music induced euphoria: 2010-01-31

Saturday, February 6, 2010

new video: Spoon - Written in Reverse

I love being at the forefront of all of this new Spoon material. the way I got into the band was as follows: at the end of 2007, I started really following music blogs (I started mine in the beginning of '08) and all of the best of 2007 lists featured Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and AC's Strawberry Jam. I bought both albums knowing NOTHING about either band. I still love both albums--Spoon, however, became an instant fave of mine. seeing them in concert sealed the deal for me.

anyhow, I really like the video. it captures everything I love about Transference...all of that raw creative energy doused in keys. I love Britt Daniel & co. and I think I should go to SXSW this year.

Saturday Music Definitions: Road

Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere [mp3]

The Libertines - Road to Ruin [mp3]

The Growlers - Strangers Road [mp3]

The Beatles - Why Don't We Do It In The Road [mp3]

Foo Fighters - Long Road to Ruin [mp3]

Beck - Side of the Road [mp3]

Pavement - Secret Knowledge of Backroads [mp3]

The Strokes Post #349

everyone is so mean to Nikolai when it comes to side projects. even though I don't listen to it as often as Phrazes for the Young or Little Joy, I think Time of the Assassins was a solid effort. and I do love this song.

Band of the Week: Showstar

Ah, Europeans. Somehow, bands hailing from non-Anglo Europe cannot seem to shake an element of charming fortitude from their sound. Their arrangements always sound adorable to me. Sweet like good Swiss chocolate. While bands like Phoenix perfectly demonstrate this in the spotlight, some lesser known bands are pounding away sugary melodies in the shadows.

Showstar are a band from Belgium with three LPs under their belt. Think Ringo, their latest offering (produced by Gareth Parton), was released on 1st February and is overflowing with delectable yet morose power pop. Like The Rakes before them, they manage to create upbeat music that retains a good cynical sensibility about it without sounding off kilter. Think Ringo is perfect car music for mischievous nights out. If you ever wished that The Verve were more edgy, you should check this band out.

The album will be available everywhere on 15th February, check out the band’s WEBSITE in the meantime to pre-order, join the mailing list, or what have you.

Showstar - On The Telly [mp3]
Showstar - Gold Mine [mp3]
this their lead single for Think Ringo, and the soaring sound was so endearing to me that I ended up listening to the whole record. I'm quite glad I did.

The Strokes Post #348

current favourite Strokes song.

oh in the sun sun having fuuuuun it's in my blood. I just can't help it. don't want you here right now just let me go! oh darling, let me ggggg-go

Friday, February 5, 2010

Classic Track Thursday

this song, as well as the ass kickingly spectacular debut album it derives from, is so much fun to sing along to. when I go on Clash binges, I seriously ponder getting knuckle tattoos of "h a t e & w a r"

I'm glad I'm so broke, otherwise I'd have a lot of permanent reminders of how whimsical I can be. and how unemployable ; )

The Clash - Hate & War [mp3]
from The Clash (1977)

because the Clash will always be cooler than you and your grandmother too. also, this happens to be my favourite dance album. I realize that it isn't "dance music" per se, but punk music >>> house music, any day of the week.

PS I think my favourite bit of Westway to the World was hearing about their DIY clothes XD

The Strokes Post #347

I can't remember if I posted this or not

very cute.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Pavement - Cut Your Hair

Pavement sound like my childhood, even though I only started listening to them last year. Stephen Malkmus is just the perfect epitome of the 90's.

I really fucking love this band. lately, when I don't know what to listen to, I put them on. and I am never ever disappointed. they are so no-nonsense. their music offers so much longevity, it's so reliably good. I am so stoked to see them at Coachella, and they're playing the Greek at Berkeley in the summer, too!

a word to the wise: if you don't already know this band, get yourself acquainted... and quick. them and the Pixies, man, have got to be my favourite bands from the 90's. sorry, Nirvana. sorry, Sonic Youth. sorry, Smashing Pumpkins. sorry, 98 degrees.

The Strokes Post #346

I was walking and FIoEing today and singing along, really loudly. in the streets. and I got loads of funny looks. whatever, they're just jealous that they don't know all the lyrics to "Electricityscape"

why must they be so epic? WHY?

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

cheers to good tidings and loyal readers

I was looking for a band sticker in my miscellaneous music things box right now, and I randomly came across a print out of THIS BLOG POST. I think it's the only time I've ever printed one.

