Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)

So I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela last weekend at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Rod Gab has been one of the acts I have wanted to see most for the past 3 or 4 years and finally that desire came to fruition. Some people say that things are better when you are forced to wait. I think that's bullshit. If I could consistently see Rodrigo y Gabriela every weekend I would be one happy motherfucker.

Their stage presence is amazing. It's so blatantly obvious that these two grew up metal heads. Every time Rodrigo or Gabriela took a solo they would get on the edge of the stage, throw a foot up on a monitor, and shred right in the faces of the audience. Luckily enough, I was two people from the stage and got to experience the full brunt of their mastery.

My only criticism from the show: turn those speakers up to 11, dammit!

In FLAC.

Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (2010)

I heard these guys on the radio of all places and immediately was struck by how much the lead singer, Kevin Parker, sounds like John Lennon. I'm not sure if he achieves this through skillful effects manipulation or it's just a similarity, but no matter what I dig these guys. They've got psychedelic sounds straight out of Abbey Road, yet remain poppy enough to be opening for the likes of the Arcade Fire or Yeasayer. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.

Get it in FLAC.

Equal parts slacker non-sequitur and existential burden (eg: "I wanna think what I should know.") And some good old-fashioned overdriven guitars. One of my favorites of all time.

Get it in FLAC.