Saturday Music Definitions: Almost

break is almost over...but not quite there yet.

Chuck Berry - Almost Grown [mp3]
I loved Mos Def's depiction of Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records. excellent movie.

Broken Social Scene - Almost Crimes (acoustic) [mp3]
I've been on an acoustic binge lately, this is a cool version but the girl's voice bugs me.

Elvis Costello - Almost Blue [mp3]
Elvis Costello will remain, in my book, the coolest Elvis. and no, Rivers Cuomo did NOT invent the dark-rimmed, oversized lasses look.

Elliott Smith - The Worst Part is Almost Over [mp3]
oh, Elliott. <3 I don't understand how 70% of my friends don't like his music. blasphemers.

The Dandy Warhols - The Dandy Warhols Love Almost Eve [mp3]
this band is so cool. I never get bored of them. one word to describe them? funk-tastic. haha

A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover [mp3]
I love this song. and look, AFF is the stage name of a FEMALE vocalist(Alison Sudol). it must be a miracle that I don't hate her. wait, no, it's because of her talent.

BONUS:
David Bowie - Almost Grown (Chuck Berry cover) [mp3]
this one is almost as good as the original. ; )

"Ulysses" video is finally here!

I saw this earlier today but could not for the life of me find it on youtube.

many thanks to Jackie at Cartoon Music for Superheroes for being more diligent than me.



oh, Franz, why do you keep me waiting so long?!

record review: Andrew Bird - Noble Beast REPOST, SANS MP3s

[URG, DMCA!!]

Andrew Bird has a great, varied resume when it comes to his discography. His early work with his makeshift band, Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire, is barely recognizable to his post “Weather Systems” fans, oozing with, no, you didn’t guess it, JAZZ influences.

He found his niche with his solo debut, “Weather Systems”, and stuck with it for three records. “Noble Beast” is another story entirely. Bird manages to simultaneously sound like everything you’ve ever heard and something completely new.

This album is Bird’s most eclectic record to date, and it feels like a global roadtrip. Don’t let the excessive whistling fool you; here, you’ll find some of Bird’s most heartbreaking and dreary lyrics.
He bears his heart on “Effigy”, a song which is like a cross between an Irish folk song and a lullaby. The lyric “fake conversations on a non existent telephone like the words of a man who’s spent too much time alone” is closely followed by a soulful violin solo, and the second time around, he does things with his voice much in the vein of Zach Condon (you know, that drawn out gorgeosity that will captivate you for hours). Well done, Andrew!

While Bird’s music has always kind of reminded me of Radiohead, it has never been so evident as on “Masterswarm”, but then Bird delves into a whistling frenzy, maintaining his own unique twist on everything. It’s obvious that Bird has been listening to more pop music lately, as the violin solo in “Souverian” closely resembles the melody of “My Girl” by the Temptations.

“Tenuousness” reinvents a simple guitar chord progression which you’ve heard a thousand times in American folk songs. “Noble Beast” is strangely danceable, as Bird combines pop sensibility (“Fitz and Dizzyspells”) and songs that could be found on a soundtrack to a Jane Austen novel (“Effigy”).

“Not a Robot, but a Ghost”, which incorporates electronica beats, was the most surprising track of the bunch, as I did not expect the classically trained Bird to ever tread that territory. “Noble Beast” is a very experimental album, but it turned out quite nicely. Bird combined Northern European folk influences with more contemporary rock sounds, and even gives us a Middle Eastern sounding interlude with “Unfolding Fans”.

Bird ends the journey with “On Ho!”, a beautiful, melancholy instrumental number which reassures you that while he may experiment every now and then, his unique, superb song writing will never falter.

The verdict: while it may take a few thorough listens, this album will inevitably win you over. A stunning masterpiece, but I have come to expect nothing less from Mr. Bird.

4.25/5


“Noble Beast” drops on the 20th, but you can pre-order it
on CD
or double LP
or deluxe edition (CD)
the deluxe edition includes "Useless Creatures", an album of instrumental tracks. you can stream the entire thing HERE

Noisepop 2009 UPDATES: headliners announced!

