el tenny love! {August 16, 2009}

My my, El Ten Eleven's instrumental stunner, These Promises Are Being Videotaped, is splendid listening from start to finish. It was released last year, but I discovered this LA-based duo a couple months ago after someone told me that my favorite documentary, Helvetica, was soundscaped by them. Holy perfection soundtrack!—an electro-rock fusion that's deliberate and well-produced, yet still boisterous and organic. It does my heart good to hear El Ten Eleven's catalogue—joie de vivre!

I just discovered that El Ten Eleven is opening for Chairlift at Bottom of the Hill in September. I've heard that they are fascinating to watch—utilizing a pedal station to record & loop in a live setting. Check out my favorite song from These Promises Are Being Videotaped. It also appears in the trailer for Gary Hustwit's new documentary, Objectified—which I have not seen since I missed both SF screenings. Grumpery!

I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool - El Ten Eleven | 
My Only Swerving - El Ten Eleven | 

El Ten Eleven's "My Only Swerving" is remarkable as well.

I hope everyone is having a gorgeous day—go play! After sleeping late and eating well, I'm headed uphill & a few blocks west to a beloved flower shop in Noe for an indulgence. Here's to floppy blooms, leggy stems, and the contented cheer their bundles impart. Ah, the final weeks of summer ... it's been good, california.

(graphic by david rager)

Comments

[Meredith]

I love your blog! I just recently found it and check it daily now. I've discovered a lot of good music thanks to you, so I just wanted to say you rock!! This post is so feel good. Perfect ending to summer before I go back to school Tuesday.

[John]

I love these songs, and I love your blog.

[Jill Pilgrim]

Awesome recs and post as always. You totally make me smile.

[Roger]

Great find Liz. Let me know if you'll be at BotH. I'd love to join you.

[Catherine]

can i just say......thank you for posting this!

[Brendan]

I may also try and go to that show, just for something new to check out. I hear Chairlift and Micachu are pretty delightful music makers.

Hey Liz are you into Rogue Wave much? I was going to pass the word on a cool event to you. Their drummer Pat Sturgeon has a documentary out about his battles with kidney problems and there's going to be a screening of it at the SF MOMA September 3rd. The band will be playing an acoustic set afterwards. The best part? All only 10 bucks!

http://www.sfmoma.org/events/1468

[liz]

Jill, John, Meredith, and Catherine - Thx so much! Check out El Ten Eleven's earlier release as well, I bet you'll love it.

Roger, you are so getting my other ticket. xo!

And Brendan, I hope to see you at the El Ten Eleven show. It's been awhile! And thanks for the Rogue Wave tip. I can't go though - a friend has invited me to see Nels Cline (a guitarist in wilco) at Cafe du Nord that night. Alas!

[Brendan]

Yeah I'll see what I can do about getting tickets to the El Ten Eleven show.

Bummer! But I guess it's a good thing when you can't go to a show because you've got other plans for another show haha.

[Wes]

I know it's not necessarily music that would pop up on this blog, but Bearbot did a lovely mash up between El Ten Eleven's My Only Swerving and Lil Wayne's Stuntin Like My Daddy. If you can tolerate his lyrics, its actually a pretty nice fit.

[liz]

B. - I know, it's hard to complain! And Wes, I will hunt this down, thx for the reco!