Saturday Music Definitions: Happy Birthday

haha ok so I'm usually not this self centered, but today is my 19th birthday, and I thought I'd share a couple of birthday songs by a couple of my favourite singers, and my current favourite Strokes song: Alone, Together. It boggles my mind how perfectly the rhythm and lead guitar parts work together, not to mention the perfectionnn of the bass, drums and vox. Hot damn I love the Strokes.

It must be noted that I adore all of the Strokes' songs equally, but I become a wee bit more obsessed with one at a time.

It's usually from their first record Is This It. If you don't own that record, you cannot consider yourself someone with good music taste. I'm sorry, I'm biased but whatever, it's a masterpiece. My all time favourite record. I swear it gets better each time I listen to it.

ok, so here are your tunes, ENJOY!

Andrew Bird - The Happy Birthday Song [mp3]

Sondre Lerche - Happy Birthday Girl [mp3]

The Strokes - Alone, Together [mp3]

Band of the Week: The Clash

Ok, I'm cheating. Band of the week is about exposing you lovely readers to obscure indie bands that actually make tasty tunes. But I've been listening to nothing but The Clash ALL WEEK. I've been humming "Rock the Casbah" for ages (I love that song particularly because I was raised Muslim and my parents HATE my love for "the rock n roll"). Hot damn this band is the coolest. By far the best punk act. London Calling is a fucking masterpiece.

So if you guys have not yet worshiped this band, I suggest that you start very very soon. Download one of their songs below and go out to your local record store and get their eponymous debut on vinyl. Or I'd recommend this compilation -> The Clash - The Singles. But vinyl >>> everything else so yeah.

One of my favourite things about this band is the timelessness of their lyrics. Another is how they pack so much punch in such short songs.

Here's a cool website dedicated to all things Clash.

The Clash - Cheat [mp3]

fucking sweet guitar solo.

Liam looooves John.

Liam Gallagher of Oasis has written a ballad entitled "I'm Outta Time" for the new record which shows his love for the famed Beatle, Mr Lennon. It features an extract from an old interview with Lennon.

I love Oasis. I love The Beatles. I love "Champagne Supernova". I love the following quote:

"If you're not in it to become bigger than The Beatles then it's just a hobby" - Noel Gallagher

'Dig Out Your Soul' will be available on October 6th.

The full tracklisting is as follows:

'Bag It Up'
'The Turning'
'Waiting For The Rapture'
'The Shock Of The Lightning'
'I'm Outta Time'
'(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady'
'Falling Down'
'To Be Where There's Life'
'Ain't Got Nothin''
'The Nature Of Reality'
'Soldier On'

bring on the tour dates!

Oasis - Champagne Supernova [mp3]

Analogue magazine

I just found out about a cool independent Irish publication which is determined to make itself available for FREE for each and every issue. I gave their fourth issue a looksie in the PDF format available HERE, and was quite pleased. Check it out.

here is their official website:

analoguemagazine.com


Foo Fighters - Free Me [mp3]

Albert Hammond Jr is Guest Listed by Pitchfork

he talked to them about happiness, Tom Petty, and his David Bowie ringtone.

read more HERE

visit Albert on MYSPACE

Albert Hammond Jr - In Transit [mp3]

Wolfmother drops 2 members, singer to stick it out

It all started when keyboardist/bassist Chris Ross left the band, and drummer Myles Heskett soon followed suit.

However, singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale said that he is going to recruit new members and continue with the band

new Kings of Leon single streaming online

listen to "Sex on Fire" on their MYSPACE

I really like it. It's less aggressive than their first single, Crawl. You can really hear the yearning in Caleb's voice, in vein of Dave Grohl. Great guitar riffs, too.

UPDATE:

I've acquired an mp3. download it below:

Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire [mp3]

Happy Birthday Elliott Smith

he would have been 39 today.

I was just listening to The Elected today and realized how much Elliott's music has influenced bands today. We miss you dearly, Elliott, may you rest in peace.

I don't like to talk about my love for this man very much, because most of my friends don't like his music and I can't stand to hear anyone say anything remotely negative about him. XO changed my life, and I subsequently acquired his entire discography, some of the best stuff in my collection. If you haven't really listened to Elliott Smith's music, give it a try. The following song gave me chills the first time I heard it, and I just fell in love with Elliott right that moment. His music is so intimate, his lyrics so poetic. This man was a genius and died too soon. His music will forever be his legacy.

Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 (XO) [mp3]

Wolfmother to split?

