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.

Saturday Music Definitions: Best

Black Lips - Best Napkin I Ever Had [mp3]
from forthcoming split EP with Pierced Arrows (July 6 via Scion A/V)

Frank Sinatra - The Best is Yet to Come [mp3]

Foo Fighters - Best of You [mp3]

Vitamin String Quartet - The Best Deceptions (Dashboard Confessional cover) [mp3]

The Postelles - Boy's Best Friend [mp3]

Morrissey - Do Your Best and Don't Worry [mp3]

Dirty Pretty Things - Best Face [mp3]

Pavement - Best Friend's Arm [mp3]

Kaiser Chiefs - Try Your Best [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Line of Best Fit [mp3]

A Classic Education - Best Regards [mp3]

Ray LaMontagne - You Are the Best Thing [mp3]

band of the week: Crocodiles

San Diego's Crocodiles have a lo-fi edge unparalleled this side of Black Lips. Cutting through you like a rusty knife, their songs perfectly meld essential noise rock elements with dizzying chord progressions that sound like they've been through a washing machine filled with absinthe. Their debut album, Summer of Hate (2009) bridges the gap between Hüsker Dü and T. Rex, and does it in such a careless flourish that you cannot help but be drawn into the séance-esque beats.

Crocodiles - Soft Skull (In My Room) [mp3]
from Summer of Hate

they are currently working on a new album with James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, The Last Shadow Puppets)

here's a new track:
Crocodiles - Sleep Forever [mp3]

visit them on MYSPACE

The Strokes Post #491

this is probably the most underrated Strokes song ever. and it gets better every time I hear it.

must watch video: The National's entire set at Glastonbury

via PMA

I really love High Violet but this set made me really nostalgic for Boxer.

video: The Morning Benders do "Cold War (Nice Clean Fight)" in London

The Strokes Post #490

my roommate had the telly on and this commercial came on. at the end, I half-yelled "OMG IT'S JULIAN CASABLANCAS!" and she was all "what, where? I didn't see him" hahahhaha

anyhow, this movie looks cool. I totally dig Julianne Moore and the soundtrack is bound to be bitchin

Classic Track Thursday

take a moment to collect yourself before I introduce you to your new favourite band from yesteryear

Wipers - Don't Know What I Am [mp3]
from their 1980 debut, Is This Real?

crucial punk rock from Portland. that's all you need to know. now get listening.

record review: Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Band of Horses have come a long way since their 2006 masterpiece debut, Everything all of the Time. The South Carolina band, originally from Seattle, retained their sweeping flourish of a sound well into their second album, Cease to Begin (2007). With this third LP, however, the band’s lineup has finally solidified, but the music has disintegrated. The starry album art for this new record would have been better utilized to express their earlier music—the songs found on this new offering do nothing to provoke the soul, let alone in the astral sense which you are misled lies within. Infinite Arms is a surrender to the mendacities of middle age—the oh-too-soft songs are like a testament to mediocrity and Bible camp. Half of the time, it sounds like a poor man’s Wilco via your grandmother’s weathered hymn book. The underdeveloped, cabin-recorded style is so far removed from the powerful songs that dominated their first two releases—there is no magic, just pitfall upon pitfall. There is a surplus of harmonies and none of them are anything remotely spectacular. If Ben Bridwell has any sense, he will get his ass back to the Northwestern coast and quickly, else he and his band fall by the wayside, just like the drippy songs found on this miserable excuse for a record.

2/5

Band of Horses - Factory [mp3]

The Strokes Post #489

Julian and JP inducing euphoria in Indio

a while ago, someone requested some Julian boots. here's one to start.

Julian Casablancas - Live at Coachella (2010) [zip file]

1. River of Brakelights [mp3]
2. Hard to Explain (Strokes cover) [mp3]
this literally drove me to tears.
3. Glass [mp3]
4. 11th Dimension [mp3]
5. Out of the Blue [mp3]
6. I'll Try Anything Once (Strokes cover) [mp3]
7. I Wish It Was Christmas Today [mp3]
8. Left & Right in the Dark [mp3]
9. Four Chords of the Apocalypse [mp3]

Free Energy debut new song on Interface session

they play their new song, "c'mon let's dance" amongst other things. for more videos, click HERE

Free Energy - C'mon Let's Dance [mp3]
I thought they were covering a Ramones b-side when I first heard it

DATES (I'm going to the GAMH show tonight)
06/30: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall >
07/1: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall >
07/2: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex >
07/3: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex >
07/4: Tucscon, AZ @ Club Congress
07/6: Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s
07/7: Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
07/8: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
07/9: Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
07/10: Birmingham, AL @ Workplay
07/12: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt >
07/13: Ashville, NC @ Orange Peel
07/14: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
07/16: Camden, NY @ XpoNential Music Fest/Wiggins Park-Camden Waterfront
07/17: Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival/ Union Park
07/23: New York, NY @ Seaport Music Festival/ Pier 17
08/07: Osaka, Japan @ Summer Sonic Music Festival/ Maishima Osaka Site
08/08: Tokyo, Japan @ Summer Sonic Music Festival/ Chiba Marin Stadium
08/14: Bangor, ME @ Kahbang Festival

> = w/ Nick Thune

Delta Spirit premiere video for "White Table"

I love this song.

