Judo Chopped!

I'll take a HIATUS for $200, Alex

2006-06-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

Howdy all!

So, after a short time at home, I'm off to Tanzania (!) tomorrow to do some ecological research - should be an absolute party, and exhilarating in that I've never been to Africa. Here's hoping that when I return in September I'll be outfitted with a stash of killer afrobeat!

HOLLER,
christine

"If you like Rap music so much how come you ain't smiling?"

2006-06-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised last night to find that the new Stones Throw podcast has been posted! Podcast No. 5 showcases Roc C, one of the label's new(er) additions. He's dropping a new album in late June (which will include the song El Capitan, below) that has some pretty killer beats. I must say that I don't know much about Roc C, but from my listen of the podcast last night think that his flow's pretty tight.

However! The hands down best part of this podcast is the excellent production. J Rocc, of the Beat Junkies, gives the Roc C cuts that he features the star treatment, letting the rapping shine without too much distracting flourish. Best moment in the podcast? When J Rocc throws in a clip from Beverly Hills Cop. EDDIE MURPHY YES!

Anyways, head over to Stones Throw to pick up the 20-odd minute mix. It's sweeeeeeet!

Roc C on myspace
Stones Throw Podcasts

Roc C - El Capitan feat. Chino XL
[ Buy All Questions Answered, Roc C's upcoming album ]

You take your side, I'll take my own side!

2006-06-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting on A Passing Feeling's self-titled EP for far too long - especially since it screams to be heard, and sometimes quite literally. These four boys churn out spirited indie punk that reminds me of my high school days in sweaty, beer-soaked clubs in DC (that best kind of club featuring that best kind of punk: urgent and accessible). Precisely the kind of music that I'm looking forward to cranking on an early summer Saturday night! I know that Book of Matches is absolutely going to get some spins this weekend.

Hit up the band on myspace and DEF head over to 75 or Less Records to pick up a copy of the EP. It's five songs of absolute goodness! I'm jealous of any of you all who have a chance to see these folks live - I'll bet that they tear it up.

A Passing Feeling - Book of Matches
A Passing Feeling - Probably

[ Buy A Passing Feeling EP ]

Look! The song title and photograph match!

2006-06-02T21:15:00.000-07:00

Assembly Now, perhaps the UK's next big post-punk export, has some new tracks. Tenement and Roman Promises showcase a less frenetic, more patient side of the band - looks like we've got quite the multi-layered act in the work. These boys are looking pretty flipping stellar!

Stream three more tracks on myspace: Out On 24s rocks my socks into the stratosphere! Hit that!

Assembly Now - Tenement
Assembly Now - Roman Promises

Weather images are disproportionately represented in this post's prose!

2006-06-02T00:56:00.000-07:00

It's the time of year that finds me gazing out of the window in the late afternoon at cirrus clouds, watching sunsets that inevitably last for a full hour, and realizing that it's light out - at 7:30 pm. Late spring also seems to lend itself to harmonies and sincere indie pop flourishes.

Lo! then! From on high, I have been sent just such a song! Blitzen Trapper's Summertwin was released on their Field Rexx in 2005, but will be re-released in the UK later this month. It's breezy and fun and has a punctuating whistle during the chorus. Something tells me that this song will be making it on to many a summer mix this year.

I also dig Crazy On You. Ch-ch-check it out below. Also neato to check out: Blitzen Trapper's myspace and lead singer Eric Earley's interview at Coke Machine Glow.

Blitzen Trapper - Summertwin
Blitzen Trapper - Crazy On You

[ Buy Field Rexx (US Version) ]

PS. HUGE thanks to K. over at Analog Giant for pointing me to the the most recent Stone's Throw podcast (episode number four). Madlib's 45 Mix has been blowing my mind - Madlib goes crazy with all of the records that he can lay his hands on, and includes everything from soul to a public service announcement (from the 70s?). Insanity!

You lied to the lonely hearts

2006-05-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

To follow up on yesterday's country-tinged fare, I want to highlight Centro-matic and their most recent release, Fort Recovery. It's currently on my list of AWESOME!

Will Johnson, the band's primary songwriter and lyricist, crafts songs that speak to dissatisfaction and frustration without descending into pettiness. The honest, open guitarwork grounds his sentiments in a power and realness that makes him quite the everyman. The tunes themselves aren't half bad either.

