Saturday Music Definitions: Round

Babyshambles - Merry Go Round [mp3]

Beck - New Round [mp3]

Foo Fighters - Another Round [mp3]

Lou Reed - Hanging 'Round [mp3]

The Replacements - Merry Go Round [mp3]

Wolfmother- Back Round [mp3]

BONUS:

The National - So Far Around the Bend [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
from the 2009 charity album, Dark was the Night

The Strokes Post #498

Band of the Week: Blackmarket

The members of Blackmarket hail from Lake Havasu, AZ and they have been writing songs together since their formative teenage years. When a band has been together since youth, it usually means one of two things: they are hopelessly stuck in adolescent hindsight and amateur songwriting or that they have impeccable chemistry and enormous potentials for growth. Luckily for us, Blackmarket falls into the latter category. Mixing Brit-pop darkness with American eagerness, the band delivers its effervescent tracks in the vein of a scratchier, less whispery Elliott Smith. Some of their songs echo early Coldplay (“To Say The Least”), but the majority of the tracks are the hyperactive, indie-dance club type. The young band is not afraid to push boundaries, throwing in George Harrison inspired experimental guitars here and there. The band joined forces with Sean Slade (Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr.) to produce their debut album, Elephant in the Room but are now supporting their second LP, St Vincent Décor, a fantastic collection of quasi-pensive Mando Diao-esque songs that pack a whole lotta punch into a few minutes.

You can stream the whole album at their WEBSITE

Visit them on MYSPACE

Blackmarket - Tongue Twister Typo [mp3]

The Strokes Post #497

Classic Track Thursday

no matter what the circumstances, this song will get me to get up and dance 100% of the time.

David Bowie - Rebel Rebel [mp3]
from Diamond Dogs (1974)

this album is definitely high on the list of my essential Bowie albums. I imagine it was extremely formative for Talking Heads. how could you go wrong, with Orwellian undertones, and Bowie being a super smooth glam-rock sleuth? bless 'im

The Strokes Post #496

this article from NY Mag is a few years old but it's really good. I've read snippets of it before (and I'm sure you have too), but the whole thing is well constructed and worth a read.

concert review: Free Energy @ GAMH

30 June 2010
Great American Music Hall, San Francisco

Last Wednesday night, Free Energy graced San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. The band, who have previously played shows at Rickshaw and Popscene, were thrilled to be where they were. And it showed. This was my second time seeing the band play live and I was pleasantly surprised that they outdid their Popscene set (which was superb). Lead singer Paul Sprangers was sprightly and enthused, bouncing along the stage as he happily delivered the lyrics, which often came across in a monotonous spoken word manner (yet never ever boring). The band relayed “Hope Child” as earnestly as a national anthem, drawing comfort from familiarity. Free Energy’s chemistry was clean and polished, but not pretentious. They performed their happy go lucky 70's pop-rock gems in a quirky yet precise manner. They included their new, Ramones-y song “C’mon Let’s Dance” but the true shining moment of the set was when they busted out “Something in Common”. The rich guitar tones on the b-side (which I consider their best song) quickly won over the audience, who swayed and jigged in merriment. Yes, merriment.

4.5/5

more photos:






Free Energy - Hope Child [mp3]

Free Energy on MYSPACE

new video: Rodrigo y Gabriela- Hanuman + tour dates

WHO IS THIS BAND AND WHY AM I ONLY HEARING THEM NOW?!

tour dates:

AUGUST
13 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Amphitheater
14 - Troutdale, OR - Edgefield
16 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey's
18 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
20 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
21 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
24 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center at Wolf Trap
26 - Boston, MA - Opera House
28 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival
30 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Concert Pavilion
31 - Knoxville, TN - UT Knoxville

SEPTEMBER
02 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
03 - Austin, TX - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheatre

new video: The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

The Strokes Post #495

booooooooootleg time

The Strokes - Live at Bowery Ballroom, NY, 04 Nov 2003 [zip]

1. Someday
2. Alone, Together
3. Whatever Happened
4. Under Control
5. Automatic Stop
6. Between Love & Hate
7. I Can't Win
8. The Modern Age
9. 12:51
10. New York City Cops
11. The End Has No End pt 1
12. The End Has No End pt 2
13. Take It Or Leave It
14. Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men
15. Reptilia

The Strokes Post #494

via sonic editions

99 pounds? er, my birthday is in 34 days if anyone is interested ; )

tomorrow night: the Rumble SF presents A B & The Sea, What Laura Says, So Many Wizards

Cafe Du Nord. doors 8:30, show 9:30

the show is free as long as you RSVP! $5 at the door otherwise.

