Saturday, December 20, 2008

Saturday Music Definitions: FREEDOM!


I am done I am done I am done
LA LA LA LA LA LAAAAAAAAAAAA!
I kicked so much ass this semester. now, let's commemorate my three weeks of freedom (which I plan to devote to leisurely reading and listening to music and NOTHING else) with some excellent songs:

Jimi Hendrix - Freedom [mp3]
Sublime - 40 oz to Freedom [mp3]
Elliott Smith - My New Freedom (rare, unreleased) [mp3]

BONUS:
Sublime = Smoke Two Joints [mp3]

Friday, December 19, 2008

Band of the Week: Built To Spill


Built to Spill is like, the ultimate in indie cool. They've managed to avoid the wrath of bloggers as they have not gained too much fame, but their music is superb. The Idaho based band doesn't try to sound bigger than they are (I'm looking at you, Coldplay), and stick to steady chord progressions, some interesting guitar riffs here and there and a singer who is very comfortable in his range.

They've been together since '92 (hot damn!) and have released 6 superb LPs to date, the most recent, "You in Reverse", in 2006
"Keep it Like a Secret" is one of my favourite records, ever.

For fans of: Guided by Voices, Modest Mouse, Yo La Tengo, Pinback

visit them on MYSPACE

Built To Spill- The Plan [mp3]

Built To Spill- Liar [mp3]
Built To Spill - Alarmed [mp3]

BONUS:
Built to Spill - Someday (Strokes cover!) [mp3]
they do a fantastic job here. leave it up to a great band with an ear for intricate simplicity to cover the Strokes perfectly.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The National: new album in 2010 + charity record


"we are in the early stages of making the follow-up to Boxer. We will let you know when we can what the plans are for its release, but it's likely to find its way to you in 2010."

also, two of the band members (Aaron and Bryce) have produced a charity record called "Dark Was The Night" for the Red Hot Organization that comes out on February 17th worldwide on 4AD.

All profits from the sale of the record will go to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The album features 32 exclusive tracks (!) and will be released as a double CD and on triple Vinyl.

The National wrote and recorded a new song for the record called "So Far Around The Bend". Aaron and Bryce also collaborate on the record with Bon Iver and Antony Hegarty respectively.

get your hands on it in February of 2009

The full artist list:
Andrew Bird
Antony + Bryce Dessner
Arcade Fire
Beach House
Beirut
Blonde Redhead + Devastations
Bon Iver
Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner
The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues
The Decemberists
Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
Kevin Drew
Feist + Ben Gibbard
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear + Feist
Iron & Wine
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Kronos Quartet
Stuart Murdoch
My Brightest Diamond
My Morning Jacket
The National
The New Pornographers
Conor Oberst & Gillian Welch
Riceboy Sleeps
Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio)
Spoon
Sufjan Stevens
Yeasayer
Yo La Tengo

The National - Brainy (Alternate, Boxer bonus track)[mp3]

NME showcasing new Franz Ferdinand tune


I'll make it easier for you guys so you don't have to sign up for emails (I'm already on the listserve so it doesn't make a difference to me)

enjoy:

Franz Ferdinand- What She Came For (live) [mp3]

courtesy of NME.com

it sounds a bit like Ulysses ,but is more guitar driven, less synthy.
the verdict? I freaking love the new stuff the boys are putting out. Franz Ferdinand have yet to disappoint me, let's keep it that way!

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (their third album to date) is set to be released on 26 January in the UK, and on the 27th in the US. I will keep you posted with updates

watch the new Flight of the Conchords premiere online!

HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE?

many thanks to Tastes Like Caramel for the heads up

this episode was not as funny as anything on the first season, but it is still really really good.

for those of you unfamiliar with this GENIUS show, it showcases Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, two Kiwis trying to make it as folk musicians in the big apple. the soundtrack is pure joy, but you can only really enjoy it if you've watched the show
buy the first season on dvd and start laughing your troubles away!



disclaimer: this can only be viewed in the US.

FoTC- Think About It [mp3]

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Noisepop 2009 updates!


ah! I freaking love Noisepop. for those not from the SF area, it is a week long indie music/art/film festival which showcases some incredibly talented artists!

it will take place between February 24 and March 1

some confirmed bands so far are:

Stephen Malkmus, St. Vincent, Josh Ritter, French Kicks, Ra Ra Riot, Martha Wainwright, Broken West, The Morning Benders, The Submarines, Antony & The Johnsons, New Pornographers frontman AC Newman, No Age, Goblin Cock, Clues and Dear And The Headlights

visit the official NOISEPOP website for more info or for an all access pass (just a tad over 100 dollars)

see you all there!