Check out album closer Take A Rake and see why Johnson is so outrageously engaging that my last paragraph had no choice but to dive directly into the depths of pretention. On Monument Sails the band busts out the kind of rock that melds crashing cymbals with, oh, I don't know, twill shirts. In other words, it tears it up, soaring chorus and all.

The band's record label, Misra, is streaming the entire album. CYSTSFTS? knows what's up - they posted on these folks just yesterday. Also check out the Misra website for a third song from the album up for grabs. Killer!

Centro-matic - Take A Rake
Centro-matic - Monument Sails

[ Buy Fort Recovery ]

Crucial shoutout: marathonpacks wrote up a phenomenal post on the beatles and their particular and unique "moments," complete with edited clips and fiddled with stereo levels. Anything that gets A Day In The Life into my head is a-ok by me.

Also: RIP Grant McLennan. Let's Kiss and Make Up has a fitting memorial post to the former Go-Betweens member.

This post is real - huzzah!

2006-05-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

Photo credited to this lovely Sadies fan site

The punk nerd in me must be hibernating, because I've been spinning some country-fied discs like whoa recently. Neko Case comes to mind immediately - I absolutely adore her latest, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, as you likely did/will when you heard/hear her modern take on folk, spirituals, country and anything and everything related to killer pipes. Just in case you haven't heard Fox Confessor yet: Hold On, Hold On, below, is a glorious track. DEF check out the album.

I, however, seem to be a bit behind the times with regards to sometimes Neko-collaborators (and oftentimes live band) the Sadies. Rated X combines the Sadies twang and, let's be honest, pure Americana attitude, with Neko's vocals. The result is a track in fine country form. Mother of Earth is from the Sadies' 2001 Tremendous Efforts and makes you forget that the alt country group is from Canada. Killer!

PS. Kevin at So Much Silence is an amazing human being and ripped Neko Case's live NPR performance in DC into individual mp3s. I now worship him.

Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On
The Sadies and Neko Case - Rated X
The Sadies - Mother of Earth

[ Buy Fox Confessor Brings the Flood ]
[ Buy Tremendous Efforts ]
[ Buy Favorite Colors (the Sadies newest) ]

Boo-urns!

2006-05-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

Just as a disclaimer: clearly, I haven't been updating of late. And that bums me out. This semester I'm studying off campus and am having a spectacular time and remembering why I am a big nerd in the first place (ecology HOLLER!).

However, my bio adventures are severely straining my updatin' time. So, for now, I'm going to do what I can, when I can, and hopefully throw out some neato tunes along the way. Awesome possum!

Cars & Trains & Fish & Yeahs!

2006-04-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

This neato fellow named Tom is soon to be releasing a neato electronic e.p. under the name Cars & Trains. Broken Streetlight Serenade has a bit of a postal service vibe going on, and seems to reflect the majority of his work. Where Cars & Trains really shines, however, is in sprucing up a song by singer-songwriter Boy In Static, whose uber pensive vocals are highlighted nicely by some tentative drumming. Stream the original song at Boy In Static's myspace page.

Cars & Trains - Broken Streetlight Serenade
Boy In Static - Newborn (Cars & Trains Remix)

PS. Arbitrary plug: over my recently ended spring break, I became (even more) obsessed with the new Ghostface Killah album, Fishscale and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new cuts, which have turned me entirely into a believer. Just fir kicks, here's the Nick Zinner remix of Show Your Bones' Gold Lion. Duuuuude listen now! Ridiculously good music!

Whoa now - that was quite the hiatus.

2006-04-05T00:33:00.000-07:00

I'm back from spring break and recovering from what seemed like a nexus of about a trillion logistical details, converging into a single black hole. But a black hole, mind you, filled with gleeful, gleeful adventures! In any case, apologies for the long posting pause.

I'm currently moving in to my new apartment and bonding with the new roomies, and have no new and exciting news for you, sadly. Ten days without the internet can be surprisingly crippling - huzzah for globalization!

What I do have, however, is a song from the soon to be released Stanford Soundtrack (vol. 5 after last spring's vol. 4). In an earlier post I raved about k.flay, an insane in the membrane rapper, but here I'm all about some decidedly lower tempo material. Andy Moon is a former classical violinist who writes traditional singer songwriter fare. He's not reinventing the wheel, but does everything fabulously well, and with a bit of flare. Adventure is the kind of song that reminds me of driving home late at night in high school, windows down, flush with the kind of faux freedom that comes with the keys to your mom's car.

