. To get a true feel for his talent, one has to listen to Euphone’s first, self-titled album, uninterrupted. Then imagine one man on stage performing the songs. Then imagine he gets Tim Kinsella to play guitar. Then imagine him behind a drum set again, performing with such precision and clarity that you honestly can’t believe there isn’t anything in life that you are even remotely as talented at. You won’t cry, though, it’s that good.

[Euphone: An Island I’d Love to Live On]
[Euphone: Message From Touhy Bay]
[Euphone: Two Basic Colors]

Purchase the beginning: Euphone: Self-Titled

Here’s what else I’m listening to this week:

Akron Family is immensely listen-able, and this song makes me smile.

[Akron Family: Dylan]

Before there was Blink 182 or Yellow Card, there was a little band in Little Rock called Red Forty. Pop punk from back when pop punk meant something. Like, back when Jawbreaker’s Unfun was hot.

[Red Forty]

“If you like your pop music a bit psychedelic and quirky, but you still like to be able to whistle along, Demon is the album of 2005 for you.” info

[Envelopes: Audrey in the Country]

Stereogum shared Matt Pond’s version of Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” from The O.C. this week, and I have to admit I’ve been enjoying it. Hey, it’s not the original (by a long shot), but Matt has a pretty sweet voice. I don’t mean sweet in the Bill and Ted sense, either.

[Matt Pond PA: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea ]

I don’t remember where I found this track, but it’s been playing all week. I get made fun of for listening to sad, quiet music, but you know I Wear Black on the Outside Because Black is How I Feel on the Inside so shut up.

[Low [with Mark Kozelek]: Albuquerque ]

Songs will be available for about a week [until next Friday’s installment]

God. You kick ass.

Internet, tell Miss D she kicks ass. Thanks for sharing your good taste with us.

[I wear black on the outside, too, *sniff*]

I hope you like it, Supa!

Awesome! I like the format and the idea! It gives me something to look foward to…in the same way that I look foward to Post Secret’s Sunday.

I can’t wait to listen to these picks. I hope your hearing is better than you sight!

A Cutie?!?

Oh Mark, don’t be coy.

I was lucky enough to stumble on a copy of the Red 40 discography CD a few years back after years of playing the seven inch I had to shreds. It’s a really great record but I have no idea if it’s even out there to be found any more.

Missed a chance to see Red 40 play just barely but was cool to see the lead singer do the Red 40 song Outsiders with his new band Lucero though.

Anyway cool stuff you posted.