Julian Casablancas to appear on comedy album


according to NME,

"The singer has teamed up with 'Saturday Night Live' trio The Lonely Island, aka writers Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone and cast-member Andy Samberg, to record 'Boombox' for the album entitled 'Incredibad'."

read the entire article on NME

all of us who have watched "In Transit" (perhaps 83 times...) are aware of how funny this man is.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Concert Review - Little Joy @ Slim's 09 Dec

LA based Red Cortez were the first opening band. They were decent, I didn’t like the lead singer’s voice very much, though. I liked that the drummer used maracas as drum sticks, that was awesome. Their fast songs were the best of the bunch, but when they played slower songs, it just didn’t work very well. When the lead singer pulled out a harmonica, it just went downhill. Stay clear of that, boys, keep up the good guitar work and you might have a chance to get signed someday. The lead singer banged the keys of the keyboard with his elbow on the last song, which I guess was meant to be cool but it was just kind of disrespectful. They had this weird energy thing going on, where they didn’t know where they belonged: slow folks-y songs or let’s-get-trashed-and-rock-out attitude. But yeah, their guitarist and drummer redeemed the set, which was a tad too long (at 40 minutes).
2/5

visit them on MYSPACE

Next on came The Dead Trees, from Portland, OR. These guys more than made up for the mediocrity of the previous band. They had everything a band should have on stage: good energy, excellent sync and an awesome sound. I would classify them as somewhat bluesy, but more edgy rock-ish. They had an extra member playing with them, bass player Tad’s brother Tory, who was on an extra drum kit and keyboards. Their songs were strange at times and tambourines were busted out in a quick frenzy, but they pulled it off somehow. The crowd was dancing along; the Dead Trees put us right in the mood for Little Joy.
3.25/5

visit them on MYSPACE

Little Joy was superb. They felt like a family on stage. They were having so much fun, and the crowd was LOVING it. They were joined by Matt Romono (the drummer from Albert Hammond Jr’s band) for most of the set. For the last song, “Brand New Start”, they were joined by The Dead Trees, and the three people who Fab thanked profusely (“without whom Little Joy would not have happened”): Noah Georgeson (their producer), Devendra Banhart (“the coolest fucking musician I have ever met”), and Greg Rogove. Greg later wore a scarf that we argued about, he insisted that it was Persian and not Palestinian, and I asked if he was Persian and he seemed offended. It was quite hilarious.

Despite the fact that they experienced some technical difficulties, as Fab’s guitar stopped working midway through the set forcing Binki and Matt had to keep the crowd entertained with an intermission of sorts, the set was perfect. They insisted that they kept messing up, but a few minor mistakes was nothing in the larger scheme of things. A funny point in the show was when someone yelled out “for no one’s better sake”, and Roderigo replied “we’ll play that in a minute!” and then Fab went “NO, we already did that one!”

Fab invited me and a couple of other people backstage, and I got to talk to the band, who were all SUPER down to earth. Roderigo told me that he wanted to move to the city because he really likes it here. I encouraged him to do so. I also told him that Little Joy really surprised me, as I just expected a mediocre side project-y thing, but what I got instead was one of my favourite records of the year. I told him I haven’t stopped spinning it since I first got it, after which he pulled out the record and said “ah! It’s alive!” and then proceeded to point out how cool it is that they hand engrave the number on the inside of the record. I never knew that before. Binki told me that the boys are teaching her Portuguese, but they tell her that her accent is perfect. And then Fab told me that what he loves about Little Joy is it is a lot more laid back from the Strokes (no duh haha). “Don’t get me wrong, I fucking love those guys, I’ve known them since I was 13, but the band is too obsessed with getting that perfect sound.” “Well yeah,” I said. “You are all very meticulous”. “It gets to you sometimes, though. Like tonight. We were all messing up and nobody cared. Not the band, not the fans. Everyone was having a great time”. He then offered us some beer and cookies, and about an hour later, Matt came in yelling “who ate all of the fucking cookies?!” hahaha

Set List:
The Next Time Around
How To Hang a Warhol
No One’s Better Sake
Unattainable (live at Slim's) [mp3]
Shoulder to Shoulder
With Strangers
Keep Me In Mind
*a cover of a Spanish/Portuguese song, I am sorry, I am culturally deprived and cannot identify it*
Eat At Home (Paul McCartney cover)
Don’t Watch Me Dancing
Brand New Start

4/5 because they are just that awesome

visit them on MYSPACE

photos:



























want to get famous? (sort of)

the folks over at Pretty Much Amazing wanted you to know:

"Pretty Much Amazing is calling out bands everywhere (especially ones who email me wanting their material on this blog), COVER “WOMANIZER” AND GET PMA-EXPOSURE."

send submissions to pma.editor@gmail.com

just for the record, I really hate that song but I do love PMA so that's that.