The Bee's Knees emerged from a loose collective of campus musicians and is ridiculously stocked with talent. Breach has a retro vibe to be sure, but owes nothing to the eighties (a refreshing change?) - instead, it borrows attitude and sound from the British Invasion while maintaining the straight-ahead arrangements that bands like the Beach Boys are well aware stick like duct tape (thank you, Chris Parnell!). Enjoy - this song's been getting more than a bit of rotation on my speakers.

Andy Moon - Adventure
The Bee's Knees - Breach

Built To Spill are built to kill - with their shredding!

2006-03-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

Parlour Boys (myspace) hail from Kentucky, but remind me of a lot of the post-punk that I was raised on back in DC, with perhaps a slightly less spastic presence. I'll be damned if I don't hear the same jagged yelp of Q And Not U in Sick Friends, geographic separation or no!

The quintet recently released its debut EP and seem like they're developing a promising sound - I especially love the tight collaboration of the group's two guitars in Lovers, and the near-anthemic cresendo of Sick Friends. Check these boys out - and be sure and peruse the website for the awesome-ness of the guitarist's glasses alone! Killer-r-r-r-r-r-r!

Parlour Boys - Sick Friends
Parlour Boys - Lovers

[ Buy Parlour Boys EP ]

In other news, I recently discovered that Built to Spill has created their very own basketball videogame: Built to Spill JAMS! is coming atcha, sucka! Almost as exciting as the chance to take three-point shots against Doug Martsch, blockin' machine, is the opportunity to listen to a stream of Conventional Wisdom, a track from their upcoming album, You in Reverse.

[ Pre-order You In Reverse from Tower online (only ten bucks!) and get a signed copy of the disc! HOLLER! ]

A twenty three year old? I'm wasting my life.

2006-03-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

I dig Sondre Lerche, and we all know that I'm pretty much obsessed with the Rat Pack. So, when I heard about Sondre Lerche's plan to release an even more jazzed-up album than his last two discs of impeccably arranged pop songs, I was pretty psyched, with a capital YCHED!

Duper Sessions, out today, actually, sounds like Rufus Wainwright, if he were to take the emotive vocals down a notch and instead become a pensive, good-natured, orchestra nerd. I'm not sure how much I love this album in the context of Lerche's earlier work - which I love a lot and are, to be honest, a bit more exciting than DS. But don't get me kwrong: a few of the tracks are typical pop gems, if of the quasi-standards throwback variety, and I suspect that Duper Sessions might just become one of the season's growers.

Once In a While is one of the less jazzified songs on Duper Sessions - it starts off a bit neutralized, instrumentally at least, but wonderfully utilizes the that hook will lodge itself in your brain and refuse to leave. A great little drum backing line doesn't hurt, either. Human Hands is an Elvis Costello cover (ch-ch-check out Imperial Bedroom for the original) which utilizes some fantastic piano action to convert Costello's singular voice into a loungey send up. A great stab at an intimidating cover choice: not to similar, not too different (I mean, Elvis Costello? That man is a GOD, covering him's tricky.), some sass but the perfect amount.

At his myspace, Lerche offers a streamin version of Minor Details, another stellar cut from DS. You can also check out three more songs, all from older albums - DEF give Two Way Monologue a listen, as it's one of the fabulously arranged numbers off of his last album (and a former mix tape staple of mine) that made me a follower.

Sondre Lerche - Human Hands
Sondre Lerche - Once In A While

[ Buy Duper Sessions ]

Bad news bears - BOO litigation!

2006-03-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

It would seem that Puffy and his producer fam got busted by the po-po: music companies that own the rights to the Ohio Players, a Sly and the Family-influenced 70s group, received a settlement from Bad Boy for illegal use of an Ohio Players' sample on the Notorious BIG's Ready to Die. The Players are pretty sweeeeet - it's easy to see why they've been sampled like it's their job. The pronouced, muscular bass lines and cocksure attitude that just oozes from the playing itself is prime material to beef up any backing track (not to mention some incredible horn puctuation). Huzzah!

Freedom to sue is truly our nation's saving grace! And now, the article: Judge Halts Notorious B.I.G. Album Sales.

Fibula, tibia, femur

2006-03-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

Get excited for a lazy post today, folks - it's exam time, and I'm a bum, and know far, far too little about animal physiology.

What I AM excited about is my recent discovery that at the Merge Records website you can stream Cannibal Sea, the new Essex Green record, in its entirely. O joyous occassion!

Just gotta power through until Monday afternoon. Then: freedom!

