Saturday, November 14, 2009

Saturday Music Definitions: Zero


Built to Spill - Carry The Zero [mp3]

Jason Mraz - Absolutely Zero [mp3]


Smashing Pumpkins - Zero [mp3]

Elvis Costello - Less Than Zero [mp3]

I am well aware of the lack of a certain 2009 single from a certain art-rock band in this post. just know that it was consciously left out, as I deleted that album ages ago.

The Strokes Post #265


surprise, surprise, SPIN gave Phrazes For The Young a great review.

read it HERE, I only just stumbled upon it.

I was kind of hoping for a cover, but I'm sure they'll throw the Strokes on the cover soon enough. in any case, the current issue (with Wayne Coyne on the cover) has a very nice interview feature of Julian (which you all know about at this point)

this is me being a lazy blogger. I'll post some bootlegs soon.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Band of the Week: The Radical Sons


"I'm feeling nostalgic for the things I've never known, and all those records you lent to me, I can't tell you how much those meant to me, cause:

I'm So Sick of the 21st Century" [mp3]
amen. we were 40 years too late indeed.

combining endearingly palatable psuedo-nasally vocals reeking of inspired exasperation with sensational guitars that chase each other around like a dog chases its tail, this band kicks off their debut EP, Throwing Knives, with a bang. a pissed off bang at that, and this short but sweet taste of the young St. Louis band promises musical deliverance from the mundane despite the lead singer's nihilistic insistence otherwise.

this band is like Television in an insanely awesome alternate lo-fi universe, all wrapped up in youthful garage punk vigour.

I love Amoeba Berkeley. I found ONE copy of this album on vinyl there a few weeks ago, I thought I would have to trek to SF or even pay extra shipping costs to get it directly from the band (who only pressed 300 copies of it). but nope, my favourite store always delivers. kind of like this band.

Nick, Benjamin, Geoffrey, Patrick are currently recording new material in Brooklyn.

visit them on MYSPACE and snag a copy of their top notch EP before their stores run out. side b is entirely demos and entirely awesome.
(also worth mentioning, the 12" has a handpainted sleeve! it's pretty cool, they combine mediums to give a couple of different textures. it's mainly spray paint, with a dab of black paint here and there. almost as cool as my Muslims LP, which has bullet holes in it.)

SPIN contest: win a vinyl copy of Morrissey's latest B-side release

go to SPIN.com to enter, the mag is giving away ten copies. good luck to you and me both!

Morrissey- Ganglord [mp3]

The Strokes Post #264


hahaha Ticketmaster is so stupid. not only does it exploit my wallet with 20 dollar surcharges, it thinks I need an event reminder for this concert. I don't think ANYONE going to this show needs to be reminded of its date

Classic Track Thursday


The Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting for the Man [mp3]

one of the greatest tracks ever, from such an incredibly solid debut album.

the reason I'm posting this is because I bought my brother an ipod a few days ago on the condition that he raid my itunes and take some of my music beyond the Strokes...anyhow, he was being lazy so I had to do the work for him and when I said I was loading the VU onto his itunes he was all confused and all I had to do was play this song (which he recognized) and say was "yo, it's the song Bowie sings in Almost Famous". because that is one of our favourite scenes, when that guy screams "IT'S BOWIE!!!!" hahahhahaha good stuff.

the Velvet Underground owns you. that's all you need to know.

PS helloooo Pierre Fraiture.

PPS listen to White Light/White Heat under some sort of inebriation. trust me, it will be a monumental trip.

Vampire Weekend to play free show in SoCal TOMORROW


their "first-ever skate park show!" will be all ages, free, and take place at 4PM on Friday, November 13 @ Alliance Skate in Lake Elsinore, CA. I have no idea where that is, but check it out if you're in the area!

Vampire Weekend - M79 (daytrotter) [mp3]

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Strokes Post #263

Filter Magazine is one quality publication.

oh oh oh before I forget, I wanted to do something for you guys. now, I know that it isn't guaranteed that I'll meet Julian, but if I do, are there any questions that any of you guys would want me to ask him? not lyric meanings or anything, but you know, anything else.

example, do you have a sweet ride? (see below photo for answer:)


oh those legs.

Patrick Wolf releases new video: "Damaris"

ok, so I love The Bachelor (I think it's a cohesive album even thought it's supposed to be part one of two), but seriously, Stereogum rocks. you should read their description of the news of the video release. hilarious indeed.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Andrew Bird to score film: "Norman"


more than Where the Wild Things Are and 500 Days of Summer combined, this will be the ultimate I'm-going-to-see-this-film-because-of-the-music-featured-within-it flick.