Delta Spirit - White Table [mp3]
from History from Below

The Strokes Post #488

Dead Confederate to release Sugar on 24 August

the Athens band's new album is really good. expect a review closer to the release date.

Dead Confederate - Giving It All Away [mp3]

Guided by Voices to reunite for Matador gig

I am so going to this.

The Strokes Post #487

song of the day: LexiconDon - December Sunset

LexiconDon - December Sunset [mp3]
from the forthcoming Pink + Blue (24 August, via dubFrequency/Binary)

this track reminds me of The Cure for some reason. The Cure drenched in smooth synth beats on a Los Angeles dance floor. and I like it. I really do.

video: The Morning Benders - Stitches on Yours Truly

the same sesh as this GEM. a toned down version of the song. melikey.

The Morning Benders - Excuses (daytrotter) [mp3]

Against Me interview + new tour dates (with Silversun Pickups)

June 27--Boston, MA--WFNX Clam Bake
June 28--Philadelphia, PA--Great Plaza at Penn's Landing *
June 29--Toronto, ON--Sound Academy *
July 1--Lansing, MI--The Loft
July 2--Detroit, MI--The Fillmore *
July 3--Chicago, IL--Aragon Ballroom *
July 4--Milwaukee, WI--Summerfest
July 11--Louisville, KY--Forecastle Festival
July 12--Columbia, MO--The Blue Note
July 13--Tulsa,OK--The Marquee
July 15--Flagstaff, AZ--Orpheum Theatre
July 16--Las Vegas, NV--The Joint *
July 17--Tempe, AZ--Marquee Theatre *
July 19--Austin, TX--Stubb’s Waller Creek *
July 20--Houston, TX--Warehouse Live *
July 21--Dallas, TX--Palladium Ballroom *
July 23--Kansas City, MO--City Market *
July 24--St. Louis, MO--Fair Saint Louis*
July 26--Denver, CO--The Fillmore Auditorium *
July 27--Salt Lake City, UT--The Rail *
July 29--Portland, OR--Crystal Ballroom *
July 31--Seattle, WA--The Paramount Theatre *
August 2--Reno, NV--Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
August 3--Oakland, CA--Fox Theatre
August 6--Greek Theater--Los Angeles, CA
August 12--Oslo, Norway--Oya Festival
August 14--Eschwege, Germany--Open Flair 2010
August 15--Ankkarock, Finland--Ankkarock Festival
August 17--Vienna, Austria--Open Air Festival
August 18--Zurich, Switzerland--Rote Fabrik
August 20--Gampel, Switzerland--Gampel Openair Festival
August 21--Hasselt, Belgium--Pukkelpop
August 22--Biddinghuizen, Holland--Lowlands Festival
August 24--Malmo, Sweden--The Malmo Festival
August 27--Reading, UK--Reading Festival
August 29--Leeds, UK--Leeds Festival
October 1--Wellington, New Zealand--San Francisco Bathhouse
October 2--Newton, Auckland, New Zealand--Kings Arm
October 5--Adelaide, Australia--Fowlers
October 6--Perth, Australia--Capitol
October 7--West End, Australia--Hi Fi Brisbane
October 8--Melbourne, Australia--Hi Fi Melbourne
October 9--Sydney, Australia--Metro
October 10--Newcastle, Australia--Cambridge

Against Me!- White Crosses (daytrotter) [mp3]

The Strokes Post #486

via the new RS (the one with lady blah blah on the cover. don't buy it. I think that I actually became dumber, having read the cover article out of adventurous curiosity)

Sunday Morning Covers

The Ramones - Surfin' Bird (The Trashmen cover) [mp3]

Elliott Smith - I'll Be Back (The Beatles cover) [mp3]

Brian Fallon (from The Gaslight Anthem) - Antonia Jane (Lightning Dust Cover) [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Don’t You (Forget About Me) (Simple Minds Cover) [mp3]

Fanfarlo - We Only Come Out At Night (Smashing Pumpkins Cover) [mp3]

The Fray - Heartless (Kanye West Cover) [mp3]

The Hives - Born To Cry (Dion Dimucci cover) [mp3]

Local Natives - Careful (Television Cover) [mp3]

The Shins- Goodbye Girl (Squeeze Cover) [mp3]

Spoon - Held (Smog Cover) [mp3]

Stereophonics - Don't Let Me Down (The Beatles cover) [mp3]

ZIP FILE!