And they wanna waste my life

2006-03-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of both my usual Friday 80s fare and glorious March 17th, I'm presenting two songs from the Stiff Little Fingers' debut, Inflammable Material. Not only are these two of the best (and most overlooked) songs from the early years of punk, Stiff Little Fingers also held it down, in true potato-y fashion, Belfast style! Happy St. Patrick's, everyone!

So, the rub here is that I'm bending the rules slightly: Inflammable Material was actually released in 1979, and definately sounds, in the best way possible, like late 70s punk. But, since these two tracks catapulted the band into a 1980 record deal, I've decided to forgo semantics. Huzzah for arbitrarily breaking rules that I arbitrarily set for myself!

Alternative Ulster and Law and Order, like much of the SLF's early material, deal with the Troubles that were running rampant through Northern Ireland (wikipedia that shizzle, folks, if you're not familiar - it's clutch). They also helped pave the way for politically conscious punk rock - SLF were often referred to as 'the Irish Clash.' But enough music history: SLF can dominate a good angry tune like few others, and these are two of their best. Fun fact: John Peel broke this band just after stumbling upon the Undertones!

Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster
Stiff Little Fingers - Law and Order

[ Buy Inflammable Material ]
[ Buy No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion - great overview box set, features both of these tracks; hit that for some revolution of '77 background ]

In other news, I caved today and finally listened to the TV on the Radio leak. Aaaaaaaah so good aaaaaaaaaah!

PS.

2006-03-16T23:36:00.000-08:00

Greg Davis (post, well, directly below this one) also has a gorilla load of live shows up at The Internet Archive. Here's a link to a Greg Davis search. Enjoy, kiddos!

Study music? During finals? Yes, please!

2006-03-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why I was surprised to like Paquet Surprise, the recently released collaboration between Greg Davis and his recruit Sebastian Roux. Perhaps it was because I heard it described as found sound, setting my found art/pretention alarm bells ringing. However, upon first listen I was greeted not by contrived musings, but rather by a leisurely stroll through an organic style of electronica. Paquet Sound is no doubt technologically based in its origins - but, excitingly, the samples infused throughout the album ground the bleeps and bloops in the real world that exists outside of my room. The sound of rain drops and of leaves crackling underfoot sound ridiculously cheesy and obtrusive, but, shockingly, and nearly unbelievably, they aren't.

Tidal Pool is the centerpiece of the album and really gives a nice introduction to what the LP is working towards. I admit that as a stand alone track, it's not very cohesive and meanders slightly - but I wanted to post it anyways because I think that this is a true album and I would love to see anyone who digs this track go out and pick up the entire disc. I've really been enjoying it - highly recommended as a study album, background music, or listening for any solitary mood, really. Enjoy, folks - this is golden!

Stream four more songs at his myspace (which also includes a link to his personal myspace profile - way to rep yellow submarine, the movie, Mr. Davis!).

Greg Davis with Sebastian Roux - Tidal Pool

[ Buy Paquet Surprise ]

Here's the beat, workin' down the street-t-t-t-t-t!

2006-03-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

Thought that I'd serve up a little Go! Team remix extravaganza this evening, switcheroo style.

First, The Go! Team's treatment of a Bloc Party track! This playground-style effort is of those remixes that really puts a new stamp on a song (is that a xylaphone I hear?). Gotta dig those signature Go! Team drums, tinny as anything but exuberant with every pound. Moreover, when that original Positive Tension guitar line kicks back in at the end, you just have to grin!

Now it's the Go! Team's turn to get some tender loving care. Kevin Shields delivers in a big way with his mash up of Ladyflash and Huddle Formation, melding the two into a track that would sound at home on the Go! Team's debut. This cut must be heard to be appreciated - get on that sucker!

And that flute solo! No, thank you, Kevin Shields.

Bloc Party - Positive Tension (Go! Team remix)
The Go! Team - Huddle Flash (Kevin Shields remix)

[ Buy the Ladyflash single ]
[ Buy Thunder, Lightning, Strike ]

Are We Not Men? WE ARE DEVO!

2006-03-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

I love Devo. Many of those who know me can tell you as much. But the face remains: I love Devo!

Which is precisely why I'm so excited to post two songs from their live album (recorded in northern CA in 1980) for you all - go get these crazy robot punk men's cuts! The first is a lesser known track that they absolutely tear up, reminding me that Devo were punk in more than just political attitudes. Mongoloid is, in terms of Devolution, at least, is an oldie but goodie.

