photo set | dslr | december thirteen

photo set | dslr | december thirteen

photo set | 4x5 view camera | december thirteen

photo | dslr | november thirteen

video | dead ghosts | summer with phil

mp3: (right click, save link as) download here.

previously on butyouwould: dead ghosts »

photo set | 4x5 view camera | november thirteen

stream | blood orange & samantha urbani | you're not good enough

in keeping with this posting business, it seems it would only make sense to throw up a cut alongside yesterday's photos. fresh off the interwebs' proverbial press, new york's, devonte hynes just released a funky, smooth killer that—for one reason or another—conjures up memories of talking heads' "naive melody" and that 70's prince chilled-out funk crud we know so well. "you're not good enough," the second single to be released from blood orange's upcoming cupid deluxe lp (due november 18 via domino), features the sultry, lady vocals of hynes' friends counterpart, samantha urbani, gently laced over a simultaneously unassuming yet sophisticated pop track. halloween is over; get off the spooky shit and indulge in the slick, guilt-free r&b stream above and keep your eyes out for the record release next month.

photo set | 4x5 view camera | october thirteen

photo | dslr | may twelve

photo | dslr | august thirteen

photo | dslr | august thirteen

photo | dslr | august thirteen

mp3 | a$ap rocky x ryan hemsworth | thuggin' noise

the latest cut to emerge from the canadian producer extraordinaire, ryan hemsworth, is an abomination of sorts. less of a remix, and more of a mash-up, hemsworth's take on "thuggin' noise" throws the relatively aggressive vocals of a$ap rocky's verse from the a$ap mob's 2012 mixtape lord$ never worry over a dreamy, reworked version of britney spears' "everytime." upon the first couple of listens we remained skeptical but give it a run through and you'll find yourself inadvertently chanting the hook before you know it. like so many successful directors of marketing, hemsworth weaves a twinkling tapestry of infectious hip-pop bliss that burrows it's way into your subconscious. be sure to give it a stream above and snag the (right click, save link as) download here via gorillavsbear.

previously on butyouwould: ryan hemsworth »

photo | dslr | july thirteen

photo | dslr | july thirteen

mp3 | the orwells | who needs you

the chicago based upstarts the orwells have rapidly become one of the most prolific rock and roll talents in recent memory, releasing their topnotch other voices ep last month and going straight to work on their upcoming who needs you ep—which is slated for a september 10 release date via canvasback. the first single to hit the web shares the title with the album itself and is immediately recognizable as the floor-stomping rock we've come to love and expect out of the boys. as with the stellar other voices cut from their last release, "who needs you" was also produced by tv on the radio's dave sitek, lending a proper recording but nourishing the unapologetic, straightforward sound that is the orwells. stream above and grab the (right click, save link as) download here.

previously on butyouwould: the orwells »

video | gap dream | chill spot

previously on butyouwould: gap dream »

photo | dslr | july thirteen

photo | dslr | july thirteen

photo | dslr | july thirteen

photo | dslr | july thirteen

stream | ariel pink & jorge elbrecht | hang on to life

about a month back the eccentric, ariel pink—los angeles-based rocker we're all quite familiar with these days—teamed up with jorge elbrecht of violens (and perhaps more obviously, ariel pink's haunted graffiti).  the newly-formed duo put out a collaborative seven-inch via mexican summer with the chilled-out track, "hang on to life," accounting for the entirety of the a-side. admittedly embracing a style with evident and numerous parallels to their former compilations, the cut comes off as lighthearted fun with lofty melodies and harmonies paired with informal yet equally evocative lyrics. the whole process feels natural and results in a jam that's smooth as crud. go ahead and give it a stream above; it does well to melt the woes of the midweek malaise.

stream | the memories | en espanol

we featured the memories a couple years back, long enough to where it's not worth linking because the formatting has changed rather drastically between now and then. since that time we've had the privilege of hanging out with the guys from the memories and with the the recent release of their second full-length love is the law, it only seemed appropriate to show them some love. the night we spent with the boys was as memorable as any night with your favorite kind, boozed, baked and lighthearted derelicts tends to be—with the addition of some wonderfully choreographed wrestling matches illuminated by trash-fueled firelight as a proverbial cherry on top. their label, burger records, actually sums up the buds and their music quite accurately:

...but most importantly, it’s honest. there’s not a lie to be found in these songs. these songs are the memories.

