Lisztomania: My Top 5 Sets at 2011's Pitchfork Music Fest

Because everybody loves lists...
For the third year straight, I attended Pitchfork's music festival in Union Park, Chicago. For three days, I battled through hot heat and hangovers to see some great--and not so great--bands selected by the indie kingmakers themselves.

Here's a list of my five favourite performances, in no particular order...

Lisztomania - The Top 15 Records of 2011 (So Far)

Because everybody loves lists...
As you've probably read elsewhere, we've reached that just-about halfway mark in the year (and the official start of summer, whoo) so it's time for every music publication to rattle off their favourite records of the the past six months. As is my due blogging diligence, I'm throwing my hat in the ring, keeping my list to a stout 15.

An exercise like this can be a weird one though. A Stereogum commenter put it well when he wrote, "These lists are snapshots in time, snapshots take time to develop. We’ll see what more exposure brings come winter time."

It's hard to accurately rank albums I've spent so little time with and who knows where or if they'll show up on my year-end list--plus, there's that looming issue of albums I haven't even heard yet. Regardless, here are the LPs I've been spinning nonstop since I first got my ears on them...

- 2011's Top 15 Albums (So Far) -
15. Woods - Sun & Shade
14. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
13. SBTRKT - SBTRKT
12. Julian Lynch - Terra
11. Ducktails - Arcade Dynamics

10. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
09. White Denim - D
08. Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place
07. Zomby - Dedication
06. Wild Beasts - Smother

05. The Weeknd - House of Balloons
04. Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
03. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver*
02. Pure X - Pleasure
01. James Blake - James Blake

*Includes the album's three bonus tracks.

Like the list? Click on each album title for its respective download link.

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Springtime or Time to Download Citizen Mix Vol. VI

Springtime's here. I think. Growing up in Michigan, I try not to get too excited when the weather starts getting warmer. And who knows, maybe I'll begrudge the heat once New York turns into a oven of humidity like last year. In honor of my recently-dusted air-conditioner, a decent start to the Detroit Tiger's baseball season and the return of skirt weather, I put together this mixtape...

Click here to download Citizen Mix Vol. VI - April 2011
Tracklist:

1. Deerhunter - Hazel St.
2. Beach Fossils - Calyer
3. Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
4. Zoo Kid - Ocean Bed
5. Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game
6. Junip - In Every Direction
7. A-Trak - Ray Ban Vision (Luckybeard Remix)
8. Burnt Ones - Gonna Listen to T. Rex (All Night Long)
9. Donnis - Ring My Bell
10. Toro y Moi - Leave Everywhere
11. The Fresh & Onlys - Don't You Be Half-Hearted
12. Fleet Foxes - Montezuma

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Robin Pecknold Drops Some New Folky Tunes on Twitter

Yesterday, Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold dropped a free, three-song EP via Twitter. S'all good if your a fan of harmonies, acoustic guitars, and/or beards.

Right-Click + Save Link As:

Robin Pecknold - I'm Losing Myself (feat. Ed Droste)

Robin Pecknold - Derwentwater Stones

Robin Pecknold - Where Is My Wild Rose

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Fleet Foxes Debut Helplessness Blues - Yep, Still Great

Folkies rejoice, Fleet Foxes have returned. "Helplessness Blues" is the first taste of the band's eagerly anticipated sophomore record, aptly titled Helplessness Blues.

I press play, close my eyes, and instantly picture July. I'm back home for the summer, driving the wooded, winding roads from Harbor Springs to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. I can smell the birch trees. I can feel the sunlight on my skin.

Keep and eye out for this one, the beards and baroque harmonies are officially back on May 3rd when the album drops via Subpop.

Yeah I'm tongue tied and dizzy / And I can't keep it to myself / What good is it to sing helplessness blues? / Why should I wait for anyone else?

Right-Click + Save Link As:

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

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