I. LOVE. DEVO! (D-E-V-O!)

DEVO - Blockhead
DEVO - Mongoloid

[ Buy Live 1980 ]

Lastly: Hopefully I'll be posting a lot over the next few days as a way to a) stave off pre-exam fatigue and b) make up for my recent lack of posts.

"I pay my taxes when I'm asked to - I'm not enthusiastic about it, but shit I make it happen"

2006-03-14T09:53:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered the wonder that is Lyrics Born - I had heard a song or two featuring a few of the Bay Area rapper's guest spots, but only first listened to last spring's Same !@#$ Different Day for the first time two nights ago. My loss - it's excellent, and so well-crafted that it took a trip to Amazon to realize that it's a remix record. On Same !@#$ Different Day, a myriad of outrageous talented producers (Dan the Automator! X-Cel! DJ Shadow!) reworked songs from LB's Later That Day.

I thought that it was about time I gave some of the Northern California scene some love, because not only have I had this lp on repeat, but the hip-hop is ridiculously virile and prolific - Lyrics Born first broke waves founding Solesides with (get ready) the phenomenal Blackalicious and the absolutely legendary DJ Shadow, not to mention MF DOOM, J Dilla and the crazy stuff coming out of Stones Throw Records. He's worked with Lateef (as Latyrx) and, on last spring's album alone, collaborates with E-40 and KRS-One. Incidentally, that second guest spot crops crop up on one of the album's stronger tracks, Pack Up.

Do That There features a pretty killer vocal hook and some of LB's most consistent (read: blazing throughout) rhyming on the record. It's also got a nifty little breakdown to close out the song's arc that I quite enjoy! Pack Up has an absolutely furious KRS-One culminating in an MLK Jr. shout out that BLEW MY MIND. This album is highly recommended.

His website's LB player also features a stream of five tracks from his earlier album, Later That Day. Check out myspace for two streaming tracks from Same !@#& Different Day.

Lyrics Born - Pack Up (f. KRS-One/Evidence)
Lyrics Born - Do That There (Young Einstein Hoo-Hoo Mix)

[ Buy Same !@#$ Different Day ]

Victory is ours!

2006-03-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the bootleg posting density this weekend in advance - my relatives (huzzah!) are visiting me and we're bonding like WHOA!

I wanted to post this song not because I follow the band obsessively, or because they have a new album coming out, but because I absolutely adore it. Storm Warning is one of those perfect lazy saturday afternoon songs, perfect for that in-between time that makes Saturdays simultaneously useless and entirely necessary. It's wonderfully leisurely, and portends of great, but possibly calamatous, things to come. I don't even know how to describe it - just give it a listen, and make my day.

I Am Kloot have released, to my knowledge, three albums. Storm Warning is from their first, while Over My Shoulder is from their most recent album, Gods and Monsters. You can listen to Over My Shoulder and two other tunes on their myspace page.

I Am Kloot - Storm Warning
I Am Kloot - Over My Shoulder

[ Buy Gods and Monsters ]

The right to assembly - a forgotten gem of the 1st amendment!

2006-03-10T01:35:00.000-08:00

Heard about Assembly Now about a week ago and was pretty psyched to hear their take on this whole amorphous post-punk, dance-rock, whatever-whatever style that all the kids have been breaking it down to over the past few years. Another band that can be described as "angular?" Yes, please!

Assembly Now do capitalize on the trendy guitar driven dance punk that Britain has been churning out, but they don't come off as derivative or as insincere. Far from it. Perhaps I'm such a sucker for this sound because it absolutely has to have energy and passion to work, or perhaps I just like to shake it like a polaroid picture to a bass line that wishes it was a guitar line. In either case, these two songs (from Assembly Now's three-song demo) succeed. The bass is mixed high and, especially on Leigh-On-Sea, really acts as a driving force. If the rhythm section nearly steals the show on Leigh-On-Sea, the vocals steal it right back on Out on 24s, one of the most engagingly crafted vocal hooks this side of the Futureheads.

These songs have a way of worming into your head and refusing to get out. Put 'em on and blast the speakers this Friday afternoon: it's almost spring!

Assembly Now - Out on 24s
Assembly Now - Leigh-On-Sea

[ stream a third song on myspace ]

He believes in reason!