“all the songs came naturally,” says rikky gage (vocals, rhythm guitar). “kyle [handley] would write the music and i'd write the words. all the lyrics are about things that we know or do,” he says. “all the songs are written from the stuff i got laying around in my memories, fresh and old,” explains gage. band name mystery solved!

stream the first, catchy-as-fuck single "en espanol" above and support the boys via their modest and appropriately ornamented bandcamp.

stream | warm soda | tell me in a whisper

the oakland-based and self-proclaimed "glam," rock n roll band warm soda just dropped their new ep tell me in a whisper early this month, via the italian label goodbye boozy. the first of the two tracks on the album—which shares the same name—is drenched in the kind of candy-sweet pop that's almost too much. almost. a slight divergence from their previous work leaves us with a slower but equally charming rendition of the band's patented style, crooning the type of pop bliss melodies that aggressively latch their hooks in and stay for good. "tell me in a whisper," is a perfect track for a laid-back and beautifully mild sunday afternoon. give it a stream above and be sure to check out more of their crud and show support by way of their bandcamp.

photo | dslr | july thirteen

photo set | dslr | july thirteen

video | the orwells | blood bubbles

previously on butyouwould: the orwells »

stream | dent may | born too late

the new infectious ditty out of the tirelessly charismatic dent may, "born too late," first showed up on our radar about a week back. since then, the track's proven it has the staying power to persevere beyond the would-be honeymoon phase and we're still diggin it big time. the debut single from august 27's forthcoming warm blanket full-length (via animal collective's paw tracks) is a real charmer with breakdowns funky enough to get a frickin corpse vibin while may's familiarly authentic and refreshing vocal stylings soar above cathartic melodies and relatively subtle brass. it might also be worth mentioning that may wrote, produced and recorded the album himself out of his allegedly haunted victorian home in st augustine, florida. in keeping with this summer theme business, "born too late," is great for an out back evening bbq with the buds and babes.  give it a stream above and throw some cheeseburgers on the grill for us while you're at it.

previously on butyouwould: dent may »

mp3 | joey bada$$ | amethyst rockstar featuring kirk knight

the brooklyn born hip hop prodigy joey bada$$ has come up as fast as—if not faster than—any of his contemporaries, yet the emerging superstar has simultaneously managed to remain humble, reflecting upon his roots: "last year, eye was getting used doom beats from youtube. a year later and everything comes back full circle.." the third single released from next month's summer knights ep, "amethyst rockstar," features the same topnotch joey you'd expect and boasts a frickin clean beat from doom, but the real story here—as far as we're concerned—is the exceptional performance of pro era peer, kirk knight. his delivery and flow surpass even that of joey's as the lyricist sends this cut into orbit, through a fiery sun and into another galaxy. hardly an overstatement. be sure to check the stream above and grab the (right click, save link as) download here asap.

previously on butyouwould: joey bada$$ »

stream | washed out | don't give up

looks like we've got another sweet treat from washed out's august release, paracosm. "don't give up," the second single to hit the web, is another instant summer jam. ernest greene, the gerogia-born mastermind behind the proverbial curtain has been dropping laid-back masterpieces for quite some time now, but the consistency with which he impresses and endears himself to us is unheard of—the guy can do no wrong, producing beautifully cathartic, layered tapestries that gently wind and swirl beneath wonderfully entrancing vocals. if you've followed us for a while, it likely goes without saying that we're more than psyched for the new album. head over to his record label sub pop's site to pre-order the full-length and stream the the new cut above!

previously on butyouwould: washed out »

stream | cool ghouls | natural life

admittedly, we're not too familiar with these guys and there's not a whole lot of info floating around just yet but they're out of the bay and seem to be on to something that's more than ideal for the upcoming summer months. for us portland kittens, we're still holding out and confident that the sun will come and stay, one of these days. the twangy, jangly riffs on cool ghouls' "natural life" serve as a perfect driving force for the free-spirit, summer-laden vocals: "i wanna live the natural life, i wanna run with the deer"—a state of mind we're quick to embrace with open arms. burger records released a cassette you can grab over here and in the meantime, stream their breakout single above and head over to their bandcamp to stream and/or buy the self-titled digital full-length!