Newly announced headliners for Noise Pop 2009 will include:

Bob Mould,
Les Savy Fav,
Thao,
Thee Oh Sees,
Sleepy Sun,
Ra Ra Riot,
and From Monument To Masses.

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats will also return to Noise Pop in song and conversation as part of a special lecture event, Talking Music, produced in partnership with City Arts & Lectures.

(previously announced acts:)
These new artists join previously confirmed acts the French Kicks, A.C. Newman, St. Vincent, Martha Wainwright, Broken West, Clues, The Morning Benders, No Age, Josh Ritter (performing solo with a string quartet), The Submarines and Stephen Malkmus' who is performing his first ever solo show in the Bay Area.

Antony and the Johnsons are performing at San Francisco’s beautiful Masonic Center on February 24 as part of Noise Pop 2009. Tickets for this special opening night show go on sale through Ticketmaster on Sunday, January 11. Additional opening night Noise Pop events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Show schedule information and individual tickets for many Noise Pop events will be offered for exclusive presale from the Noise Pop 2009 Festival site, starting Friday, January 8, 2009. The Noise Pop ticket store is powered by partner In Ticketing, with a tree being planted for every ticket sold. Individual tickets will go on sale through all regular venue outlets starting on Sunday, January 11. Noise Pop 2009 Festival badges are still available. Noise Pop Badges grant the owner entry to all general admission Noise Pop Festival events and are priced at $150 each. An early bird 10% discount is being offered until January 12, 2009.

In addition to dozens of live music events, Noise Pop 2009 will include a film festival, gallery art openings, and “Industry Noise” (co-produced with Bandwidth Conference) a single day music industry conference featuring educational panels. Also returning for the fourth year is “Pop ‘n’ Shop” – Noise Pop’s take on the local indie designer trunk sale and rock poster show.

Santogold likes being called "a lesbian techno rapper"

she equates it to receiving a gold star for good work:

"When I get stuff like that I know I am doing a good job. It means I am getting people outside of my zone freaked out by the fact that I don't fit into something they understand. It means I am pushing some boundaries, I guess."

read the entire story at NME.com

Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes

Band of the Week: The Gaslight Anthem

with two albums under their sleeves, this New Jersey band combines the blues and punk genres beautifully. they're like a less sunshine-y Delta Spirit.

they were a band I had overlooked in 2008, but I am compensating by going to see their show in April, and am quite enjoying their latest release, "The '59 Sound" (August 2008). Pitchfork gave it an 8.6/10 rating. and everyone knows how nitpicky those bastards are.

the band is:

Brian Fallon - vocals/guitar
Alex Levine - bass
Benny Horowitz - drums
Alex Rosamilia - guitar

for fans of: Against Me!, Jimmy Eat World, Rise Against, Social Distortion, and excellent lyrics.

The Gaslight Anthem - Even Cowgirls get the Blues [mp3]

The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

The Gaslight Anthem - Great Expectations [mp3]

BONUS:
The Gaslight Anthem - The Weight (The Band cover) [mp3]

BONUS (x2)
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (acoustic) [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!]
sorry, I couldn't help myself. you can really hear how much of a good singer Brian is in the above song. it's almost Bowie-esque.

download an entire live set (in zip form) at BERKELEY PLACE

visit them on MYSPACE

they have a lengthy headlining tour ahead of them. check them out!
Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jan 22 2009 Mojo’s (Brian Fallon solo acoustic show) Richmond, Virginia
Jan 24 2009 The Court Tavern (Brian Fallon solo show) New Brunswick, New Jersey
Jan 25 2009 The Middle East (Brian Fallon acoustic solo show) Cambridge, Massachusetts
Feb 2 2009 Wedgewood Rooms - Southsea (Portsmouth)
Feb 3 2009 Academy - Birmingham
Feb 4 2009 Academy 2 - Manchester
Feb 5 2009 Academy 2 - Bristol
Feb 6 2009 Concorde 2 - Brighton
Feb 8 2009 Shepherds Bush Empire/NME Shockwaves Awards show – London, London and South East [headlining!]
Feb 10 2009 Underground Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Feb 11 2009 Kato Berlin, Germany, Berlin
Feb 12 2009 KB -! Malmö, Sweden
Feb 13 2009 Sticky Fingers Göteborg, Sweden
Feb 15 2009 Tavastia - Helsinki, Finland
Feb 17 2009 Debaser Slussen - Stockholm, Sweden
Feb 18 2009 Lille Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark
Feb 19 2009 Knust - Hamburg, Germany
Feb 20 2009 Schlacthof - Wiesbaden, Germany
Feb 21 2009 59:1 - Munich, Germany
Feb 22 2009 Flex - Vienna, Austria
Feb 24 2009 Zoe Club - Milan, Italy
Feb 25 2009 Mascotte - Zurich, Switzerland
Feb 27 2009 Botanique Orang - Brussels, Belgium
Feb 28 2009 Vera - Groningen, Netherlands
Mar 1 2009 Melkweg - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mar 2 2009 Waterfront - Norwich
Mar 3 2009 Rock City - Nottingham
Mar 4 2009 The Academy - Dublin, Ireland
Mar 8 2009 Langerado Music Festival Miami, Florida
Mar 18 2009 La Tulipe - (w/Saint Alvia Cartel) Montreal, Quebec
Mar 20 2009 The Opera House - (w/Saint Alvia Cartel) Toronto, Ontario
Mar 21 2009 Call The Office - (w/Saint Alvia Cartel) London, Ontario
Mar 27 2009 Webster Hall - (w/Heartless Bastards) New York, New York
Mar 28 2009 The Trocadero - (w/Heartless Bastards) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 29 2009 Mr. Small’s - (w/Heartless Bastards) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Apr 2 2009 Turner Hall - (w/Heartless Bastards) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 3 2009 The Bottom Lounge - (w/Heartless Bastards) Chicago, Illinois
Apr 4 2009 Varsity Theater - (w/Heartless Bastards) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 7 2009 The Warehouse - (w/Heartless Bastards) Calgary, Alberta
Apr 8 2009 The Starlite Room - (w/Heartless Bastards) Edmonton, Alberta
Apr 10 2009 The Plaza - (w/Heartless Bastards) Vancouver, British Columbia
Apr 15 2009 The Boardwalk - (w/Heartless Bastards) Orangevale, California
Apr 16 2009 Slim’s - (w/Heartless Bastards) San Francisco, California
Apr 21 2009 The Clubhouse - (w/Heartless Bastards) Tempe, Arizona
Apr 24 2009 Gothic Theatre - (w/Heartless Bastards) Englewood, Colorado

MANAGER CONFIRMS: LED ZEPPELIN = OVER

way to kill our hopes, arsehole.

"Led Zeppelin are over," he said. "If you didn't see them in 2007 [at the London O2 Arena], you missed them. It's done. I can't be any clearer than that."

He added: "They tried out a few singers (to replace Plant), but no one worked out. That was it. The whole thing is completely over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue. Zero."

Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet [mp3]

The Smiths - I Know it's Over [mp3]

OK Go - Get Over it [mp3]

new solo song from Radiohead's drummer

according to NME.com,

Radiohead drummer Phil Selway debuted a solo song, 'The Family Madness', live in Auckland on Monday (January 5).

Selway was performing as part of a collective including bandmate Ed O'Brian, Johnny Marr and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy for the 7 Worlds Collide project at the Powerstation

(oh how I love Johnny Marr. that man is a bloody genius.)

listen to the song below:



I've gotta admit, this is pretty cool. I love it when drummers get guitars in their hands

new Franz Ferdinand track!

I want this album SO BADLY.

