Local Pairings: The Dodos - Visiter (paired Taylor's Automatic Refresher - Napa, CA)

Without question, San Francisco's the Dodos are one of the most critically-acclaimed bands to launch from the Bay Area in the past few years. The Dodos have recently evolved into a three piece act with the addition of vibraphone player Keaton Snyder, but at the time of the release of their well-regarded 2008 album Visiter (which happens to be today's Local Pairing) they were only a duo consisting of songwriter/guitar player Meric Long and drummer Logan Kroeber. Before forming the Dodos, Long had been playing as a solo musician around San Francisco (and had released a solo album entitled Dodo Bird during that time) when he was introduced to Kroeber through a mutual friend. Based on Long's training in West African Ewe drumming and Koeber's experience playing in metal bands, they wanted to forge a sound that allowed the drumming to take a central roll that could help develop the melodies of the acoustic guitar.

Visiter opens up somewhat deceptively, with the relatively straight-forward melody of album opener "Walking." If upon your first listen you thought to yourself, "Oh, this is just another indie-folk album," I'm sure you weren't alone. After all, "Walking" is dressed in all of the wrappings of the stereotypical indie folk tune: acoustic guitar, finger-picked banjo and lovely female backing harmonies. But suddenly, as the song comes to an end, "Walking" blends into the polyrhythmic percussion and nearly scattershot channel-panning guitar riffs of the track "Red and Purple." It's during "Red and Purple" that you'd probably realize there is a lot more going on with the Dodos than the genre label "indie folk" can accurately contain. Indeed, I can't think of any indie-folk cuts that sound as imminently ready to split at the seams and explode the way "Joe's Waltz" and "Jodi" do. And whatever genre label you do choose to apply to Visiter, there is no question that it is unique, engaging and catchy without being compromising. A few highlights include "Winter," "Red and Purple," "Fools," "Winter," and "Jodi." If you don't already own it, and you are looking for a great, solid record to add to your collection - this would be a good one to pick up. As always, you can get it at Insound.

The Dodos - Winter

Definitely stop by eating/sf to read about Taylor's Automatic Refresher in Napa where you can pick up one of the best burgers I've ever tried!

Single Serving: Four Tet - Iron Man (Black Sabbath Cover)

I'm pretty excited about the new Four Tet album (scheduled for a January 25, 2010 release). If you aren't familiar, Four Tet is the moniker adopted by Kieran Hebden. This cover of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" is notably awesome for two reasons. First, because Four Tet's take on the track really lays bare the beauty and intricacy of the original composition by a band rarely thought of for "beauty" per se. Secondly, because it demonstrates Four Tet's intricate, layered and cerebral approach to electronic music. Beyond that, it is just a stunning reinterpretation. Enjoy.

Four Tet - Iron Man (Black Sabbath Cover)

Musical Pairings: Beach House - Devotion (paired with crab cakes with roasted pepper sauce)

If you are looking for an amazing recipe that will impress the pants off (perhaps literally) your someone special, you need look no further. The crab cakes recipe that Kasey is sharing with you over at eating/sf is amazing. We prepared it as our New Year's Eve dinner to end the year with something special, and it seriously hit the mark. Every part of the recipe can and should be made from scratch: fresh crab meat, homemade Spanish paprika-accented aioli and roasted pepper vinaigrette. Crab cakes are, of course, most commonly associated with Maryland and especially Baltimore. So it seemed appropriate to select Baltimore, Maryland's Beach House's 2008 album Devotion to pair with this recipe.

Beach House is a Maryland based duo composed of guitarist/keyboardist Alex Scally and singer/organist Victoria Legrand. With its quiet, sparse percussion and warm instrumentation, Devotion is hazy and ethereal. Legrand's vocals are quietly passionate and glow beneath the haunting, textured music the duo crafted for this record. Devotion is somewhat solemn, indeed, it can be described as almost pastoral, but it is solemn without being downbeat: this is no funeral dirge. Instead, it is more like the melody of a lovelorn dream that remains bright and optimistically romantic at its center. It is the music that rolls in as you lay down, contented and drowsy, to relax on a cool beach after sunset. And ultimately, there can be no question: Devotion is about love. You can find a copy for your record collection over at Insound.