2006-03-08T20:47:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been posting on a bunch of quasi-dour, certainly serious, post rock bands recently, so I thought that I would shake it up with something that's just FUN. They Shoot Horses Don't They are an eight-piece Canadian band, but I think that I'm more tempted to call them a troupe. They yell-sing, they clap, they shamble and jangle like it's their job - all with a fucking awesome horn section! The exuberance of the opening vocals of Big Dot spills over into the circular chorus that reminds me of riding merry-go-rounds on Saturday afternoons. So, grin-inducing! Hiccup, too, begins with a high note and never lets up.

Currently their album, Boo Hoo Hoo Boo, is a go-to of mine when I need a pick-me-up or just some giddy background music. You can pick up a third mp3, Empty Head, and stream a song from their earlier EP on myspace.

They Shoot Horses Don't They - Hiccup
They Shoot Horses Don't They - Big Dot

[ Buy Boo Hoo Hoo Boo ]

On an entirely unrelated note, Another Form of Relief introduced me to Planet Claire, a French radio station that has available on its website numerous in shop acoustic sets, featuring everyone from Chan Marshall to Art Brut to Animal Collective. I've posted two of the tracks from Low's session below.

Low - Monkey (acoustic Planet Claire session)
Low - Silver Rider (acoustic Planet Claire session)

itunes now owns my soul

2006-03-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Last night, I purchased my first video through itunes. I worry that it's all downhill from here, despite the wisdom that ought to accompany my lack of disposable income. Boo-urns!

Ah well - the video is sweeeeeeeeet. Watch Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice video, directed by Spike Jonze and featuring the always-charming Christopher Walken. Fun fact: C. W. was originally trained as a musical theater showman. Explains the suave moves!

I, For One, Have Chosen Grapes

2006-03-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

I love looking forward to new releases - I love that despite album leaks (which, I'll admit, I gleefully revel in), ourtunes, and streaming audio a band can still pump me up enough to have me looking forward to their album's release date. The new cut from I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Fear Is On Our Side, had me doing just that. Their atmospheric rock got me through an all-nighter just last week, and promises to bring me many an hour of post-rock tension. Along with the patience of the album's pacing, there are a number of danceable songs on the disc - myspace, as per usual, offers streams of several songs, and According To Plan is a prime example of some killer angular guitar. In short, I can't recommend this album more highly.

And now for the evidence! Lights is a straightforward rock song, with a nice little breakdown of the opening's patterned guitar and rhythm section. It's likely the most accessible and catchy song on the record. We Choose Faces, alternatively, showcases the band's ability to work towards an ambiance. It allows the guitars to ebb and flow, keeping texture at the forefront while the vocals are few and far between. Clocking in at over five and a half minutes, it manages to do within a single song what the album seems to over the course of its ten-plus songs.

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Lights
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - We Choose Faces

[ Buy Fear Is On Our Side ]

Duck and cover!

2006-03-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

In light of Spin's recent article on LA's Silverlake scene, I think that everyone and their mom should behold the badass-ness that is: Cold War Kids! They've honed a sleaze rock sound that is, if not radically innovative, at least filled with some epic drum fills. These two tunes are from the band's last ep, and are reminiscent of both the Black Keys and the early White Stripes. In other words, this is the work of an entirely sincere blues garage guitar band - and one with chops.

On March 11th Cold War Kids will be putting out two new eps, that their website seems to imply are meant to be listened to together, as a parts are greater than the whole type of deal. As far as I can tell, there currently isn't any purchasing details available, but the band's myspace page has details about the release show, other shows, and a few as-yet-unreleased songs to stream. In the meantime:

Cold War Kids - Heavy Boots
Cold War Kids - The Soloist In The Living Room

Also! Where Is Your Mind has some amazing photographs of a recent Voxtrot show! Looks like they were killer live - what's more, there's nothing like some pretty live shots to trigger those sweet, sweet show memories!

Wallace and Gromit are my gods!

2006-03-05T23:24:00.000-08:00

So, in true oscars spirit, want to recognize Gustavo Santaolalla, one of the most exciting film composers out there today. He was the man behind the Brokeback Mountain score, which was mind-blowingly beautiful. He also scored the Motorcycle Diaries and, I belive, 21 Grams - someone feel free to set me straight on that if I'm off. In any case, am posting one of the instrumentals from the Brokeback soundtrack, which is a but overdone and cheezed out, but has a nice little arc to it. Moreover, we've all heard that melody from the commercials far too many times - hurrah for media oversaturation!