Franz Ferdinand - Twilight Omens [mp3]
nothing short of perfection, these lads.
is it just me or do they keep getting more and more ominous (a la Joy Division)?

Elizabethtown soundtrack: gotta have it.

the guys over at Addicted to Vinyl convinced me to watch Elizabethtown by informing me that Cameron Crowe directed it. as in the guy who did (and lived) "Almost Famous" Cameron Crowe. as in my musical hero.

anyhow, the musical score was GENIUS, I would say even better than Almost Famous's (even though AF was a better movie, and not a rip off of Garden State COUGH...)

anyhow, the movie was pretty good, but the soundtrack is pure genius. really, Cameron, you included Ryan Adams? automatic double points for that move. I have not been this affected by a musical score since the latest Harry Potter movie, but I was greatly disappointed that they changed up the track listing for the official soundtrack. that doesn't stop me from listening to it though ; )

anyhow, here is the tracklisting:

Volume 1

1. 60B (Etown Theme) - Nancy Wilson
2. It'll All Work Out - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3. My Father's Gun - Elton John
4. IO (This Time Around) - Helen Stellar
5. Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
6. Where to Begin - My Morning Jacket
7. Long Ride Home - Patty Griffin
8. Sugar Blue - Jeff Finlin
9. Don't I Hold You - Wheat
10. Shut Us Down - Lindsey Buckingham
11. Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) - The Hombres
12. Hard Times (Come Again No More) - Eastmountainsouth
13. Jesus Was A Cross Maker - The Hollies
14. Square One - Tom Petty
15. Same In Any Language - I Nine

Volume 2
1. Learning to Fly - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. English Girls Approximately - Ryan Adams
3. Jesus Was A Crossmaker - Rachael Yamagata
4. Funky Nassau Pt. 1 - Beginning of the End
5. Loro - Pinback
6. Moon River - Patty Griffin
7. Summerlong - Kathleen Edwards
8. ...Passing By - Ulrich Schnauss
9. You Can't Hurry Love - The Concretes
10. River Road - Nancy Wilson
11. Same in Any Language - Ruckus
12. What Are They Doing in Heaven Today - Washington Phillips
13. Words - Ryan Adams
14. Big Love (Live)- Lindsey Buckingham
15. I Can't Get Next To You - The Temptations


here's a great track from the film:

Ryan Adams - Come Pick Me Up [mp3 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
originally off of his debut solo, Heartbreaker. love that album to death, this is one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE SONGS. it kills me when he says "fuck me up". really, Ryan, you are THE ultimate heartbreaker.

as I unfortunately have not purchased the album yet, I don't have the great track by Elton John, called "Father's Gun", but you can listen away on youtube



buy the soundtrack or the original score at AMAZON or head to your local record shop and dig through their soundtrack bins.

man, I wish they made an original score version for HP V...but hey, all the more reason to watch the actual movie (for the record, my favourite book of the series and best film thus far...but the sixth one is looking great)

Andrew Bird: melodic genius

I was reading through my email, and came across this fascinating bit of trivia in my Andrew Bird newsletter (originally via this feature):

"Compositionally, Bird takes simple melodies and gradually extends them into complex arrangements. These melodies pop into his head unannounced. The way it usually works, he will suddenly find himself whistling a new one -- Bird is constantly whistling -- or even chewing his food to it. He never records melodies or even writes them down. He assumes that if they're worth remembering, he'll remember them."

now, I always knew Mr. Bird was a genius. I finally have proof! well, I always did, seeing as how all I ever had to do was to play some of his music and I would instantly transform an innocent onlooker to his fan base.

Andrew writes pretty regularly for a blog for the NY Times. it's called Measure for Measure. head on over!

I was listening to Armchair Apocrypha this morning as I did some recovery yoga (nice long trail run yesterday), a break from my faithfulness to his latest, Noble Beast.

expect a review for that (and the new Animal Collective) within the next couple of days.

Plasticities has been stuck in my head all day! now everyone knows the best way to get a song out of your head is to play it on repeat. haha ok, fine, I just like this song. sue me. no, actually, download it below and go to one of his shows! tour dates below (although I have no idea if tix are still available, I snagged mine as soon as I found out they were onsale)

Andrew Bird - Plasticities [mp3]

(off of the BRILLIANT "Armchair Apocrypha", Mr. Bird's 4th album, released in 2007)

I'd just like to say that I love Bird's wordplay, his music is so intelligent, it's so refreshing. half the beauty of enjoying his music is reading the liner notes you listen.

I grinned widely when I saw that the first and last tracks off of "Noble Beast"were titled "oh no" and "on ho!", respectively. I love me a good palindrome (and Andrew probably does too, as he has a song called "Fake Palindromes"
ah! I want to pounce him.

TOUR DATES:

Jan 19 2009 7:00P
Black Cat - The Big Shoulders Ball Washington, Washington DC
Jan 25 2009 8:00P
Theater of the Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jan 28 2009 8:00P
Carnegie Hall New York, New York
Jan 30 2009 8:00P
Orpheum Theatre Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 3 2009 8:00P
Nightclub 9:30 Washington, District of Columbia
Feb 4 2009 8:30P
Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia
Feb 6 2009 8:30P
The Plaza Theatre Orlando, Florida
Feb 7 2009 8:00P
House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Feb 12 2009 8:00P
The Paramount Theatre Austin, Texas
Feb 13 2009 8:30P
The El Rey Theater Albuquerque, New Mexico
Feb 14 2009 8:00P
The Rialto Theatre Tucson, Arizona
Feb 15 2009 8:00P
SOMA San Diego, California
Feb 18 2009 8:00P
The Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, California
Feb 19 2009 8:00P
The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Feb 20 2009 9:00P
The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Feb 21 2009 9:00P
Roseland Theater Portland, Oregon
Feb 23 2009 8:00P
The Moore Theatre Seattle, Washington
Feb 24 2009 8:00P
Knitting Factory Boise, Idaho
Feb 25 2009 8:00P
The Murray Theater Murray, Utah
Feb 26 2009 8:00P
The Ogden Theater Denver, Colorado
Feb 27 2009 9:00P
Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
Feb 28 2009 8:00P
Hoyt Sherman Place Des Moines, Iowa
Mar 15 2009 8:00P
The Pageant St. Louis, Missouri
Mar 16 2009 8:00P
Liberty Hall Lawrence, Kansas
Mar 17 2009 8:00P
Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mar 21 2009 9:00P
House of Blues Houston, Texas
Mar 22 2009 8:00P
Granada Theater Dallas, Texas
Mar 23 2009 8:00P
The Lyric Oxford Oxford, Mississippi
Apr 3 2009 7:30P
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Toronto, Ontario
Apr 4 2009 8:30P
Le National Montreal, Quebec
Apr 5 2009 7:30P
Higher Ground South Burlington, Vermont
Apr 7 2009 8:00P
Carnegie Music Hall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Apr 10 2009 8:00P
Civic Opera House Chicago, Illinois
Apr 11 2009 8:00P
The State Theater Minneapolis, Minnesota

I CANNOT wait to chat him up on February 19th. this man, is like, my muse.

the lucky bastards in Philly get RA RA RIOT as an opening act! I am extremely jealous of the people attending that show (25th January)...it'll blow their minds for sure.

Brian Eno: Israel is at fault

NME.com has a story about the acclaimed English musician's opinion about the current Gaza conflict

"What we're seeing in Gaza is an experiment in provocation conducted by the Israeli government," he said. "You take one and a half million people, you stuff them into a small space, you deny them food, water, sanitation, medicine, and then act surprised when they get hostile.

"But you want that hostility, because that's the cue for you to act the victim. Israel is pretending to be a victim in a situation in which they are the oppressor.

"It's tragic that a country formed in the ashes of the holocaust should act in this way. It's heartbreaking. Why do the Israelis do it? What's the reason for creating this conflict?