Beach House - Gila

Head back to eating/sf to read Kasey's recipe for the best crab cakes you'll ever sink your teeth into.

Single Serving: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

Brooklyn New York's The Drums have been receiving heaps of well-deserved critical praise pretty much since the day they dropped their debut single "Let's Go Surfing" back in July. The Let's Go Surfing single is a free download available from RcrdLbl and contains the single plus 4 remixes. The band's bio describes the single as featuring "New Order-style trebly, melodic bass, Ventures-esque guitar, and what many are calling 'the most infectious whistling line since Peter, Bjorn and John.'" Well said. Below are two of the tracks that appear on the free single.

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
The Drums - Let's Go Surfing (Knight School Version)

Musical Pairings: Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister (paired with Fall Salad)

Kasey is featuring a Fall salad recipe that we prepared to go with our New Year's eve dinner over on eating/sf today. And let me tell you, this salad is no ordinary salad. First of all, the inspiration for the dish came from Thomas Keller's book Ad Hoc at Home (if you don't know who Thomas Keller is - I've provided a useful Wikipedia link here). Second of all, this salad has serious flavor: there are persimmons, blanched leaks, prosciutto, and so much more going on. So it is an autumn/winter salad with depth, pedigree and a lot of delicious instruments playing in harmony. In other words, this is a perfect recipe to pair with Belle & Sebastian's amazing 1996 sophomore album If You're Feeling Sinister.

Almost unbelievably, Belle & Sebastian began as little more than a class project. Formed by a group of college students, none of the original members expected the group to become a serious project. Indeed, their debut album, Tigermilk, was limited to a mere 1,000 copies that unexpectedly (for the band anyways) sold out in a few weeks. Surprised by their success, the band recorded If You Are Feeling Sinister as not just their follow up but as their introduction to the rest of the music world who never scored one of those limited original copies of Tigermilk. And what a great way to make a first impression. The album opens with the track, "The Stars of Track and Field," which begins as a delicate tune consisting of lead singer Stuart Murdoch's boyish singing, clever lyrics and gentle acoustic guitar, but soon enough the tune evolves to incorporate twinkling guitars, piano, bright horns, and tense drumming. It is followed by the nostalgia-inducing jazz-piano melody (think: A Charlie Brown Christmas) of the gorgeous "Seeing Other People." The next track, "Me & The Major," a rollicking tune if there ever was one, is the only track by a contemporary band that has ever made me wonder why more bands don't build songs around a harmonica. They continue billowing out hit after hit with "Like Dylan In the Movies" and "The Fox In The Snow." And despite how amazing these tracks are, for me the album's highlight is the evocative and lovely "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying." Beautiful, infectious guitar and smart, fun lyrics that together seem to call to mind countless other classics, but still managing to sound entirely original. When Murdoch sings "Nobody writes 'em like they used to so it may as well be me," you know he means it: the melody is entirely timeless, beautiful, evocative. In fact, that pretty much sums up the album. If You're Feeling Sinister is justifiably considered a masterpiece. Pick up a copy at Insound.

Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying

Head back to eating/sf to read Kasey's recipe for her Thomas Keller-inspired Fall Salad.

Single Serving: Drake & Lil Wayne - Money To Blow (Vodka & Milk Remix)

I found this Vodka & Milk remix in my inbox a few weeks ago, and have been enjoying it ever since. It is about time I share it with our readers. You may recall that I previously posted their remix of Matt & Kim's "Daylight" which was also great. Enjoy!

Drake & Lil Wayne - Money To Blow (Vodka & Milk Remix)

Single Serving: Colin Meloy - Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey

Colin Meloy, the Decemberists' front man, has an interesting side-job as a solo musician. In addition to performing solo versions of the Decemberists tunes, he also has released a number of short EPs featuring his takes on a number of songs by various artists that have inspired him. They are generally referred to as the "Colin Meloy Sings" series. Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey is one of the earlier EPs, and as the title suggests, it features Meloy's take on a number of songs penned by Morrissey including "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name," "Jack the Ripper," and "I've Changed My Plea to Guilty." Below is a link to download his take on "Pregnant For The Last Time."

Colin Meloy - Pregnant For The Last Time (Morrissey Cover)