photo set | dslr | june thirteen

mp3 | har mar superstar | lady, you shot me

minnesota born soul-savant and ron jeremy doppelganger sean tillmann or har mar superstar, has been killing it again. "lady, you shot me"—the alleged last words of the late-great sam cooke—is a frickin real dope, sixties-soaked cut we can't seem to drop. with a brass section that would do any motown arrangement proud, heavy-hitting drums and vocals that are steeped in the influence and admiration of an incredible era of r&b talent, it would be hard to do wrong and har mar manages to do it soso right. the fifth full-length out of tillmann, bye bye 17, was released back in april via cult records and despite flying relatively low on the radar, did manage to generate a decent degree of critical and popular acclaim, boasting ten tracks of pure pop-soul bliss. stream the lead single above, grab the (right click, save link as) download here and head over to the artist's site to pick up the full-length! goodnight good morning later.

stream | washed out | it feels alright

bit of a treat for ya'll tonight: the first single from georgia native ernest greene—also known as washed out. maaaaaybe you've heard of him. his music has become intrinsically bound to that antiquated and ill-suited "chillwave" term that gets thrown around far too often. "it feels alright" has us pretty hot n bothered around here and seems to suggest we've got a lot to be excited for in the impending release of paracosm this september via sub pop records.  there's little-to-no doubt greene's most recent effort will cement it's place amongst this summer's anthems.  as most great artists tend to do, washed out has continued to evolve and while the patented vibe and styling remains, they feel matured and refined—a calculated and subtle departure utilizing the same droney vocals and hypnotic production we've come to know and love. do yourself a hecka dope favor and stream it above!

stream | king khan & the shrines | born to die

for this evening's feature we've got the latest single out of the indomitable king khan & the shrines. "born to die," the first offering from their upcoming full-length idle no more—set for a september 3 release via merge records—is comprised of most the things we love about the band and their slight eccentricities. a winding, jangly, lighthearted yet heavily textured arrangement stands at the forefront while brief interjections from front-man khan work to bind the whole thing together in a form fans will be both familiar and happy with.  we're excited for their triumphant return and suspect you guys are too.  check out the stream above and keep your eyes peeled for new stuff from the rock n rollers soon!

photo set | dslr | june thirteen

shannon and the clams @ portland's mississippi studios, 6/6/13



previously on butyouwould: shannon and the clams »

stream | summer twins | forget me

the california sisters chelsea and justine brown are the beach babes behind the delightfully doo-wop duo summer twins. "forget me," the first single to drop from their identically titled forget me ep—released last week via burger records—serves as a pretty good example of what these ladies bring to the table: a jangly, raked guitar riff takes center stage surpassed only by the contagious hooks, harmonies and melodies supplied by the sisters' top-notch vocals. in stark contrast with the lighthearted and all-together jovial instrumentation, the lyrics are borderline depressive, exploring the familiar realms of love and loss. they could sing about an impending apocalypse and we'd still bounce and bob to the sixties-soaked pop gem. stream above and head over to their bandcamp to pick it up!

stream | wyatt blair | you & i (are just letters in the alphabet)

we're not sure what power pop is, but imagine this has something to do with it. whatever it is, it's an ideal way to get the whiskey-drenched blood flowing on a saturday morning. the new banger out of burger records' wyatt blair surfaced a couple weeks back and has been played a few times since. "you & i" is infectious garage pop brilliance right out of the gate, with crashing, tumbling drums, a rick springfield riff that's irrepressible and perfectly paced buildups, just try and not tap your feetsies and bobble your noggin. banana cream dream, the los angeles based rockers debut full-length hit the streets late last month; as always, be sure to click that album cover over there to head over to their bandcamp and pick it up. happy saturday bebes—let's make it super dope.

mp3 | james blake | voyeur | bear//face bootleg

belfast's nineteen-year-old producer extraordinaire bear//face dropped his take on james blake's "voyeur" about a month back. we'd been a little blaked out around this time and aside from a listen here or there, the track steadily receded into relative obscurity. last night, i gave it a run through by chance and have since decided it's frickin dope. an already minimal cut is stripped to its bones where haunting, muddy vocals weave throughout winding keys and patiently paced drums only to drop out almost entirely with a build-up at 1:25 that hits as hard as you'd always dreamed. it's cathartic—executed to perfection.  stream that crud above and grab the (left click) download here.  while we're at it, if you're into the bootleg, be sure to snag the aptly titled beat tape mixtape bear//face released last year as well.