"The reason is that under the cover of it they can continue to build settlements. They can continue to get large grants from the American government. They can continue to steal the homeland of the Palestinians, and continue to make a Warsaw ghetto in the Middle East.

well stated, mate.

as a Palestinian, as an American, and as a pacifist, I just want all of the violence to stop

Brian Eno - By this River [mp3 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
this song is so beautiful and wonderfully serene. the lyrics are as follows:

Here we are
Stuck by this river,
You and I
Underneath a sky that's ever falling down, down, down
Ever falling down.

Through the day
As if on an ocean
Waiting here,
Always failing to remember why we came, came, came:
I wonder why we came.

You talk to me
as if from a distance
And I reply
With impressions chosen from another time, time, time,
From another time.

of Montreal cover "Day Man"

I just finished watching the last episode of the fourth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (greatest show ever. watch it. please, for your own sake, watch it.) and then I looked up the hit song "day man" on the hype machine, and was pleasantly surprised to find that of Montreal covered it!

here is the original:

Charlie singing "Day Man" (link to hulu.com)

Charlie Day - Day Man [mp3]
hahahah so funny.

and here is the lovely cover:

of Montreal - Day Man (Charlie Day cover) [mp3]

BONUS:
of Montreal - The Final Countdown (Europe cover)
this brings back memories of another genius show. sadly, it was canceled, but a movie has been confirmed

thanks to You Aint No Picasso for the mp3s. they have a FABULOUS ARCHIVE OF oF MONTREAL COVERS HERE!

Robert Plant voted 'greatest voice in rock'

it seems like everyone wants to honour the Zeppelin frontman lately.

anyhow, according to NME, the poll, which was organized by Planet Rock, ranked the following artists as follows:

1. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
2. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
3. Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company)
4. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
5. Roger Daltrey (The Who)
6. David Coverdale (Whitesnake)
7. Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)
8. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
9. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
10. Bon Scott (AC/DC)
11. David Bowie
12. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
13. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
14. Jon Anderson (Yes)
15. Bruce Springsteen
16. Joe Cocker
17. Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath)
18. Bono (U2)
19. Peter Gabriel
20. James Hetfield (Metallica)

I don't think it's biased of me to think that Julian Casablancas of The Strokes should be on here. I mean COME ON! this is pure rock genius!

and what about LOU FUCKING REED?!

Sunday Morning Covers

belated by a few hours, I know

sorry guys

I slept in today, then proceeded to have lunch with my family, then my dad gave me another driving lesson. I'm basically proficient now...a few more lessons and I'll take the test.

anyhow, sorry for the delay, I'm making it up to you guys by posting some really excellent songs today.

seriously, this batch of SMC is phenomenal. I suggest that you download them all.

Adele - Black and Gold (Sam Sparro cover) [mp3]
this one...just wow. it's amazing. I think Sam Sparro is a mesmerizing wizard with magical powers to captivate anyone, and Adele does the original so much justice!

The Honorary Title - No One (Alicia Keys cover) [mp3]
I don't care what people say. I freaking love this band, whiney or not. the lead singer Jarrod does seem to be a drug addict of some sort, based on my interaction with him when I saw them at Slim's. regardless, this cover is heartbreaking and beautiful.

Voxtrot - Heaven (Talking Heads cover) [mp3]
ok, this isn't even fair. I am a HUGE fan of both Voxtrot and Talking Heads, and I only found out about and acquired this song, like, a few days ago? WTF?! Voxtrot's leading man Ramesh Srivastava is our generation's Morrissey.

BONUS:
The Section Quartet - The Man Who Sold the World (Bowie cover) [mp3]
because I looove this string quartet, and because their album FUZZBOX is probably one of the most under appreciated gems of our time, and because I love Bowie and hate it when people think that he was covering a Nirvana song (really, now, what the hell?). seriously, if you want me to punch you in the face ask me "oh, yeah, isn't that a Nirvana song? who is this Bowie person covering it?"

happy listening!