I really hope not. The Australian-based band only has one record out so far, an eponymous debut which I really liked. I saw them live at a festival a couple of years back and they were great.

anyhow, read more on NME and I will post updates soon

Wolfmother - Dimension [mp3]

Kings of Leon North American Tour Dates

they have not one but TWO SF shows. =)

The Whigs, We Are Scientists and The Stills will open

9/23, New York, NY (Webster Hall)*
10/11, Las Vegas, NV (The Joint) #
10/12, San Diego, CA (House of Blues) #
10/15, Los Angeles, CA (Nokia Theatre) #
10/17, San Francisco, CA (Warfield Theatre) #
10/18, San Francisco, CA (Warfield Theatre) #
10/20, Seattle, WA (Paramount Theatre) #
10/21, Portland, OR (Schnitzer Hall) #
10/23, Denver, CO (The Fillmore Auditorium) #
10/25, Austin, TX (Austin Music Hall) #
10/26, Oklahoma City, OK (Bricktown Events Center) #
10/28, Houston, TX (Verizon Wireless Theater) #
10/29, Dallas, TX (Palladium Ballroom) #
10/31, Chicago, IL (Aragon Ballroom) #
11/1, Minneapolis, MN (Orpheum Theatre) $
11/3, St. Louis, MO (The Pageant) $
11/5, Milwaukee, WI (The Eagles Ballroom) $
11/7, Toronto, Ontario (Kool Haus) $
11/8, Detroit, MI (The Fillmore) $
11/10, Washington, DC (DAR Constitution Hall) $
11/12, Boston, MA (Orpheum Theatre) $
11/15, Philadelphia, PA (Electric Factory Ballroom) $
11/18, Atlanta, GA (The Tabernacle) $
11/19, Nashville, TN (Nashville Municipal Auditorium) $

(* w/ the Whigs)
(# w/ the Stills and We Are Scientists)
($ w/ the Whigs and We Are Scientists)


Kings of Leon - Red Morning Light [mp3]

of Montreal + Freudian psychology = spectacular on so many levels

now I love of Montreal for many reasons, primarily their trippy high energy melodies that get me pumped at the gym

but the following lyric reminds of Brave New World so I have a new found reason to love these guys:

"Can’t help it if its true, don’t wanna be your man, just wanna play with you"

tasty, tasty. anddd it's on repeat. alas, they've done it again.

download the new song from their forthcoming record, Skeletal Lamping, below:

of Montreal - Id Engager

and if you have yet to discover this cool band from, where else: Athens, Georgia (that city has given us so many top notch bands), trek over to their MYSPACE until they hook you with their sexy and completely palatable dance music (oxymoron? I think not) and you go out and buy Hissing Fauna, or a number of records from their lengthy discography.

new Kaiser Chiefs record due October 14th

it's entitled Off With Their Heads

the tracklisting is as follows:

1. "Spanish Metal"
2. "Never Miss A Beat"
3. "Like It Too Much"
5. "Can't Say What I Mean"
6. "Good Days Bad Days"
7. "Tomato In The Rain"
8. "Half The Truth"
9. "Always Happens Like That"
10. "Addicted To Drugs"
11. "Remember You're A Girl"

I don't care if it's uncool to like these guys. I really like the Kaiser Chiefs. I like both of the records that they have out so far and am confident that this third effort will not prove futile.

Kaiser Chiefs - Na Na Na Na Naa

visit the blokes on MYSPACE

Adam Green on Daytrotter

good stuff.

read the article and download some songs HERE

Adam Green - Jessica [mp3]

I actually prefer Adam to Kimya, unlike most people (the majority of whom have been exposed to her music primarily via Juno). Kimya's pretty cool too, and I miss the Moldy Peaches. But yeah, Adam's solo stuff is top notch.

the Killers reveal new LP title

"Day and Age" will be officially released in November, hear the source of the title below:



The Killers - Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf [mp3]

NOW ANNOUNCE SOME TOUR DATES PLEASE!

videos galore!

there seems to be a plethora of new music videos floating around now...

first off, The Kooks' "Do You Wanna"



everytime I hear that song I smile, because I remember a friend's incredibly confused expression at my singing "do you wanna make love to me" a couple of days after Konk was released. twas priceless.

The Kooks - Young Folks (Peter Bjorn and John Cover) [mp3]

next...

The Virgins - Rich Girls



now, I just got the Virgin's record a few days ago and was SHOCKED to realize that they had a different virgin (haha pun! yes I know how to spell version.) of "Rich Girls" on their record (the one you hear in the video.)

compare it to this:
The Virgins - Rich Girls (EP version)[mp3]

I really prefer the earlier (EP) version. I know that comparisons of this band to IS This It era Strokes are everywhere, but I can't help but think of the original EP version of Last Nite, which I prefer to the more well known one.

The Strokes - Last Nite (EP version) [mp3]

The Strokes - Last Nite (ITI version) [mp3]

oh what the hell, I'll embed a live version too. hot damn I love those guys.



lastly, Vampire Weekend have abandoned their preppy look in favour of goth. good stuff.

VW - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa


Vampire Weekend - M79 [mp3]

Sunday Morning Covers

Elliott Smith - Blackbird (Beatles cover) [mp3]

The Strokes - Walk on the Wildside (Velvet Underground cover) [mp3]

John Mraz - Piano Man (Billy Joel cover) [mp3]

three of my favourite artists emulating some classic artists. enjoy.