What Laura Says - I'd Dance With You [mp3]

record review: Mister Loveless - Three Words [EP]

Three Words displays a marked development of Mister Loveless’ sound. The SF based quartet originated in Walnut Creek and have skirted around a few lineup changes in the past, but they’ve finally reached a point of aural homeostasis. The precise marching band beats from drummer Nick Clark and haunting baritone vocals from Rob Miller dominate the EP, surrounded by delicate chord progressions drowned in post-punk misery. The guitars surreptitiously emerge from the shadows in the vein of Echo & the Bunnymen, but by the third track (“What People Do”), they strike powerfully, spinning like sirens. The music is less angry, more chilling—and the lyrics lament the sinking feelings of loss and alienation. Rob sings about “feeling like the poorest rich kid” yet how "hope still remains, a slow burning flame that guides me through these dim lit times". The angst of the first few tracks fade into lulled acceptance in“Hidden Just Enough”, like a group of lost campers finally lying down and stargazing after hours of aimless wandering in the dark forest. Three Words stands as proof that it’s ok to be lost, and that we often have to make the best of the situations which we are faced with. Solace is probably lurking somewhere around the corner—come out to a gig and see for yourself.

4.5/5

Jul 23 2010 Ghost Town Gallery w/ Black Baloon and Human Toys (France) Oakland, CA
Jul 31 2010 The Casbah w/ TRANSFER (21+) San Diego, CA
Aug 6 2010 Mississippi Studios (21+) w/ The Prids Portland, OR
Aug 13 2010 MILK Bar (21+) w/ The Prids and Veil Veil Vanish San Francisco, CA
Sep 10 2010 The Loft @ The Siena Hotel & Casino (21+) w/ The Shames Reno, NV

Mister Loveless - What People Do [mp3]

Mister Loveless on MYSPACE

"And there's a white flag in my pocket never to be unfurled"

this is currently my favourite song. the buildup is monumental, then it explodes into a great punk ball of fury and nihilism. the lyrics are divine.

Titus Andronicus - A Pot in Which to Piss [mp3]
from The Monitor (2010)

Titus Andronicus on MYSPACE

the band is touring with Free Energy and will be coming by The Independent on Sept 8th.

The Strokes Post #493

apparently, we're looking at a March release for Strokes IV. once again I must reiterate, I don't give a damn about all of these set backs. I trust The Strokes and all of their decisions.

cheers to Eric and his diligent posting.

here's a kickass video of "Reptilia" at the Hurricane festival this year:



really, how can you argue with such perfection?

Sunday Morning Covers

Mika - Teardrop (Massive Attack cover) [mp3]

Beck ft. Liars, Os Mutantes, & St. Vincent - New Sensation (INXS cover) [mp3]

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Take Me With U (Prince cover) [mp3]

The Morning Benders - He's a Rebel (Crystals cover) [mp3]

Thom Yorke -After The Gold Rush (Neil Young Cover) [mp3]

Rufus Wainwright - Chelsea Hotel No. 2 (Leonard Cohen Cover) [mp3]

Max Vernon - I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry cover) [mp3]

LCD Soundsystem - No Love Lost (Joy Division Cover) [mp3]

The White Stripes - Walking with a Ghost (Tegan & Sara cover) [mp3]

This Is Ivy League - You And Me And The Moon (Magnetic Fields Cover) [mp3]

ZIP FILE!

The Strokes Post #492

sorry Shelby. it looks like it's Albert's hand after all.