Record Review: Fall Out Boy-Folie a Deux


Folie a Deux is, quite simply, Fall Out Boy’s weakest record to date. I’m listening to my beloved vinyl copy of “Give ‘Em Enough Rope” in an attempt to get the awfulness out of my ears. Only the Clash can save me from the mediocrity of a very very very very belated sophomore slump on FOB’s part. The record not only lacks momentum, but cohesion as well. There is no powerful feeling, no tracks that really stand out, no theme or anything. Pete had claimed that the guitars will explore new territory and we might mistake it for AC/DC. Lies. They barely scratch the surface with that claim.

I think the reason I am so mad at this record is because I know how good Fall Out Boy can be. Infinity on High was GENIUS (and helloooo Take This To Your Grave.) I think that Fall out Boy is trying too hard to sound like something that they are not, and it just isn’t working for them. Why try to reinvent yourself when you were good in your niche before?

The tracks jump around with many guest vocalists and different feels in each song, but it isn’t eclectic in a good way the way that Albert Hammond Jr’s newest record is. It is just…ugh. The songs on their own are ok, but barely.

Really, Fall Out Boy, I am disappointed in you.

2/5 (this is me being generous)

Fall Out Boy - 20 Dollar Nosebleed [mp3]

When this song started playing, I thought “this sounds like Fall Out Boy trying to be Panic at the Disco trying to be The Beatles” and then I heard Brendon Urie start singing and I just laughed. I SO CALLED IT. This is probably the best song of the bunch, but that isn’t saying much, as it isn’t anything special

Sunday Morning Covers


The Raconteurs - Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover) [mp3]
this one is so synthy and tasty

MGMT - Roger (Laid Back cover) [mp3 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

this one is fantastic. then again, what else could we expect from MGMT? come to think of it, Andrew reminds me of Bowie.

Mark Ronson - Just (Radiohead cover) [mp3]

more of a remix type thing but I love it all the same

Vampire Weekend - Ca plane pour moi (Plastic Bertrand cover) [mp3]

oh Vampire Weekend how I love thee. the audio quality here is a wee bit iffy but it still rocks.

Saturday Music Definitions: Cold


note to self: NEVER GO TO SAN FRANCISCO IN A SHORT SKIRT IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER EVER AGAIN.

Poor Bailey- A Common Cold [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

this one gets a lot of repeat time. the happy guitars a la Beach Boys may even make you forget that it's winter

Margot and the Nuclear So So's - Cold, Kind and Lemon Eyes [mp3]
I recently bought a copy of Animal! on vinyl and have been a tad disappointed. maybe I just haven't listened to it enough. regardless, the next time I get a paycheck, I'm buying a copy of Not Animal

Matt Costa - Cold December [mp3]
not my favourite song by Matt, but it still outshines most of the crap that most people listen to. by a long shot.

Modest Mouse - The Cold Part [mp3]
I love old Modest Mouse. I love new Modest Mouse. I don't really like Modest Mouse (one of those three statements is false.)

Band of the Week: The Dead Trees



this Portland based band (originally from Boston) opened up for Little Joy on Tuesday night. the combination of their lead singer's scratchy carefree voice which gets intense sometimes when he yells verses (see "well I could use another helper to see me through" in 'Shelter') and their lead guitarist's uncanny talent (which meshes beautifully with the rhythm) is like a good kick in the groin, metaphorically speaking of course

Tad - bass



Matthew - lead guitar (he may or may not have been the highlight of the set. ok, fine, I'll say it. he. was. freaking. brilliant)



Michael - lead vox, rhythm guitar



Noah - drums


+ Tory (Tad's brother who plays an extra set of drums + keyboard + other miscellaneous things)


they are all lovely people, kind of broke though. poor Noah had to drop out of Berkelee because it was too expensive. support them and other starving musicians! go out to shows, buy their shit. they put all of their soul into their music, the least we can do is reciprocate with 15 bucks or whatnot.

for fans of: Grand Ole Party, The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

unfortunately, the vinyl copy of King of Rosa that I bought didn't come with a digital download, so I am going to post the song floating on hype machine:

The Dead Trees - Shelter [mp3]

oh, and they had a DAYTROTTER SESSION

visit the band on MYSPACE
and catch them on their remaining Euro tour dates with Little Joy!

Jan 10 2009 8:00P
Botanique w/LITTLE JOY Brussels
Jan 11 2009 8:00P
Paradiso w/ LITTLE JOY Amsterdam
Jan 12 2009 8:00P
Gebaude 9 w/ LITTLE JOY Cologne
Jan 13 2009 8:00P
La Maroquinerie w/ LITTLE JOY Paris
Jan 15 2009 8:00P
Audio w/LITTLE JOY Brighton
Jan 16 2009 8:00P
The Leadmill w/ LITTLE JOY Sheffield
Jan 17 2009 8:00P
Stereo w/ LITTLE JOY Glasgow
Jan 19 2009 8:00P
Cockpit w/ LITTLE JOY Leeds
Jan 20 2009 8:00P
Academy 3 w/ LITTLE JOY Manchester
Jan 21 2009 8:00P
Dingwalls w/LITTLE JOY London