So, I won't lie - as much as I despise the Oscars, and trash them every year for being all about politics and not in any way about film, I'm a total winner junkie. Good Night and Good Luck and Capote got entirely shafted, but that wasn't much of a surprise - I mean, it is the Oscars. Ah, well - Phillip Seymour Hoffman's win means that I can go on for another year, hating the system but holdin' out for those oh-so-sweet successes!

Gustavo Santaolalla - Brokeback Mountain 3

[ Buy the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack ]

Film School is neato! I DO like cinematography...

2006-03-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts - it's been a pretty crazy weekend. The good news is that my rugby team absolutely rocked both of our games this weekend! Hurrah for physical exertion!

I have to throw a shout-out to my SF homies, Film School. Their self-titled release came out earlier this year and, to be honest, rocks the fuck out! In that vaguely detached, melodramatic, 1980s-channeling way, however. Harmed nicely showcases the band's echoing vocals and layered, occassionally fuzzy guitars. Pitfalls, on the other hand, tones down the reverb a notch and instead plays up the quite impressive guitar lines that are layered throughout their album. Certainly worth a listen ("Layered" twice in a single entry? It's gotta rule, let's be real.) - if you're intrigued, two more songs are streaming on the band's myspace page and their label's Film School page. Holler-r-r-r-r!

Film School - Harmed
Film School - Pitfalls

[ Buy Film School ]

YAY FOR LIBRARIES!

2006-03-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

Sadly, it is Friday afternoon, and I am at the library. And, of course, procrastinating. Hurrah for vicious cycles!

In any case, while clicking around the internet looking for something to listen to, I realized that Merge records has several albums available as streaming audio on its website - here's your chance to hear Destroyer's new album, Destroyer's Rubies, in its entirety if you haven't already. If you haven't, go, right now, and do! I love Dan Bejar!

Also available for your listening pleasure: Robert Pollard, the Clientele, East River Pipe.

Sweeeeeeet.

Friday I'm In Love

2006-03-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I love, it's the 1980s! And so, I think that I'm going to start rocking Fridays neon spandex style: by featuring one of my 80s fixes!

The inaugural 80s entry? The B-52's, the masters of camp and wonderfully slick new wave! I must say that their self-titled album is consistently my favorite, though the B-52's do seem to specialize in being really, realy good at what it is they do: craft hyperactive, slightly off-kilter pop songs. Rock Lobster and Planet Claire walk that line between bothersome eccentricity and wonderfully entertaining silliness, always landing on two feet in the realm of the latter. Enjoy!

The B-52's - Rock Lobster
The B-52's - Planet Claire

[ Buy The B-52's ]

Wolves: Outrageously trendy right now!

2006-03-02T23:01:00.000-08:00

One of the most exciting moments in all of existence is the moment in which you realize that something you thought you had pegged is actually radically different, or radically multi-dimensional, or radically dense, or radically surprising. Perhaps my nascent love of My Latest Novel doesn't quite reach the heights of life-changing excess that I just outlined, but it is something along those lines. When I first sat down to listen to some cuts from their upcoming album, Wolves (out March 7th in the UK), I was, unfortunately, ready for brit pop - the five-some is from Glasgow and I've heard their sound described as "luscious." It's wrong, but I jumped to conclusions. Bad news bears!

Thankfully, I gave these songs another listen. I absolutely adore Sister Sneaker Sister Soul - it's patient, and nuanced, and definately rewards repeated listens. The Repuation of Ross Francis is the kind of song that makes me want to be friends with a band - the heart and effort and pure, clenched-teeth intensity of the chorus is enough to forever worship at the alter of the vocal hook. Incidentally, this cut is also their upcoming single. The Job Mr Kurtz Done is one of four songs being streamed on the band's myspace page. It's got a nice little lilt to it, in my opinion. In any case, I'm really digging on these guys and I highly, highly recommend that you all check check check check it outttt!

My Latest Novel - Sister Sneaker Sister Soul
My Latest Novel - The Repuation of Ross Francis
My Latest Novel - The Job Mr Kurtz Done

[ Buy Wolves ]

Give Me The Keys, Man

2006-03-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

Stumbled across The National's Black Session (from april of last year) and couldn't resist: Alligator was just too good to let a chance to post live tracks slip by. Cherry Tree is the standout from these three, though all feature tight instrumentation and, let's be honest, were amazing songs to begin with.

Short posts: YAY.

The National - Cherry Tree (Black Session)
The National - Looking For Astronauts (Black Session)
The National - City Middle (Black Session)

[ Buy Alligator ]

2006-03-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Thought that I should let you all know that The Stills have put up for download on myspace the first song off their soon-to-be-released Without Feathers, out May 9th - get those calendars out now, retro-revival enthusiasts!

