SPIN: "Homophobia Haunts Indie Rock"

In light of a recent attack on garage-punk band the Young Lovers, the magazine profiled frontman Brontez Purnell and also placed the spotlight on other gay musicians in indie rock. The article discusses homophobia and stigma often associated with being a gay musician. Head over HERE to read it

bonus trivia: "Diplomat's Son" by Vampire Weekend was written about Rostam.

"Last night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone..."

watch: Telekinesis + Chris Walla perform two songs for SPIN

Michael Benjamin Lerner performs "50 Ways" and "You Turn Clear in the Sun" from his sophomore album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines. His voice cracks a little, but that's okay. Walla joins in on guitar.

BONUS:

interview:

SPIN celebrates 25 years by streaming live concerts (The National, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips)

watch the live stream HERE

July 27
Fang Island - 8PM EST
The Flaming Lips - 9:15PM EST

July 28
The Whigs & Lee Fields and the Expressions - 10PM EST
The Black Keys - 12AM EST

July 29
Kurt Vile & Suckers - 8PM EST
The National - 10:30PM EST

July 30
Spiritualized - 8:30PM EST

SPIN interviews MGMT's frontman

Andrew V. spills about drugs, Lady Gaga, and an instrumental track on the new album (which is done!)

colour me all sorts of excited.

MGMT - Closer (NIN cover) [mp3]

Phoenix record an acoustic set for SPIN

watch it HERE

it's simply breathtaking. the sound quality is beyond amazing.

these boys, they seem to do no wrong.

"well, not obscure, just Hungarian". ahhaha. I also enjoyed Christian's spasms. I love Phoenix so much, you can hear and see how much they get INTO their music.

SPIN names the best 40 albums of the year.

Julian C is between the DP album and the TCV album. I love one and can't stand the other. essentially, I love about half of the list, and cannot stand the other half. it was really nice to see Girls' Album in the top five though.

what is really interesting about this list is it reminded me of an album I had completely forgotten about...Antony and the Johnson's The Crying Light. damn good album.

anyhow, here is the list.

40 Kiss - Sonic Boom
39 Wilco - Wilco (Wilco The Album
38 Rick Ross - Deeper Than Rap
37 Gallows - Grey Britain
36 Brakesbrakesbrakes - Touchdown
35 Miike Snow - Miike Snow
34 Mariachi El Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx
33 The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
32 U2 - No Line On The Horizon
31 Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
30 Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
29 Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
28 The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
27 Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
26 The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come
25 The Big Pink - A Brief History Of Love
24 Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
23 St. Vincent - Actor
22 Tegan And Sara - Sainthood
21 Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II
20 Paramore - Brand New Eyes
19 Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
18 Antony And The Johnsons - The Crying Light
17 Mastodon - Crack The Skye
16 Japandroids - Post-Nothing
15 Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
14 Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali
13 Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall
12 Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
11 Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer Of Fear
10 The Dead Weather - Horehound
09 Drake - So Far Gone
08 Florence And The Machine - Lungs
07 Mos Def - The Ecstatic
06 Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
05 Girls - Album
04 Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
03 Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
02 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
01 Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

BONUS:
here is NME's top 50 list.
The Horrors' Primary Colours made #1

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]

SPIN names top 10 albums of 2nd generation musicians

I'm disappointed that they didn't include Liam Finn or Sean Lennon (I'll be Lightning and Into the Sun are both excellent records), but was happy to see Jakob Dylan's Bringing Down the Horse (a la The Wallflowers) and Jeff Buckley's Grace (I didn't even know that his dad was a musician)

the rest of the list is kind of meh, check out the photo gallery of the list HERE

10. The Wallflowers, Bringing Down the Horse
9. Norah Jones, Come Away with Me
8. Charlotte Gainsbourg, 5:55
7. Damian Marley, Welcome to Jamrock
6. Rufus Wainwright, Poses
5. Nancy Sinatra, Nancy & Lee
4. Hank Williams Jr., Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound
3. Jeff Buckley, Grace
2. Roseanne Cash, King's Record Shop
1. Nas, Illmatic

have you seen Green Day recently?

they look OLD!


read about their new album at SPIN.com

Green Day - My Generation (The Who cover) [mp3]

"Yeah, I hope I die before I get old". hm, maybe they should take those lyrics more seriously. then again, Roger Daltrey is still up and running...