The Strokes Post #484

Crosscountry Road Trip.

I get two weeks off work after this coming Friday. I plan on driving through the country, exploring music venues, running trails, whatever. If you wanna show me your hometown, get drunk and rowdy with me, or even have suggestions of places I should hit up, leave me a comment or send me an email. More meticulous planning will ensue.

Pavement...

were incredible.

Saturday Music Definitions: Paper

Beck - Paper Tiger [mp3]

Mando Diao - Morning Paper Dirt [mp3]

Nirvana - Paper Cuts [mp3]

Audrye Sessions - The Paper Face [mp3]

Death Cab for Cutie - Champagne From A Paper Cup [mp3]

Guided By Voices - Bright Paper Werewolves [mp3]

Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - Paper Kitten Nightmare

Miles Davis - It's Only a Paper Moon [mp3]

Modest Mouse - Paper Thin Walls [mp3]
from the best MM record, The Moon & Antarctica

Shout Out Louds - Paper Moon [mp3]

Spoon - Paper Tiger [mp3]

bonus:
Gym Class Heroes - Cupids Chokehold [mp3]
from The Papercut Chronicles
I've always really loved this song--for an entirely unsentimental person, I love how sweet it is. I just realized something sad, listening to it again. this love song was written for Katy Perry, who is currently engaged to Russell Brand (blame my free subscription to RS for that little factoid). it just struck me like a ton of bricks that more often than not, the stories behind great love songs fade. and that's life for you.

The Strokes Post #483

band of the week: Silversun Pickups

what can I say about LA's Silversun Pickups? at first, I really didn't get their 2009 album Swoon. it all kinda faded into a blur to me, but I revisited it a while later and it hit me, hard. maybe it was circumstance. I think that Silversun Pickups are a band for a certain mood, and that may or may not be morose. certain elements need to align in order for the pieces to come together. but when they do, you're in for a real treat.

Silversun Pickups - Catch & Release [mp3]
I think loneliness can be useful at times--it can help you enjoy music that is often too complex for the emotionally content.

The Strokes Post #482

Classic Track Thursday

this week's track comes from my favourite Ramones LP, their third [which also houses my favourite Ramones song--"Sheena is a Punk Rocker"]. my vinyl copy is an original issue XD

The Ramones - I Don't Care [mp3]
from Rocket to Russia (1977)

under two minutes, this track epitomizes why I love The Ramones, and punk music in general. the callousness of the nonchalance is so gritty. so chic. to put it best:"I Don't Care"

The Strokes Post #481

The Strokes are all over SPIN's 25th anniversary readers' poll. check it out and vote!

this weekend: Absolutely Kosher puts on a record fair

looks like fun, see you there!

new jacket.

six.bucks.

Vampire Weekend announce fall tour dates

they're playing the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. I'm seeing Pavement there on Friday. this is all a little surreal. I first saw VW at an itty bity venue called Rickshaw Stop (where they all signed my copy of their SPIN cover...and I happily chatted up their drummer for a while), but since then, they've played Oakland's majestic Fox Theatre and have had evening slots for Coachella and other similar fests. well done!

they're touring with Beach House, so double yum.

8/27 Vancouver, BC Malkin Bowl *
8/28 Vancouver, BC Malkin Bowl *
8/29 Redmond, WA Marymoor Amphitheater *
8/31 Troutdale, OR Edgefield Amphitheater *
9/1 Eugene, OR McDonald Theatre #
9/2 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue #
9/3 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater *
9/5 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom *
9/6 Bloomington, IN IU Auditorium *
9/7 Toronto, ONT Molson Canadian Amphitheater *
9/8 Montreal, QUE Metropolis Theater £
9/10 Rochester, NY Main Street Armory *
9/11 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion *
9/12 Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion *
9/13 Holyoke, MA Mountain Park *
9/15 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall *
9/16 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall *
9/17 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall *
9/25 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre Berkeley $
9/26 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl $
9/28 San Diego, CA Soma $
9/29 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl At The Palms $
10/3 St.Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena $
10/4 Tulsa, OK The Brady Theater $
10/6 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom $
10/7 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre $
10/8 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Festival
10/11 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live $
10/13 Miami Beach, FL The Fillmore Miami Beach Jackie $

* = with Beach House + Dum Dum Girls
$ = with Beach House + The Very Best
£ = with Dum Dum Girls
# = with Beach House

Vampire Weekend - Taxi Cab [mp3]

video: OK Go's drummer has a staring contest with a Muppet

OK Go are still funny as hell.

their new music may be terrible to the extreme but this video is freaking hilarious:

The Strokes Post #480

record review: What Laura Says - Bloom Cheek

What Laura Says is a group of very talented musicians from Phoenix, Arizona who have been on Devendra Banhart's list for a while now. Their second album, Bloom Cheek, reflects their defining quality as a band: that is, their sound escapes the confines of normalcy, it expands and settles in your brain, drawing out colours and tones that you never realized existed. Bloom Cheek is divided between the first half of the album, which is more straightforwardly rock (in the Americana direction with a tinge of Southern intimacy) and its experimental second half. “Tape It” is airy, like early Who and “Lamb Hair” delivers like a fresher, more spirited Animal Collective. The title track is slow and emotive, like what John Mayer’s music would be if he weren’t a self involved douche bag. The chirpy keyboards and floating harmonies of some songs (“Lines and Colours”) contrast brightly with the choppy, reggae-structure of others (“Spoke”). The album is a winner because it’s eclectic but not in an ADHD way. It’s vivid and flows like a trip to the record store with numerous unrelated finds, dissimilar in everything but the fact that you love them all.

3.7/5

Bloom Cheek was originally slated for a 6 July release but the date was expedited to today. preview it below and pick it up at your local record shop or, better yet, at a show. this band is definitely a force to behold live, check out their MYSPACE
for tour dates (they play CDN on July 7th)

interview with Ed O Brien: new Radiohead LP this year?

apparently, the band has been having lots of fun recording a new album, which the Radiohead guitarist claims is their best yet (and then chuckles at how silly he sounds. we love you, Ed)

maybe a December release, like In Rainbows? in any case, I am super stoked.

Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi [mp3]

Phoenix do MTV unplugged

wait, a minute, haven't I seen this before? the perfection seems familiar...OH WAIT IT'S JUST PHOENIX BEING INFINITE AND BOUNTIFUL.

Phoenix - New Music - More Music Videos

Phoenix - New Music - More Music Videos

Phoenix - New Music - More Music Videos

Phoenix - Lisztomania (SPIN session) [mp3]

new tracks from The Henry Clay People

the LA band continues in their HEY-MAYBE-I-LIKE-SLEEPING-ON-A-COUCH journey to sound like Pavement via the Replacements. bless them. I need to review this album.

The Henry Clay People - Slow Burn [mp3]
The Henry Clay People - Glory [mp3]
I like this one so much.

hear more HERE

The Strokes Post #479

record review: Harlem - Hippies

As a lover of most things garage rock, I am pretty appalled by Austin’s Harlem and their buzzed about sophomore album, Hippies. Unlike the structured chaos of Pavement, Hippies not only sounds like it was actually made in a garage, but melds unsophisticated chord progressions with pathetic attempts at happy go lucky nostalgia. It’s messy in all the wrong ways and has no staying power. It sounds like the band decided to play all of their favourite 90s records backwards, recreate the sounds, record them and call it a day. The lead singer has nothing spectacular to offer vocally or lyrically. When they’re not rendering a poor man’s version of Black Lips, they deliver an annoying banter that is nothing more than an unoriginal amalgamation of the surfer punk trend that is old news at this point. Sorry, boys, better luck next decade.
2/5

Harlem - Friendly Ghost [mp3]

The Strokes Post #478

Sunday Morning Covers

ZIP FILE!

The Gaslight Anthem - State Of Love And Trust (Pearl Jam cover) [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]

Kings of Convenience - Free Fallin' (Tom Petty cover) [mp3]
I've heard so many covers of this song, but this one is particularly beautiful

Patti Smith - So You Want To Be (A Rock 'N' Roll Star) (The Byrds cover) [mp3]

Nirvana - The End (The Doors Cover) [mp3]

Beck - I'm Waiting For My Man (Velvet Underground Cover) [mp3]
Beck is on constant rotation, of course

Monsters of Folk - Girl From The North Country (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]

Arctic Monkeys - Diamonds are Forever (Shirley Bassey cover) [mp3]

Audrye Sessions - Waltz #2 (XO) (Elliott Smith cover) [mp3]

My Morning Jacket - Behind That Locked Door (George Harrison cover) [mp3]

Robbers on High Street - Shout To The Top! (Style Council cover) [mp3]

Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)
this is so odd, but I love it.

The Strokes Post #477

I am so envious of Sofia Coppola. she's beautiful, talented, gets to sleep with Thomas Mars, break bread with The Strokes and her family is probably the coolest family on earth. the trailer below is for her new movie, Somewhere (set for a December release), and it features "I'll Try Anything Once" (it also begins with Phoenix's "Love Like a Sunset" *melts*)

The Strokes - I'll Try Anything Once [mp3]

Saturday Music Definitions: Park

Beach House - Walk in the Park [mp3, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!]
I am so in love with the new Beach House LP. I feel as though I should constantly listen to it to make up for all the time I wasted overlooking it.
The Dodos - Park Song [mp3]
Feist - The Park [mp3]
Foo Fighters - