Saturday Music Definitions: Fire

on Berkeley's campus, there used to be an amazing watermark of Jimi Hendrix's face on a marble piece right outside Sather Gate. it was from a poster from the 60's, and it looked super cool.





the "restoration" people washed it away a few months ago. thankfully, I had managed to photograph it, but the whole situation still bugs me. is nothing sacred?


Jimi Hendrix - Fire [mp3]

Arctic Monkeys - Fire and the Thud [mp3]

Franz Ferdinand - This Fire [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Grapevine Fires [mp3]

The Doors ft. Eddie Vedder - Light My Fire [mp3]

Kings of Leon - Pistol Of Fire [mp3]

Phoenix - On Fire [mp3]

OK Go - There's A Fire [mp3]

The Strokes Post #321

The Strokes - Reptilia (alternate video)
by strokesjunkie

a couch for luxury and damned incest

I was listening to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart earlier today and, now, as I sift through my external harddrive, looking at old school assignments, I was brought back to TPOBPaH

"In fact, perhaps this is the pure and perfect incest: the brother realizing that the sister’s virginity must be destroyed in order to have existed at all, taking that virginity in the person of the brother in law, the man whom he would be if he could become, metamorphose into, the lover, the husband, by whom he would be despoiled, choose for the despoiler, if he could become, metamorphose into the sister, the mistress, the bride."
-Absalom, Absalom!
[one of my favourite quotes from one of the greatest books ever written, thankyouverymuch. I love the paper I wrote on this quote. it's brilliant, if I do say so myself.]

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - This Love is Fucking Right [mp3]

The Strokes Post #320

Julian Casablancas - Long Island Blues [mp3]

cheers to Edith for sending me the Phrazes bonus disc!

Band of the Week: The National

so technically I've already posted them as band of the week but I've been listening to Alligator all day (one of my favourite albums ever) and I just can't help myself. I'm sure this post will inspire some new listeners, so it's not a waste at all. plus the album landed on a bunch of best-of-decade lists so I feel quite vindicated about this post.

The National's albums are like Van Gogh's paintings. At first you are enraptured with the bold beauty and the sweeping colour (of sound), but then you realize that this beauty is filled with anguish and heartache when you become more intimately acquainted with them.

In the end, you're left hopelessly in love, inspired, and depressed. Crying tears of empowerment.

The National - Lit Up [mp3]

buy Alligator on AMAZON. really, do.

new song: The Soft Pack - Mexico

The Soft Pack - Mexico [mp3]

they're singing about Mexico. how very San Diegan of them.
this track is just easy breezy lemon peazy and I love it.

you know what band I don't like? Surfer Blood. you know what band I do like? The Soft Pack. California bands just do it better. and you definitely can't pull of surf infused garage rock if you're from Brooklyn.

Kings of Leon are NOT recording with Leona Lewis

they have dispelled this rumour, reports NME.
no, they're too busy with far more legit shit. like launching an overpriced clothing collection.

it's official. they have sold out. I will no longer defend them or deny these claims.

this is where we part ways. we'll always have Youth and Aha. *wipes away tear*

Classic Track Thursday

Beck - Sleeping Bag [mp3]

1994 was a good year. I started school, Beck released this album. which is more significant to me today? my own literacy, or the perfection of One Foot in the Grave? give me a moment to deliberate...

in any case, it'd be a beautiful thing if I brought the album in for my own Kindergartners, what a lovely circle that would be indeed. letting them hear something which was released when I was their age, but had no way of accessing. they're so lucky to have me.

The Strokes Post #319

this song is my heroin.



I love it when he bears his ink at 2:47. I was a bit disheartened that he left out the last two lines, but overall, it was a killer performance.

UPDATE:
it seems as though only 4/5 of The Strokes are returning to studio. this makes me so sad, I was stoked about Julian joining them.

Black Lips on La Blogotheque

this is how I spent my lunch hour today. watching one of the coolest La Blogotheque sets ever. I love the concept of it, because one my favourite things about Black Lips is how collaborative the band is, how everyone sings and stuff. so the first video is three separate songs done individually (in every sense of the word, the guys are in different rooms) and the second one, they come together (Ian too!)





I love Joe's Amoeba shirt!! and him singing "Navajo" was probably my favourite part, it sounded so beautiful in that shower. but how could I resist Jared's scratchy allure or Cole's hilarity (he is a lyrical genius....definitely surpasses Dylan *nods*)

must watch video: Vampire Weekend play the HELL out of "Cousins" on Letterman

this video is such a perfect demonstration of why I love this band.



go, Vampire Weekend, go!!

Letterman has been having a great week. Michael Cera on Monday (watched it 'cause I couldn't sleep...didn't know he was Canadian!), this was yesterday, and tonight, Jules will be on!

don't forget to watch Julian on Letterman tonight!

beautiful!

The Strokes Post #318

when Nick isn't too busy studying dancing or shredding on guitar, he is granting xmas wishes via his wife's twitter:

"iam in the 4th album now.Waaaaaaaaay in."

bless you, Nick.

The Strokes Post #317

OH MY SWEET JESUS.

new song: Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad

Adam Green has a new album out this week?
and it sounds like Loaded era VU?
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad [mp3]

Minor Love drops on the 8th.

I've always thought that Adam resembles Julian, but in an alternate universe, less obviously attractive sort of way.

The Strokes Post #316

ok so this one is early but it's already Monday almost everywhere that is not California so yeah. enjoy.



note: this interview is a few months old, as they did NOT return to studio in September. so an April release is unlikely.

also note that Julian copied my fashion sense. bastard.

Vampire Weekend streaming Contra!

waiting for a leak seems futile at this point, the record gets a proper release in nine days on 12 January, and you can listen to the WHOLE THING right now on their MYSPACE!

remember, the track listing is as follows

1: horchata
2. white sky
3: holiday
4: california english
5: taxi cab
6: run
7: cousins
8: giving up the gun
9: diplomat's son
10: i think ur a contra

let me just say that the rest of the songs are just as delectable as the few we've had to sample these past few months. excellent work, boys.

Sunday Morning Covers

belated because I am irresponsible and have yet to re-regulate my sleep schedule. oh dear. I'm gonna need to wake up at 6 tomorrow...

ZIP FILE

Hot Chip & Peter Gabriel - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Vampire Weekend cover) [mp3]
because I spent yesterday listening to my Paul Simon records and I have sunshine-y music coming out of my ass

The Postal Service - Grow Old With Me (John Lennon cover) [mp3]

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall (Oasis cover) [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
damn Sam I love this version. I don't think I'll ever get over my infatuation with this Southern boy. stupid Mandy Moore.

Jamie Cullum - Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna cover) [mp3]

The Hold Steady - Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]

The Black Keys - Goin' Down South (RL Burnside Cover) [mp3]

Okkervil River - Jealous Guy (John Lennon cover) [mp3]

Elliott Smith - Nighttime (Big Star cover) [mp3]

We the Living - Black Swan (Thom Yorke cover) [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Bad Reputation (F. Johnson cover) [mp3]
this is excellent. that is all.

The Strokes Post #315