ST&SP Best of 2012: Top Songs of the Year

1. Frank Ocean - Pyramids

Frank Ocean made waves with last year's Nostalgia, Ultra but 2012 he really stepped out into the limelight with one of the most formidable records of the year. It's safe to say that channel ORANGE is an instant classic and Ocean a confident ambitious artist. There are many bright moments in this album but the one song that towered above them all was the epic "Pyramids." Clocking in at nine minutes and fifty-three seconds this song is massive. I am going to make the audacious claim that this is the best long playing R&B song since The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone." This song is a perfect example to show how far soul music has come since the early days. "Pyramids" is broken up into a few different parts. It starts off with allegorical mystical lyrics about Cleopatra during the times of the pharaohs. But then with a key change it is revealed that Cleopatra is a stripper and the pyramid is the club. The song lyrically switches from ancient to modern times seamlessly. It's a song that is too slow to be a club banger but too fast to be a slow jam. With "Pyramids" Frank Ocean put himself in a league of his own.

2. Fiona Apple - Werewolf

Fiona Apple had been away for seven years, but she returned with a bare-bones and brutally beautiful record with the impossible to remember title: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. While every track on this album filled with perfectly crafted stories of love and love lost the album seems to be centered around "Werewolf" and it's thesis, "Nothing wrong when a song ends in a minor key." Fiona really opens up her heart on this song which makes it immediately accessible. The song culminates with the sounds of children playing at recess in the background. Apple has said in interviews that she struggled to find a powerful background noise to add to this song until she heard these kids playing outside her apartment in New York.

3. The Magnetic Fields - Andrew In Drag

"Andrew In Drag" The lead single off of Love at The Bottom of the Sea reminds us all of singer songwriter Stephin Merritt's impeccable wit. This song is scandalous on so many levels. It's the tale of a man who realizes he's gay when his friend Andrew does a drag show as a joke at a party. This story is told in the most tongue-in-cheek way imaginable. "Andrew In Drag" is reminiscent of "Lola" by The Kinks. It's a shame songs with this much jest seem to be a dime a dozen.

4. Hot Chip - Flutes

With LCD Soundsystem hanging it up, Hot Chip has assumed the role of most important dance band on Earth. They returned with a good but not great record called In Our Heads. While I thought overall this record was a step down from their previous release One Life Stand, this record did yield one tremendous song called "Flutes." This track is a nod to the 80s house music style Balearic Beat. A laid back but extremely infectious groove, "Flutes" allows Hot Chip to show off their confidence as a band and really sink their teeth into the song. Hot Chip are certain this one will get your body moving. Hell the chorus itself is dance instructions! A great song to let loose to and one of my new go-to tracks for party playlists.

5. Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)

While I don't want to get too much into Kendrick Lamar's album Good Kid, m.A.A.d City (we'll save that for next week) What amazes me is that months before the album came out Kendrick released Swimming Pools as a single and it gained a bunch of attention and radioplay. When the album came out he reworked the song and added another verse. This shows me how much of a perfectionist Kendrick Lamar is. He's not afraid to take something that is already recognized as being great and rework it until it's perfect in his eye. What I love about this song is that while the chorus is obviously a party anthem that celebrates drinking "Nigga why you babysittin' only 2 or 3 shots? I'ma show you how to turn it up a notch First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it." The song's verses are actually a sobering look at the pressure and consequences of that lifestyle. "Some people like the way it feels, Some people wanna kill their sorrows, Some people wanna fit in with the popular, That was my problem." Kendrick is not afraid to show both sides of the coin which is what makes the album but in particular this song tremendous.

6. Beach House - Lazuli

 Beach House follow up Teen Dream with Bloom by sticking to their formula of painting lush beautiful landscapes and it certainly paid off. "Lazuli" is what the rest of the record was built around, it is the heart of Bloom. There's just no other way to put it, it's just a beautiful piece of music.

7. Killer Mike - Reagan

Killer Mike delivers what I have wanted for years, especially from Hip-Hop; timely and in-your-face protest music. Mike uses the deceased President to show the political injustice that is happening in our communities as well stating how Presidents are puppets in the hands of corporate interest. I haven't heard such frank political-protest since Rage Against The Machine. Of course this song will be on pretty much nobody's radar since at the peak of the track the beat bottoms out and Mike belts "I'm glad Reagan's dead." It's a shame that many musicians shy away from politics in their music since it's alienating but, people are hurting out there and Killer Mike isn't afraid to take a controversial stand that some people can rally behind.

8. Here We Go Magic - How Do I Know

Here's another overall disappointing record that had a few gems in it. Here We Go Magic are a band that have released several great tracks on several decent albums. It seems like the band can never decide on what they want to be, and thus constantly release inconsistent LPs. However when they do get it together they can make some truly magical music. Case in point the blissful strumming of "How Do I Know" a joyful song perfect for long car rides with the windows down. Also check out the music video to this, one of the best of the year.

9. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Walk Like a Giant

The first time I heard Walk Like a Giant was when Neil played it live at The Hollywood Bowl. The record hadn't even been out yet but I knew that this song was one of the better jam songs he had ever written. It was the highlight of the concert and the highlight of the album. This song stomps along with gigantic guitar solo breaks in between Young's lyrics of trekking across a desert. It's a song that only Neil Young could ever get away with.

10. Animal Collective - New Town Burnout / Monkey Riches

If someone were to ask me what Animal Collective sounds like I would direct them to the songs "New Town Burnout" and "Monkey Riches", which I treat as one piece since they seamlessly transition from one to the other and they even play these songs live as one mega track as well. If you didn't know already Animal Collective has two singers that each have their own unique approaches to music. On "New Town Burnout" we have Panda Bear at the helm. Panda Bear's songs tend to be very melodic with a strong emphasis on his powerful Brian Wilson-like voice.While Avey Tare tends to be the more animalistic and yelpy of the two. His song "Monkey Riches" focuses on the cacophony of sounds and the beat of the drums. These two songs serve as some of the best material these two individual artists can do. How these two very different sounds come together and blend is what is at the core of what makes Animal Collective so great.

Make sure to stop by next week as I reveal my top 25 albums of 2012!

ST&SP Best of 2012: Artist of The Year

Ty Segall

 2012 really was the year for Ty Segall. Sure YouTube was all ablaze over Gangnam Style but if you were to look beyond the constantly passing fads of pop culture you would find that this San Franciscan cult punk/garage hero took advantage of his youth and fervent creativity by churning out not one but three albums in 2012. First in April we had Hair which was a collaboration between Segall and lo-fi psychedelic songsmith White Fence. The two paired together like the fine red wine and choice cut steak releasing what has to be the most creative psychedelic rock album in years. White Fence kept the usually erratic Segall on a leash for most of the album letting him cut loose into a frenzy only when it was earned. Hair goes by quick but it is well worth it. 

In June we saw the release of the first ever Ty Segall Band record aptly titled Slaughterhouse. Segall recorded this album with his touring band in the studio as opposed recording the entire thing by himself which he usually does hence the additional 'Band' moniker. His idea behind this record was to put out an album that carried the tenacity of his live shows. When performing live Segall tends to play his songs at warp speed with the intensity of a Tasmanian Devil to allow for optimal moshing. Slaughterhouse sounds exactly as the album looks like; an escaped banshee from hell. There are no subtle tracks or touching moments only brutal punk that will assault your eardrums in the best way possible. I mean, the record even ends with a ten minute track that is nothing but screeching guitar feedback. If you have a taste for the fast and heavy, this bud's for you. 

      Finally, in October Segall was back to being a solo artist by offering up Twins his last record of 2012. What's crazy about this one is when Hair came out in April he hadn't even begun to piece Twins together. Compared to previous Ty Segall albums this one is slower but heavier. Whereas in the past he would put a few ideas into a song and churn out short but sweet tracks however with Twins he seems to be taking himself as a musician more seriously than ever and squeezes out all the juice these songs have to offer. If you were to tell me a years ago that Ty Segall would slow things down a bit I would have been pissed but to be quite honest I like the direction he is going in with Twins. I think if this year is any implication of the foreseeable future for this young punk the best is still yet to come. 

Sorry folks, most of his stuff isn't available on Spotify so good ol' YouTube will have to do.

 

  

 

The Rundown

Well friends it's been quite some time since I've updated you on my musical adventures. Summer is almost gone and the most I have barely posted anything. So I'm going to try something new. Instead of dedicating a single post to an entire artist, I am going to exhibit the notion of less talk more rock and list a sample of what I've been listening to lately and letting you Spotify users listen to it. See you kids soon.

Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan


The new Dirty Projectors record came out this summer. I listened to it once and quickly forgot about it, then I went on a road trip and decided to throw Swing Lo Magellan on my iPod, and now it's one of my favorite records of the year so far. It's way more stripped down and not as adventurous as Bitte Orca but damn these songs manage to just be so beautiful. This album is a perfect blend of simple songwriting with intricate musical arrangements.

Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

Animal Collective might shed some fans they gained from the far more accessible Merriweather Post Pavilion. Even some critics are having a tough time agreeing with it. Look, Animal Collective have always been a tough cookie to swallow. Their bizarre yelping over dense landscapes of nonsensical sounds tends to be off putting for a lot of people. I think this record is really interesting however, one of the lead vocalists, Avey Tare recently went through a divorce and whereas Merriweather was a much more jubilant record about family unity, Centipede Hz is a much darker record that covers themes about trying to find one's place in the world after tragedy. Considering how between eight of the eleven tracks are helmed by Tare it seems he had something to get off his chest. Bottom line is this Animal Collective fans: if you preferred Strawberry Jam to "My Girls" you're going to enjoy this.

Cat Power - Sun
 
Chan Marshall otherwise known as Cat Power returns from a long hiatus of new material with her most upbeat album in years. If you enjoyed Fiona Apple's new record I'd give this one a shot too. It's not as daring but the last half of this record can easily be called some of her best material.

The Orwells - Remember When

Group of seventeen year-old garage rockers from Chicago made a pretty damn fine debut album. It doesn't re-invent the wheel but then again good rock doesn't have to.

Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

So Handsome Furs broke up this year and with Wolf Parade on indefinite hiatus David Boeckner needed something to do, so he called up his friend Britt Daniel lead singer of Spoon and formed a new-wave band and made one of the most fun records of the year. This record is a sexy party.

Everything Ty Segall Has Ever Done Ever

I have been listening to an unhealthy amount of Ty Segall. I am a sucker for a killer guitar riff, Jack White used to pump them out like water when he was with The White Stripes and I think that once he becomes a household name, Ty Segall will capture that throne. He is about to release his third record of 2012 and I can't wait. This man is on a creative high and is unstoppable. Pay attention to this career. 

Jessie Ware - Devotion 

 Diva in the making. Mark my words.

Crazy Horse

I'm just posting this because I'm seeing Neil Young & Crazy Horse at The Hollywood Bowl soon and I couldn't be more pumped. Did you know Crazy Horse has some songs without Neil? And they're pretty good, check it out above.

That's all for now. I've also been listening to a ton of hip-hop but that's for another time.

2012 So Far...

Why hello there, longtime no see, yes this blog has unfortunately slowed down. I've realized that paying bills is more important than my little blog posts. However, I haven't stopped searching out new music, and 2012 has been an absolutely incredible year for music so far. Some of these records I believe will strongly influence artists of the future, and the year is only halfway over! Also one small change of pace. I am no longer going to be offering free downloads of material. I had my Mediafire shut down by the feds and I don't want to go through all that again. Besides if you don't have Spotify already, you're really missing out. Anyways let's do it to it!

1. Chromatics - Kill For Love

The indie record label Italians Do It Better has been putting out some of the best chill-pop around. They manage to mold some newer electronic vibes with a very vintage Italian discopop feel to them. They may have released their magnum-opus with Chromatics' sophomore LP Kill For Love. You might recognize this sound because frontman Johnny Jewel contributed to the Drive soundtrack. Some albums are great collections of songs, others take you on a sonic journey. Kill For Love is of the latter category. This moody monster of a record moves at a laid back pace through crafty pop songs and ambient noise. This might be up there with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in terms of nighttime music. It's an incredibly confident record for such a relatively young band.

2. Death Grips - The Money Store

Death Grips make terrifying music. That's the best way to describe this guerrilla punk hip-hop group. They make Odd Future look like The Everly Brothers in terms of being hardcore. I'm not going to like this is a tough record to get into it's very harsh on the ears for a casual listener and it has no club hits for typical hip-hop fans. However, I cannot name another group that sounds anything close to Death Grips. If this group is not the anthem that the disgruntled skater youth are flying their freak flag to then I don't know what to think anymore.



3. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.

Fiona Apple has returned to the spotlight with her first record since 2005, The Idler Wheel... I am not a Fiona Apple scholar by any means but I do understand drama, and this is one of the most heart-wrenching albums I have heard in a long time. Since her last record Extraordinary Machine there have been countless of these Starbucks friendly singer-songwriter chicks who all sing about falling in and out of love. Not one of them holds a fucking candle to Fiona. This beautiful lady has been through a lot and she lets it all out through her voice, lyrics and piano. That's one thing I love about this album is it's so stripped down, there is only piano, light drums and the occasional acoustic bass. Her stories are so passionate and vivid that you really don't need anything additional than just her. She is the definition of a prolific artist.



4. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

One of OutKast's longtime compatriots, Killer Mike finally steps into the limelight thanks to stellar production by El-P. I have complained for the longest time that hip-hop has unfortunately drifted away from making important political and social observations and instead throwing focus on personal wealth and gain. Well, today I can rest in peace that my favorite kind of hip-hop is still thriving. R.A.P. Music tackles politics, religion, and social injustice with a poet's wit. He takes aim at everyone: blacks, whites, cops, thug life, the uneducated and spousal abuse to name a few. While every song is strong two really stick out in my mind. "Reagan" is the most blunt anti-politics song I have heard in years where Mike praises the death of Ronald Reagan and laments over the current state of government and America's slave-like affair with big oil. "Willie Burke Sherwood" is a song where he talks about being insecure for being into literature and enjoying school. He does all this while twisting the plot of Lord of the Flies to fit his own childhood. Yeah. That is amazing. 



5. Beach House - Bloom

If you loved Beach House's previous three records then you're going to adore Bloom. If not, move along. Beach House are one of those bands that have decided what they wanted to be a long time ago and have stuck to being exactly that. They are one of the most solid groups in the indie world. Their steadfastness has paid off, this record debuted really well on the charts. What I love about this group is though their sound is pretty much uniform, they are able to make each song unique and catchy. "Lazuli" is the centerpiece to Bloom and is quite frankly the best song the band has recorded to date. I took a drive along the PCH here in Los Angeles the other day with the windows down and this record playing. It was quite heavenly. 
 

Lotus Plaza

While Bradford Cox may be the frontman for Deerhunter, the group would be nowhere without the finesse of guitarist Lockett Pundt. While Cox's solo-work dons the Atlas Sound moniker, Pundt releases music as Lotus Plaza. It's fun to dissect these groups to see how these two halves make up the whole of Deerhunter. Bradford seems to bring the experimental elements to the table, while Pundt likes to provide a lush landscape of sound. Lotus Plaza has just released Spooky Action At A Distance. It's a very fine album that blends together quite nicely. Some critics are citing it as one of the best albums of the year so far, while I disagree I still find it to be a highly enjoyable record. Though these songs mesh together and some are easily forgotten, I've found "Eveningness" to be the stand-out, it makes me feel like I'm up in the clouds. Perfect for a spring-evening in Los Angeles.

Download via Mediafire:
Eveningness

Ty Segall with White Fence

San Francisco slime-punk star Ty Segall has teamed up with another psychedelic garage artist White Fence for an upcoming collaborative LP. They have released one track from the record called "I Am Not A Game." It's a brash, loose and high-spirited garage-punk jam that oozes out of your speakers. Segall and White Fence have found a groove here that one gets lost in until it stops abruptly. I am very much looking forward to hearing more from this upcoming record.

Download via Mediafire:
I Am Not A Game

Chromatics - Kill For Love

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a front-runner for album of the year. Chromatics, the brain-child of Johnny Jewel the man behind Glass Candy, Nite Jewel, Desire, Symmetry and of course playing a big role in the soundtrack to the movie Drive. A new Chromatics record has been a long time coming and the Portland outfit has lived up to the hype with Kill For Love. This is a sprawling record full of different moods and textures. It's a record that is so relaxed and confident with itself that it gets away with being over an hour and a half long with most of the album's tracks being instrumental interludes. The last track "No Escape" is fifteen minutes of ambiance. It's a risk that Jewel & Co. took that has paid off in dividends. The whole Chill-Wave movement has a new king to look-up to. I cannot reccommend listening to Kill For Love while driving at night. This is a night time record if there ever was one for sure.

Download via Mediafire:
These Streets Will Never Look The Same

Killer Mike

Killer Mike, Atlanta-based hip-hop artist will be releasing a new album entitled R.A.P. Music in May. Mike, a long time collaborator with one of my favorite artists, OutKast. Killer Mike released "Untitled (Feat. Scar)" the other week, and I must say it's one of the best hip-hop songs I've heard this year. He tackles politics and religion on this track, and very adeptly too I might add.

Download via Mediafire:
Untitled (feat. Scar)

Daniel Rossen

If you're familiar with Daniel Rossen's other projects (Grizzly Bear, Department of Eagles), then you probably know what to expect with his solo EP. With just five songs, Rossen cuts through a vivid landscape of crisp fierce beauty. Silent Hour/Golden Mile has to be one of the strongest EPs I have heard in a long while. This record couldn't be more perfectly timed either, it's release will tide fans over while Grizzly Bear looks to release a new record in 2012 as well.

Download via Mediafire:
Return to Form

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This past week lead to some brand spankin' new music from the hippie collective that is Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. If you enjoyed their previous material, you will absolutely eat up "Man On Fire." It's filled with the same good vibes and sing-a-long lyrics that Ed Sharpe fans eat up. I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I really like this band. While I enjoy some of their work, I can't help but think they have sort of become one-trick ponies as this happy hippie group that sees the world as rainbows and sunshine. Oh well, I wonder what indie romantic comedy is going to use this new song on their soundtrack?

Download via Mediafire:
Man On Fire

Hot Chip

Hot Chip returns in June with their highly anticipated new record In Our Heads. This album will be their first release since One Life Stand. The first single, "Flutes" leaked the other day, and I have to say I think it might be one of the best tracks the band has ever put out. In fact, I'll go as far to say "Flutes" is my current favorite song of 2012. With One Life Stand the band found a way to be melodic and highly danceable at the same time. With "Flutes" the band has perfected that formula adding many more levels of atmosphere while still being an infectious dance song.

Download via Mediafire:
Flutes

Mojo Stone

Last year I blogged about Mojo Stone, a band that is near and dear to me for many reasons. For one they're personal friends of mine, singer Natalie Meadors even took over the lease for my old college home (Creighton shout-out!). But mainly they are dear to me because Mojo Stone have evolved into a Los Angeles group that shows a ton of promise and could actually "make it," whatever that means these days. Their first EP Hatchet was an eclectic debut for the young rock band, and last summer they took the big leap by taking Hatchet on the road with a southern tour. Now with their sophomore EP Strange Honey it is easy to hear how much that tour must have influenced the making of this record. Strange Honey is a southern-fried classic rock epic. While both Hatchet and Strange Honey compliment each other well, Strange Honey has a more live presence than it's predecessor. "Push The Plow" erupts like a racehorse out of the gate with Zeppelin-esque riffs and three part harmonies clashing together in a frenzy. However the band isn't afraid to slow things down at times. "Mama & the Acid Kids" will certainly get peoples' lighters swaying in the air before Henry McGill and David Donaldson turn things up and openly mock the weak god that they have bested with epic guitar soloing. Mojo Stone are planning on touring again this summer and by combining material from both EPs they will have one hell of a setlist. The band is kicking off things in style by throwing a record release party for Strange Honey at The Bootleg Theater this Thursday night. If you like independent rock and roll I highly recommend going. It just may be one of those shows that you'll be able to brag to your future kids about 'having been there.'  

The Magnetic Fields

I must confess I rarely ever listen to The Magnetic Fields. They are one of those bands who have such a big collection of music that it's frightening. However there is no doubt that Stephin Merritt is a cult figure in the songwriting world and it's easy to see why. Songs like "Andrew In Drag" are so witty that it's impossible to ignore. When I first heard "Andrew" on the radio I was immediately drawn into this ambiguous sexual tale. I've attached a few other examples of his better work including the aforementioned song.
Download via Mediafire:
Andrew In Drag
You Must Be Out Of Your Mind
Too Drunk To Dream

Nicolas Jaar

Nicolas Jaar is  lo-fi electro-pop producer that has been making some waves in the indie world. He's currently on tour and will be doing a number of shows at SXSW in Austin. I'm normally not one for this genre of music but I heard "With Just One Glance" the other day and was taken by it's simplicity and smokey swagger.

Download via Mediafire:
With Just One Glance

A Place To Bury Strangers

A Place to Bury Strangers make loud ass music. They are a band that have found their niche and luckily haven't had the mind to change it. I'm all for bands that experiment with there sound, but there are also instances where you hope a certain band keeps cranking out the same solidarity of sound. A Place To Bury Strangers are such a group. Caution: it's about to get loud up in here.
Download via Mediafire:
So Far Away

Sharon Van Etten

I had heard the name Sharon Van Etten kicked around for a few years, and have heard some of her stuff be played on the radio, but I never gave her music a proper listen. This week her new record Tramp dropped, and I must say Etten is well on her way to being a power player in the singer-songwriter world. Though I am still letting Tramp grow on me, the one song that sticks out for me is the single "Serpents." I love the way her cold voice sounds on top of the guitar wail in the background.
Download via Mediafire:
Serpents

Dr. Dog

Dr. Dog's 2010 record Shame, Shame has blossomed into one of my favorite records of recent years. From start to finish it is a record of perfectly constructed McCartney-esque pop rock. So it makes me extremely excited to hear that in a few weeks their followup Be The Void will be released. Dr. Dog are a group that I can take comfort in knowing that they will not disappoint. Yesterday, a track from the new record leaked out out into the web by the band's label. It's called "That Old Black Hole." What I love about Dr. Dog is you can't really tell what they're album is going to sound like after listening to one song, because they take so much pleasure in varying different styles in their music.

Download via Mediafire:
That Old Black Hole

Perfume Genius

Here's a look ahead for 2012 for ya. Perfume Genius returns with a new song off his up coming 2012 album. It's called "All Waters" and it's about internalized homophobia, a gay man himself he talks about how sometimes he becomes self-concious about holding his partner's hand in public. Aside from the lyrical content Perfume Genius steps up his vocal prowess and is absolutely mesmerizing on this one.

Download via Mediafire:
All Waters

Thoughts on the Coachella Announcement

 The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival sent out an email last week informing fans that a big announcement would be made on their site Tuesday morning at 10am. I didn't think much of this, since around this time of year they usually announce which weekend the festival would be taking place the following year. Instead they made an announcement that in my opinion could dramatically change the concert industry for better and for worse. 

The 2012 Coachella music fest will be taking place over two weekends in April. April 13-15th and April 20-22. That's six days of music! They're reasoning for doing this is due to the high demand of tickets previous years, they feel that enough people missed out that would justify them repeating the whole experience again. Goldenvoice may try and make it seem like they're appeasing their fans, but really this is a money issue. Coachella generates a huge amount of revenue and on top of the swarms of kiddies who feel entitled to Coachella, this would justify them trying to recreate the magic a second weekend. 

That is my first complaint about the change, the "magic" of it all. Part of the allure of going to a music festival is that it's an entirely unique experience, it's the sense of having 'been there' that makes each Coachella unique and legendary. Now with a repeat weekend to compare to, will that diminish from its glory? Will the ability to compare and contrast weekends add or detract from its overall experience? Not to mention this is an absolute logistical nightmare for whomever is scheduling the bands. Since the promoters want to have identical weekends, will this dissuade some performers from wanting to stick around for both weekends? Not to mention that most bands schedule their tours around the big music festivals, and having to commit being at Coachella for an entire week might be a wrench in many artists' touring schedules. I also feel sorry for the lower-tier bands who are still trying to establish themselves in the industry. For these bands a festival like Coachella is a great opportunity for getting noticed, yet hotels are expensive and this change might be a financial burden for some artists. Also, what happens if they sell out both weekends at capacity? Then there's two identically packed weekends, then what was the use of making this change at all? If that happened the only people that would benefit would be the promoters stuffing their pockets with even more money.

However my biggest complaint about this switch is the potential consequences this change will have on the surrounding music scenes. Coachella, like other music festivals force their artists to sign an exclusivity contract preventing them from performing within a certain radius around Coachella to prevent conflict. It's purely a business move, but whenever Coachella comes around the LA scene is absolutely dead. The added weekend is going to result in more independent venues suffering for a longer period of time. This move must put independent venues around the country on edge, because if Coachella pulls off two successful weekends next year, you bet your bottom dollar other big name festivals will follow suit. 

On the other hand, my biggest complaint about Coachella when I attended two years ago were the crowds. There were too many people in attendance for the facilities, which for some made the experience not worth it. Perhaps Goldenvoice's idea will go over smoothly and a greater amount of people will get to experience new and interesting music without feeling overly claustrophobic. If they achieve this then Coachella is a success and ultimately this change is a huge help to the independent music industry. Goldenvoice certainly has the infrastructure to pull this off, but it is a extremely risky move that could either be the dawn of a bright new chapter in music festival history, or the death of Coachella as we know it.