Bird says of the film:

"It could do quite well. It’s got a fairly well known cast and it’s really well written and everything. It is more of a drama, it tackles high school drama without being lame...This is the first legitimate full length film that I did. I had the monitor of the film in the studio and I’m playing. It’s a lot of work. I don’t know if I ever want to do it again."

read more HERE

the premise of the film sounds cool enough:
"A troubled high-school kid (Byrd) pretending to be dying of cancer encounters problems with his new girlfriend (VanCamp) and others when he's exposed as a fraud"

it stars the guy from Aliens in America and the chick from Everwood. someone shoot me now for knowing that just by looking at a photo on IMDB. can I redeem myself by saying that I love Adam Goldberg? 'cause I do.

on a slightly related note, I was listening to Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs as I was tweezing my eyebrows this morning

Andrew Bird - Being Green (cover, en Francais!) [mp3]

Rolling Stone gives Phrazes a mediocre review

it figures. they have such trite music critics. not that I'd trust a publication that put Megan Fox on the cover one issue ago, and devotes 1/3 of its current cover to Bono (how many times has he made the cover this year alone? talentless hack.)

they didn't like Ludlow St, but if I remember properly, they gave Costello's piece of crap album a good review

don't even get me started on their despicable reverence for those Jonas drones and the fact that they couldn't appreciate Led Zeppelin in their own time.

The Strokes Post #262

do you guys know that line from Serendipity at the elevator: "bye, my sweet lesbian lady lover. I'm just kidding"? that's kind of how I feel about Katie.








insane quality.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The Strokes Post #261


I dunno if you guys have seen this already, I never posted it but it's been around for a few days. it's the interview Julian did with the Wall Street Journal, and it's really good. most importantly, he reassuringly states that he's moving back to NYC in January

another cool bit of slightly overlooked info, Nikolai did really well in the marathon he ran! he finished in the top fifth. congrats to him on accomplishing such an amazing feat.

in exactly one week I will behold Julian with my own two eyes. it's kind of surreal. it's supposed to rain that day, but I don't care, I'm still waiting outside all day. I've done crazier things at crazier hours in crazier SF weather in crazily inappropriate outfits.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Them Crooked Vultures streaming ENTIRE ALBUM

damn, I was fantasizing about this album last night. it seems as though the music g-ds have answered my prayers.

in short? this is baby making music.

























The Strokes Post #260

Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension (live, Conan) [link has been removed]

I originally ripped this for Connor, but when I ended up listening to it, it grew on me. initially, I hated the performance--mainly because Julian looked so pissed and out of it, plus the mixing was all messed up at the beginning, not to mention the fact that I was angry to see Julian without my other four favourite boys.

but objectively speaking, the song really does improve after 1:10, and, like Connor said, it is a nice funky version of the song.

I love that bit at 3:10

bon appetit.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sunday Morning Covers


ZIP FILE


Julian Casablancas - I'll Try Anything Once (The Strokes "cover") [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
I watched this video so many times yesterday. now everyone can carry it around in their music players.

Flunk - Karma Police (Radiohead cover) [mp3]

this is a solid cover of my favourite Radiohead song

Dr. Fox's Old Timey String Band - Kids (MGMT cover) [mp3]

doesn't that band name ring a bell? a good cover in any case.

Elliott Smith - Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Willie Nelson cover) [mp3]

so many Elliott covers in my collection. I'm so glad he left behind so many great bootlegs.

The Misfits - Rise Above (Black Flag cover) [mp3]
kind of fuzzy quality but the essence is there

Death Cab for Cutie - I'm Going Home (Sonics Cover) [mp3]
very cool. excellent audio quality, superb axe work.

The Hives - Find Another Girl (Jerry Butler cover) [mp3]
oh how I love this. oh how I love it when my favourite bands cover old numbers. *COUGH* Arctic Monkeys *COUGH*

Goldfinger - Ghouls Night Out (Misfits cover) [mp3]
this band was the shit when I was in middle school. I still have their cd somewhere.

Beck - Ballad Of Big Nothing (Elliott Smith Cover) [mp3]

beautiful, simply beautiful

Ben Harper - The Drugs Don't Work (The Verve Cover) [mp3]

his voice is so soothing.

Franz Ferdinand - Mis-shapes (Pulp cover) [mp3]
Franz Ferdinand covering Pulp? yes, you better thank your lucky stars. now get listening.

The Format - Do You Believe in Magic? (The Lovin' Spoonful cover) [mp3]
recommended by Chuck, authorized by Hanan. really good stuff.

BONUS:

this is cute. it's just like Jules "covering" the Strokes, this boy is covering a song by his other band, The Format, with his new band, fun.

The Strokes Post #259