Saturday, December 26, 2009

Saturday Music Definitions: Hold On


The Beatles - You Really Got a Hold on Me [mp3]

Okkervil River - You Can't Hold The Hand Of A Rock And Roll Man (demo)[mp3]

Lou Reed - Hold On [mp3]


The Replacements - Hold My Life [mp3]

Phoenix - Holdin' On Together [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

John Lennon - Hold On [mp3]

Guided by Voices - Hold on Hope [mp3]


Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Hold on To Yourself [mp3]

The Strokes Post #307

album of the decade. the most timeless, perfect album of all time. the one that makes me feel at home, anywhere. when I'm alone, or with friends, sad, or happy, or tired, or energized, or running, or writing, or on the train, or on my lunch hour, or really fucked up, or lying on my floor with my record player on. the damn album that started it all. that made music matter. to me. the one that alienated me as the crazy music blogger who obsesses over The Strokes. well fuck you if you don't get it. because Is This It is my fucking soulmate.

12 songs. 6 days. you do the math.





in the sun sun having fun it's in my blood.
I just can't help it.

I love the US and UK versions equally. I listened to the US one maybe 2349 times before I found out about NYC Cops. now, I usually listen to the UK version, but they're both equal in my book. plus, the US one has the album art that will end up on my left arm. once I save up a little money. it's gonna be the most bitchin tattoo in all of North Dakota.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Band of the Week: Explosions in the Sky


Some music is loud,
some music is soft.
Some music is nothing more or less than a transcendent experience.

Explosions in the Sky are from Texas. They make experimental music that will lift you beyond the realms of ordinary musical expression. The various instruments fall into place more seamlessly than two conjoining puzzle pieces finding their place on a table. It's wonderful, powerful music, and it will take you to places that you never bothered to visit. The band has been around for ten years, and their discography is varied and colourful. They recently joined The Flaming Lips on tour.

Just as Costco gives out free samples knowing that you'll most likely go home with a 10 pound tub of whatever it is you're tasting, Explosions in the Sky offer a cornucopia of free downloads--knowing full well that you won't be able to walk away unaffected. On their WEBSITE they offer a whole album (The Rescue) for free, as well as a single song from each of their albums. What a smart group of lads, they've figured out that a bit of bandwidth is a fair trade for inspiring lifetime fans. You'd better bet your bottom dollar that if I ever come across their records in a shop, or see that they are playing a venue within a 50 mile radius that I'll be the first one to bust out my wallet.

Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine [mp3]
from The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)

visit the band on MYSPACE

The Strokes Post #306

my first semester as an English major, I was obsessed with this poet named Gascoigne, and wrote about him instead of Spenser for my class on Spencer's Faerie Queene. I tend to do things like that...I don't hold well to restraints. plus, I really despise Spenser. anyhow, one of Gascoigne's best pieces was a satirical essay called A Delicate Diet for Dainty Mouthed Drunkards, which ostensibly is an anti-drinking piece, but in essence pokes fun at what it's supposedly supporting. he so wisely stated that one should drink "no more than is convenient", something that can be stretched as you see fit
















t

in any case, I love drunkards. Happy Holidays, everyone.

Free Energy record a Daytrotter sesh


Sean Moeller, you are my hero. thank you for doing what you do. seriously, that is one killer article.

Free Energy - Something in Common (Daytrotter) [mp3]

head on over to read the article and download the songs

Classic Track Thursday


Lou Reed - Satellite of Love [mp3]

from Transformer

you know, I have all of these fantasies of moving out to NYC and being a music writer, and whenever I think about it, the soundtrack which pops in my head is primarily composed of Lou Reed singing. his songs always embody New York for me, very powerfully. I think it has to do with the mixture of drugs, smooth flowing rock n roll swagger and the sheer dancibility of it all.

his album Transformer is a keeper. it's his second solo album, and was released in 1972. it also contains "Walk on the Wild Side", a song Strokes fans might know because our boys love to cover it. the album was produced by David Bowie, and marks Reed's solid transition into the dark side of glaaaaaaam. gotta love it. seriously, the Reed/Bowie friendship is one of my all time favourite rock n roll relationships.

PS I really want this bloody shirt.

The Strokes Post #305


this picture is from the newest issue of SPIN. I really like it because it reminded me of this conversation I had with a classmate of mine, like yeaaaaaaaaaars ago. I had just gotten into The Strokes (like, maybe 2 months in), was citing them as my favourite band and listening to them endlessly (haha not much has changed)...anyhow, that was before I had really looked into the band, and I had only seen a few pictures of them. the only one I had seen of Jules was his SPIN cover

anyhow, so this girl asks me if I thought Julian was hot and I was all "um, no I don't think of him that way, to me he kind of looks like a kid. and you know, I'm not a pedophile. Fabrizio on the other hand...damn, I'd tap that shit"

haha anyhow the innocence of the above picture brought back memories of when I was blissfully (?) ignorant of Julian's sex appeal.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

MUST WATCH VIDEO: Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

"sin is honoring desire above what you know is right"



Julian Casablancas' debut video just combined all of my favourite things:
fabulous music, 80's glam leather fashions, a nod to the Thriller video, violence, Victorian corruption/coats/handwriting, AND JULIAN HIMSELF WITH A GUITAR AND DRUMMING. and did you guys see, he has a tattoo on his upper left arm? I didn't know he had one there, I wonder what it is.

best of all, he writes out different aphorisms like Voldemort does, you know, in the air but they look like fire? and the whole video follows the theme of one of my favourite lyrics in the song: "so when's it coming, this next great movement that I can join?"

I am in awe. in shock. I am so happy.

Julian Casablancas - I'll Try Anything Once (Strokes "cover") [mp3]

The Christmas Mix

some old favourites and some newer ones that will surely turn into classics (in my book at least)

ZIP FILE


Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls - Merry Christmas, Baby (Please Don't Die) [mp3]
Crocodiles put out an insanely good record this year. so good, in fact, that it got stuck in summer trips to the beach and didn't make it to any end of the year lists (its place was usurped by Girls' Album). check it out, though, it's called Summer of Hate and is consistently awesome, lo-fi neo-punk grimey goodness.

Goldfinger - White Christmas [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) [mp3]


Black Lips - Christmas in Baghdad [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

blink-182 - I Won't Be Home for Christmas [mp3]

Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today [mp3]

The Drifters - I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas [mp3]
(le sigh)

Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree [mp3]

The Who - Christmas [mp3]

and, three versions of my favourite Christmas song ever:

Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting - Baby, It's Cold Outside [mp3]

Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel- Baby, It's Cold Outside [mp3]


Ray Charles & Betty Carter- Baby, It's Cold Outside [mp3]

I have a bit of an obsession with winter, snow, and Christmas music. this is what it looks like outside of my place right now



(and I stepped outside barefoot, in the shorts and tank which I slept in)
we got, like, a week and a half of cold weather. DOUBLE YOU TEE EFF?

The Strokes Post #304

an avalanche of goodies today:



my goodness do you hear that voice. it gets better every day. I am so stoked for the new Strokes record, yo!

secondly, Julian told NME that he wants to make "weird" music that is "not electronic". I can only interpret that as his plans for The Strokes, 'cause I think this solo shindig was a one time thing.

andd the video for 11th Dimension is supposed to premiere today on BABELGUM, and the link is up but it's one of those 0:00 videos, it's not functioning properly yet. that is what the refresh button is for! also, you can keep yourself busy with the teaser trailer, which is amazing. AMAZING.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Strokes Post #303



ok so first things first: the beginning of his singing reminded me very strongly of LOU REED (a vibe which I have not gotten at all in the whole solo thing, he used to emanate it all of the time in The Strokes), and I swear that just reawakened my passion for The Strokes all over again.

the rest of the video is just MAGIC. it's like, the ultimate Christmas miracle. and this is coming from a secular blasphemer who was raised in an infidel's faith (who, regardless, probably loves Christmas more than you and your grandma combined)

now if we could just get Julian and the boys to dress up in reindeer sweaters, my life will be complete.

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Strokes Post #302

oh, the joys of Christmas music.
and Christmas photos.




Sunday, December 20, 2009

Beirut interview with RS

just came across this.

Sunday Morning Covers


ZIP FILE

Okkervil River - Some Weird Sin (Iggy Pop cover) [mp3]


Fiona Apple - Why Try To Change Me Now (Cy Coleman cover) [mp3]


The Dandy Warhols - Primary (The Cure cover) [mp3]


The Morning Benders - Mother and Child Reunion (Paul Simon cover) [mp3]

The Soft Pack - Grinding Halt (The Cure cover) [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

Ryan Adams - Caribbean Queen (Billy Ocean cover) [mp3]

The Section Quartet - No One Knows (QOTSA cover) [mp3]

Foo Fighters - Band On The Run (Paul McCartney & Wings cover) [mp3]

io echo - I Want You (She's So Heavy) (The Beatles cover) [mp3]

The White Stripes - Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash cover) [mp3]

Ron Sexsmith - Listen To What The Man Said (Wings cover) [mp3]

Jenny Lewis feat. Ben Gibbard - Handle with Care (Traveling Willburys cover) [mp3]

The Smashing Pumpkins - Soul Power (James Brown cover) [mp3]
I especially love this one because I just finished reading The Commitments. I <3 Irish lit.

The Strokes Post #301

this photo is on JulianCasablancas.com and the lights just makes him look like magic.

if you haven't seen them yet, here are his East Coast dates

JAN 08 – BOSTON, MA Paradise Rock Club

JAN 10 – PHILADELPHIA, PA Trocadero

JAN 12 – WASHINGTON DC 9:30 Club

JAN 14 – NEW YORK, NY Terminal 5

JAN 15 – NEW YORK, NY Terminal 5

he will also perform on Jimmy Fallon tomorrow night

Saturday Music Definitions: Sun


you know what I love?
marathons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

I have loads of songs with "sun" in the title, so I've picked ones I think most people haven't heard.

The Swimmers - Give me the Sun [mp3]

Antony and the Johnsons - Daylight and the Sun [mp3]


Death Cab for Cutie - No Sunlight [mp3]


Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun [mp3]
from Into The Wild

Patrick Wolf - The Sun Is Often Out [mp3]

Stereophonics - Lying in the Sun [mp3]


Doves - Catch the Sun [mp3]

The Dashing Suns - I Wanna Run [mp3]

The Strokes Post #300

this is a wicked demo version of "Is This It" that reeeeeeeeeally makes the Pixies "Where is my Mind" undertone obvious

The Strokes - Is This It (demo) [mp3]