I printed out this post because one of readers left a comment that really made my day. the comment was from, get this, EXACTLY A YEAR AGO (I love happy coincidences). this comment preceded my Strokes posts and when my blog had really picked up a following. anyhow, this is a shout out to Matteo, because you fucking made my day.

as most of you know, I don't have a very good relationship with my family. music has always been my one and only home, and you guys are like my sorta creepy second cousins whom I fondle awkwardly in a drunk stupor at xmas. so thanks to everyone who reads this site, especially as MIE's second birthday is steadily approaching. any time I hear anything really spectacular, the first thing that I think about is posting about it, so I appreciate that you guys take the time to read it

Chris McCandless summed up how I feel about music pretty well: "happiness is only real when shared"

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - A Teenager in Love [mp3]
I'm posting this mostly because I am listening to it right now but partly because I love how he sings "a teenager in love with christ and heroin". so.good.

The Strokes Post #345

I used to go on and on about how much I hated kids.

that was then. this is now:

she asked me today if she could "perish" me with her finger so that she could inherit my ipod and listen to The Strokes and Black Lips and Phoenix all of the time.

and this one is from her friend (who just so happens to be my boss's daughter. hahah. I love this kid. she is a nihilist, an atheist, reads Nietzsche and hasn't even hit puberty yet. I knew I liked her from my first week, when I caught her reading a compilation of existentialist essays. we've had some good convos)

I love my job.

Mister Loveless

I dunno if you guys have given Mister Loveless a listen yet (I've posted about them before), but, if you haven't, you really, really should

a new EP is on the way, it'll be called Three Words. what a clever followup title to their excellent Two Words EP. I wonder if all of the track titles will be exactly three words.

they have a couple of shows lined up for you damned 21+ers in the meantime. check it out on MYSPACE

Monday, February 1, 2010

Frightened Rabbit announce tour

WHOA! they're playing the Fillmore! good going, FR!
(then again, now that the Fox has reopened, The Fillmore will probably be booked by smaller, indie bands. I have a very good feeling that The Strokes are gonna play the Fox. that would be SO excellent *NODS*)

Austin, TX SXSW Festival (March 17 - 20)
Indio, CA Coachella Festival (April 17)
Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse (19)
Houston, TX Walter's (21)
Dallas, TX Loft at Palladium Ballroom (22)
Little Rock, AR Revolution (23)
Atlanta, GA The Masquerade (24)
Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle (25)
Washington, DC Black Cat (27)
New York, NY Webster Hall (28)
Boston, MA Paradise (29)
Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church (30)
Montreal, QU Petit Campus (May 3)
Toronto, ON Opera House (4)
Newport, KY Southgate House (6)
St. Louis, MO The Old Rock House (7)
Chicago, IL Metro (8)
Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre (9)
Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater (10)
Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre (12)
Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge (13)
Vancouver, British Columbia Biltmore Cabaret (15)
Seattle, WA Neumo's Crystal Ball Reading Room (16)
Portland, OR Berbati's Pan (17)
San Francisco, CA The Fillmore (19)
San Diego, CA Casbah (22)

Frightened Rabbit - Poke (daytrotter) [mp3]

The Strokes Post #344

two updates in two days! I went to The Strokes website to transcribe the news I read yesterday, and there was a new update!

from today, they named their producer:

"As you may have inferred from the ‘recording’ sign on the home page, the Strokes are busy recording the long awaited follow-up to ‘First Impressions of Earth’.
This marks their fourth studio LP, working with grammy award winning producer Joe Chiccarelli, and grammy award winning engineer Gus Oberg at NYC’s Avatar Studios.
Stay tuned, aswe’ll post some video vignettes from the studio here shortly."

from yesterday:
"Headlining the mainstage on Saturday 12th of June are New York Citys [sic] finest The Strokes. Having just picked up the ‘NME album of the Decade Aware’ for their 2001 debut album ‘Is This It’ along with an army of fans worldwide the band are poised for an explosive return."

today is a good day. I burnt a ten year old kid at my school RoF last week and she told me she's been listening to it every day since then. her current favourite is "Automatic Stop". all I can say is, I am doing my part (and then some!) to corrupt the young minds of America... and add onto the already massive Strokes army ; )

also, today I realized that my kids have spring break the week of Coachella, so I don't have to take off work! I was gonna go anyways, but this just makes me extra happy.