stream | postiljonen | on the run

summer's so frickin close to being a real thing up here. while we continue to make every attempt to get through these last painstaking weeks of portland's offensively exaggerated winter, it's more than nice to receive a bit of a morale boost in the form of an ideal, chilled-out summer jam—a taste of things to come. sweden's postiljonen recently dropped a tiny-bit-dope track by the name of "on the run," as if it were a direct response to our stifled cries for less rain crud and more summer fun.  floating, dreamy vocals hover above a subdued synth and marching snare, creating a laid-back, whimsical pop jam that does well to usher in the impending warmth of june.  and to top it off, their album skyer drops next week. summer, let's go.

photo | dslr | may thirteen

mp3 | joey bada$$ | word is bond

the brooklyn born upstart is at it again. "word is bond," the first single released from joey bada$$' upcoming summer knights mixtape, is exactly what we've come to expect and hope for out of the young hip hop scholar. produced by bostonian statik selektah, the track is a banger from beginning to end, a concise and clean cut founded upon crisp snares and hi-hats and fleshed-out with a fleeting, fluttering piano melody.  joey's verses soar effortlessly above the beat with a sense of ease and urgency, balancing his aggressive flow against controlled and masterful delivery. since the stellar 1999 release last year, there's been little worth mention out of the youngin, but when he's on it, he makes it look easy—like he was born to do it.  stream the track above and be sure to snag the (right click, save link as) download here before the link blows up.

previously on butyouwould: joey bada$$ »

stream | baths | miasma sky

will wiesenfield, more commonly known as baths, the los angeles-based producer responsible for 2010's top-notch cerulean is poised to drop his second full-length: obsidian.  at the time of this post, the youngster's new album is quite literally moments from its release date and it seems appropriate—almost obligatory—to feature a track from his promising sophomore effort.  "miasma sky" was the first single released from his forthcoming lp, hitting the web about two months ago.  the track employs baths' prevalent falsetto vocals over an intricately weaved and delicately layered tapestry of gentle synths, muddy bass lines and crisp drums.  with any luck, this is old news and simply a reminder to most of you.  if you're into it, be sure to check out obsidian, released tomorrow via one of our most nostalgic labels, anticon.

photo | dslr | may thirteen

stream | alela diane | about farewell

it's been a bit of a struggle to consider an approach in properly featuring a song like alela diane's "about farewell." the nevada city, california native and current portland, oregon transplant has created a number of memorable tracks since her first self-released album ten years ago, but this one eclipses and transcends them all. we're tempted to say nothing, as the song speaks for itself, in an irrefutably graceful, delicate and conversely jarring fashion, foregoing superficial pitfalls on a direct route to one's beating core.  everything that could be said of "about farewell" is already conveyed within the song itself, and with a grace and authenticity that'd likely render our words redundant and uninspired by comparison.  it's not as though diane is breaking new ground here and in a lot of ways it's a tired and abused style—it's simply the degree of craftsmanship with which she's so deftly honed a concise and genuine delivery that allows her music to resonate and put her at the forefront of an otherwise congested, boring genre.  maybe we're just crushin'.  "about farewell" is the second single from her upcoming full-length that shares the same name.  give it a stream above.

photo set | dslr | may thirteen

mp3 | chance the rapper | chain smoker

it's been a while since we've thrown some hiphop on the blog and during our down time we missed some top-notch crud. at the forefront of those neglected is chicago's own chancelor bennett, aka chance the rapper and his unreal acid rap mixtape. facilitated by some of today's better up-and-coming producers and the development of a style that remains fresh in an ultimately stagnant scene, chance owns his approach and delivery in a way that feels authentic and genuine. granted, his form isn't for everyone but afforded a few listens, there's an underlying talent and precision that's virtually undeniable. aside from occasionally sounding too whiny on a couple verses, chance's second mixtape is a cohesive and uniquely rewarding experience. boasting an impressive list of featured artists to boot, it's more than worth a look at. stream one of our favorites, "chain smoker" produced by nate fox above and grab the (right click, save link as) download here. if you like what you hear be sure to grab acid rap in its entirety via audiomack.

photo set | dslr | may thirteen

stream | dead ghosts | when it comes to you

it's dumped rain for the past four days up here.  on the three minute walk to popeyes we hit a patch of sun, existing in a moment alongside a prevailing downpour. the warmth alone was enough to incite an involuntary smile; a three minute window of reprieve—just like this little jam.  super dope segue.  we featured dead ghost's "roky said" a couple months back and have been running their second full-length can't get no on the reg. but to forego mention of their 2010 debut self-titled album entirely, would be a disservice to the canadian jammers and you guys alike. "when it comes to you" is lighthearted, jangly, rock and roll at its finest, often conjuring parallels to the likes of king khan and the bbq show. dirty, crashing symbols, cathartic twangy riffs and the colorfully distorted vocals of eras passed is what dead ghosts do best and this track is no exception.  stream one of many great joints from the bands first full-length above.