"In The Beginning" is noticibly more lively than much of Logic - but not, by any means, to its detriment. It's startling what a few piano plinks here and there can do to lighten up those chugging guitars. And is that a tamborine I hear? For the most part it sounds as thought the Stills will be back in fine form with this new album, driving rhythm section and all - cross your fingers for a successful dodge of the sophomore slump!

Below I've linked to the new track along with two cuts from Logic Will Break Your Heart, to remind us why the Stills rocked so fucking hard back in the day. And by back in the day, I mean three years ago.

The Stills - In The Beginning
The Stills - Changes Are No Good
The Stills - Allison Krausse

[ Buy Logic Will Break Your Heart ]

i miss duck hunt

2006-02-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

The Advantage are a rare breed: an absolutely rocking and not entirely ironic gimmick band. Their mission statement is to record a version of every nintendo song - and the beauty is that we're talking old school nintendo, duck-hunt style. Killer!

I've been digging their newest album, Elf Titled, for the childhood throwback, but also for what they do with the songs. These aren't any midi covers. Rather, their renditions tend to swirl upwards into a heroic froth - I mean, these are melodies that were composed for superheroes. The album's opener, the Batman stage one theme, is like the awesomeness of a guitar solo and the energy of a super speed lightning round level thrown into one, while the Metroid tune is a bit less frantic and provides pretty rocking ambiance with a nifty fade out at the end. Perhaps this is heresy, but I can see the Advantage morphing into my 2006 incarnation of the Go! Team - in other words, roundhouse-kickin', tune-hummin', mix cd-fillin' fun!

The Advantage - Batman - Stage 1
The Advantage - Metroid - Kraid's Lair

[ Buy Elf Titled ]
[ check out their label website for some more legit info than their band website provides ]

The Good Ole Days: 1993!

2006-02-26T22:50:00.000-08:00

You know you're listening to Built to Spill, nearly as seminal a group as mid-ninties indie rock (be)gets, when lyrics don't kick in until 2:14 seconds into one of their singles. Awesome! Though their first album since 2001, You In Reverse, isn't being released until April 11th, I'm so ridiculously psyched that I felt the need to throw out a metaphysical high five to Doug Martsch and his rotating band of players now.

If the only released song (and upcoming single), "Goin' Against Your Mind," is any indication, they should be back in fine form. As per usual, the song swoopes through nearly half a dozen quasi-distinct portions, peppered liberally with guitar tweedles, drum flourishes, and the always-cryptic lyrics of Mr. Martsch. In short, it's fantastic stuff. The other cut I've included is possibly my favorite ever (ever, ever, ever!) Built to Spill song, off of Perfect From Now On (1997). "Out of Site" just has this way of drawing me in and by the time it hits the climax has me entirely embroiled in the obscenely tight arrangement of the guitar and drums. The angular changes of the musical scenery belie the cohesive journey that IS this song - that's what I love about BTS, in a nutshell. How they pull it off is beyond me. But let's not overanalyze - these songs are sweeeeeet!

Built to Spill - Out of Site
Built to Spill - Goin' Against Your Mind

[ Buy Perfect From Now On ]
[ Hit up the itunes music store for "Goin' Against Your Mind" ]

stonehenge and i'm crunk like druids

2006-02-26T01:40:00.000-08:00

It makes sense to begin this (possibly short-lived) foray into the world of the blog with my favorite suburban rap queen: k.flay. This is a girl who began rapping a little over a year ago on a drunken dare, realized that she could sling, and now has an album. More to the point, she is ridiculously hilarious! For the most part, her songs revolve around living the college life and puns (delicious, delicious puns!). More engaging, however, is the oscillation between extreme hubris and a cutting, self-deprecating humor. I think that the amount of fun that these songs throw at you is difficult to overstate - all I know is that more often than not, the last song I spin before going out for the evening or, oddly, for an exam, is "How I'm Rocking." And that bass line on "Pickup Lines"! YOW!

I highly, highly recommend both of these tracks. The first is the cut that originally sold me on k.flay, the second is a more mature sound.

k.flay - how i'm rocking
k.flay - pickup lines

[ Buy K.Flay's debut ]

WHOA BUDDY

2006-02-26T00:13:00.000-08:00

this is an experiment so that i can mess with the formatting.
sweeeeeet!