Nikolai tells SPIN about "shift" in sound on forthcoming Strokes record

read the full article HERE

he mentions something about a new producer. if the Pharrell rumours are true, and they go all Black and White Album Hives on me, I will cry. I will cry. I will cry.

and then I'll find a new favourite band, or simply deny that they ever made anything past First Impressions

don't get me wrong, I liked the B&W album, but it wasn't the Hives. I looove First Impressions of Earth but the experimentation came from WITHIN the band, not from some outside hip hop guru.

why can't we have more songs like the one below?

The Strokes - New York City Cops [mp3]


oh Jules. hahaha

boys, you know I will love you no matter what stupid stunts you pull. the Strokes are etched into my soul and I can't change it (not that I would want to)

Noel Gallagher: Ryan Adams' version of Wonderwall is superior

I'm reading the newest issue of Spin, and in an interview, Noel responds to the claim that Liam hates singing Wonderwall by saying: "I hate him singing it too. Liam doesn't sound like he did ten years ago. Your voice and your body change. We've never got it right. It's too slow or too fast. I think Ryan Adams is the only person who ever got that song right. I'd love to do the Ryan Adams version. but in front of 60,000 Oasis fans that wouldn't be possible" (Oct 2008 issue pg 70)

now, I know this will make me feel bad when I hear them at the Oracle in December, because you know they will play it.

anyhow, I do adore the Ryan Adams version. enjoy it below:


Ryan Adams - Wonderwall (Oasis cover)

it's a good interview. you can read it online for free by flipping to page 70 in the digital version of Spin

Noel also tells Spin of how drugs helped him right brilliant songs, and how he thinks Radiohead are full of crap

clips of the Treasure Island Festival available on SPIN.com

watch them HERE

the last video, of Vampire Weekend, is adorable. Ezra looks all intimidated...
I saw them at Rickshaw Stop, a really cool small venue in the city. They connected with the audience really well, everyone was dancing and having a great time. I don't know if they have the makings of big, fetsival/arena size gigs. Once again, I'll reiterate that drummer Chris Tomson is the friendliest musician that I have ever encountered. He rocks.

Vampire Weekend - I Stand Corrected (daytrotter session) [mp3 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

Spin's Artist of the Day: Ra Ra Riot

see for yourself HERE

I really like this band. their music is quite refreshing.

read a previous post of mine here

Ra Ra Riot - St Peter's Day

Albert Hammond Jr is Spin's Artist of the Day!

well done, Spin!
read the article and download one of the strongest tunes on Como Te Llama, "The Boss Americana" HERE

his record officially comes out next Tuesday, but it's been floating all over the internet for a few weeks now.

you can preorder the record with a limited edition signed booklet HERE

Albert Hammond Jr - You Won't Be Fooled By This [mp3]

and here's a lovely tune from his debut record
Albert Hammond Jr - In Transit [mp3]

new Raconteurs album out next week!

wow, so apparently the Raconteurs' new album is coming out on the 25th, entitled "Consolers Of The Lonely". Way to spring that one up on us boys! I can't wait, Broken Boy Soldiers was one of my favourite albums of 2006 and I wanna see if they can beat sophomore slump. They probably can, seeing as how they're a super duper super group but hey you never know...

read Spin's two cents here

see what Rolling Stone has to say...

my favourite off of BBS:

Raconteurs - Hands

and, I am sorry but I cannot help myself. I was reading The Music Slut's blog and Delta Spirit was mentioned. DS is one of my new favourite bands, do yourself a favour and check them out. If they are playing a show within 50 miles of your area GO AND SEE THEM. It will change your life, I guaruntee it.

Delta Spirit - Trashcan

Delta Spirit's MYSPACE

ok, back to studying.