previously on butyouwould: dead ghosts »

UPDATE:

dearest friends and followers,

turns out art school is a fuckin' drag on the livelihood of blogs.  but summer is here and like that galvanizing golden sun, we're back!  you guys can expect daily updates and a wealth of new and original content.  thanks for hanging around; we'll make it up to you in the coming months.  and alongside the dreary quietus of a returning winter we will disappear beyond the footlamps once more, like so many lumbering beasts, receding into the enveloping empty vastness that is the system of higher education.

fondly,

michael // butyouwould

stream | boards of canada | reach for the dead

the scottish brothers marcus and mike sandison, better known as boards of canada, have been in the game longer than most, with a number of cassette releases dating back as far as the late eighties. they have however, been under wraps since 2005 - which is a hiatus we've been less than down with.  to our—among everyone else's—delight, their first single "reach for the dead" from their upcoming full length tomorrow's harvest (june 11 in north america via warp records) just hit the web and while it feels as though it could be more of a teaser than a real indication of what to expect, it's top-notch, quintessential boards of canada.  sparse, subtle, delicate and deliberate, the track is simultaneously unsettling and promising.  ten years ago it took us time to consider and ultimately appreciate what these guys do—an investment that's more than paid off as the duo continue to create beautifully minimal and concise work.  stream their latest above, check out the video directed by neil krug below and stay the heck out of that rain.

stream | lightning dust | diamond

it's been a long day and a dreary one, still. as such, we'll keep up with this chilled-out wave we've been riding for the past few nights. jagjaguwar has consistently been at the forefront concerning modern indie labels, fostering talent across various music frontiers and producing artists that generally remain prolific, influential and inspired. the canadian duo known as lightning dust—which is evidently a little pony—created the band as a diversion from their primary work as black mountain, releasing a couple albums a few years back as well as a brand new full-length, fantasy—which is slated to drop on june 25.  exploring a minimal and wonderfully eighties vibe, "diamond" lunges along, employing a mellow pacing and bass-line that's as dirty as it is catchy.  amber webber's vocals gently bounce alongside joshua wells' bare-bones track, forming a docile pop jam that plays perfectly against the sound of incessant rain.  though, we're suckers for everything eighties, you know this.  give their debut single a well-deserved stream above and we'll keep our eyes out for a legit download, as always.

mp3 | ryan hemsworth | still awake ep

one of our favorite producers to emerge over the last couple years, ryan hemsworth, just released a new (free) ep for you and everyone else:

thank you for downloading this and putting it on your computer laptop iphone palm pilot, whatever, and listening to it while you’re doing stuff in the world. it’s free, so share it with anyone you think would like it. or keep it to yourself. cause it’s for you :) 

while the album marks a subtle departure from his earlier work, it's a perfect fit for the weather and this dreary business we've been working on since yesterday. still awake is a seven track album that ostensibly represents a period of inward reflection and self-exploration in the young artists life and career. deliberate and calculated melodies float weightlessly above the hip-hop rooted bass lines and crisp snares we've come to expect from hemsworth, developing an intricate and endearing soundtrack to a fully realized dreamscape. stream one of our favorites from the album above, (right click, save link as) download it here and head over here to download the entire ep - free! it's still raining and we're still drenched.

previously on butyouwould: ryan hemsworth »

mp3 | ladyfrnd | un petit message

portland is dreary as crud and looking to stay that way for the next week. in an attempt to enjoy the quiet, drenched nights we will be working to throw up some chilled out, and relatively subdued jams over the next few days. vancouver's humans spin-off ladyfrnd seems as good a place as any to start: "un petit message" is straightforward and uncomplicated. produced by peter ricq, the track employs a simple synth melody against soft drum-machine thumps that propel the delicate, yet, by contrast, piercing vocals of yuki holland to a gentle crescendo. it's ideal for a calm, rain-soaked night in the city.  the canadian duo are set to release their self-titled debut album on july 15 - check out the first single above and head over to their bandcamp where you can name your own price for the download.