The Best and Worst of Daytrotter

It seems almost tacky (nay uncouth!) in this day and age wherein music blogs are in almost constant competition with one another, beefing over this or that, fighting for users and ad revenue, trying to be the definitive source for music news on the internet, to comment on another blog’s content. But Daytrotter isn’t a typical music blog (and I should hope that AudioSuede isn’t like every blog either (except that we wish we could be bigger than Pitchfork, those hip bastards)). Whereas most blogs’ bread and butter is in their reviews or their essays or their exclusive interviews or ‘Hey! Such-and-such Festival has announced that [indie band] is headlining this year!’, etc, Daytrotter is one of the best sources you’ll ever find for live “in-studio”-type performances from up-and-coming artists, all free to download. A lot of big names have made their way into Daytrotter Sessions, and a lot of no-names too. Sorting through the endless sea of sessions can be daunting, and I will not attempt to create some definitive guide here. But for the beginnner, seeking a path into the heart of one of the indie scene’s great online institutions, this should be a good primer.

The Best and Worst of Daytrotter (A Beginner’s Guide)

By: Christian Hagen

BEST - The Tallest Man on Earth (10/09/2009)

One of Sweden’s finest and least-known singer-songwriters, The Tallest Man on Earth settled into this mesmerizing Daytrotter session with all he needed to move a listener’s heart: His soothing guitar, a soft piano, and his achingly powerful voice. Each song is a highlight here, from the heartbreaking rendition of “This Wind” to the redone “I Won’t Be Found,” which outmatches its album counterpart completely. But perhaps the most startling moment on any Daytrotter session is found in his cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Want You,” a surprisingly romantic turn from a musician known, in many ways for his sorrowful balladry. Truly, if you’re looking for proof as to the treasure that can be found in the Daytrotter vaults, this is all you need.

WORST- Tapes ‘n Tapes (04/07/2008)

Daytrotter occasionally has a difficult time recording bands, in that the sound quality has such a wide variant between great and muddy. This was one of their muddiest sessions. It doesn’t help that Tapes ‘n Tapes, normally wonderfully energetic live performers, sound sloppy and a bit worn out, as if they recorded this at 6 in the morning in the midst of a prolonged tour. Which is entirely possible. And while it’s nice that they play some of the best tracks from Walk It Off, which many think is their best record so far, solid songs can’t overcome a tired performance.

BEST - Blind Pilot (07/15/2009)

This young bunch from Portland first landed on my radar thanks to a wonderful opening gig for The Decemberists on the latter’s A Short Fazed Hovel Tour last year. I was then pleased to death to find this Daytrotter session a few months later, and then even more pleased to find some sweet-hearted vocal and instrumental work that can brighten the dimmest of days. It’s indicative of the quality of this recording that my girlfriend listens to it obsessively, and even I’m not sick of it yet.

WORST- Yeasayer (09/03/2007)

From the endless noodling of the intro to Chris Keating’s wild yelping, the performance of “2080″ on this session is enough to grate a listener’s eardrums. But the rest of the songs fare just as poorly for the average listener and for Yeasayer fans alike. Maybe it’s an issue of recording quality, maybe the band just wasn’t prepared for how bare their vocals would sound or how extensively annoying their songs would come out when they played them like they didn’t give a damn. Honestly, whatever the reason is, this recording is brutal.

BEST - Department of Eagles (10/20/2008)

While Grizzly Bear’s Daytrotter experiences have been mostly sleepy affairs perhaps lacking in presence, Daniel Rossen’s side project, Department of Eagles, scored a lovely little coup with this acoustic five song session that perfectly captures the essence of both Rossen’s unique vocal talents and these masterfully written songs. Highlights include the banjo-driven “Balmy Night” and the stirring “What is Your Deal?”, not to mention the punchy rendition of “Phantom Other.”

WORST - Tokyo Police Club (02/25/2007)

Admittedly, I’m a huge fan of Tokyo Police Club’s full-length debut, Elephant Shell. I think it’s one of the rare examples of a young indie band flourishing at an intensely rapid rate. And one of the benefits of this session, and other sessions on Daytrotter, is we get to hear a very early version of a song that, when it was recorded for their album later, would sound completely different. That insight into their creative process makes this a fascinating listen for fans. Otherwise, it’s a mess. The performances of pretty much everyone involved are sloppy and thrown-away. It makes for an extremely tiresome listen.

BEST - Eugene Mirman (06/26/2008)

Okay, this is a bit of a cheat. This “session” consists entirely of Eugene Mirman reading a letter he wrote to the District Attorney of Orleans County. It’s one bit, and it lasts less than four minutes. But it is absolute comedy gold, and for a free download, come on, you’ve got to listen to this.

Honorable mentions (Best): Elvis Perkins, Haley Bonar, Of Montreal, Born Ruffians, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen

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I hope this served as exactly what I hoped it would: A simple road map, showing little points of interest for the overwhelmed e-tourist seeking some good, free music to settle into. There are many sessions I didn’t mention, because there are many I haven’t heard. And if indie music is your thing, you have all the time in the world to dig into this vault of pleasure and treasure. Just be warned: You’re gonna stumble on some trash now and then.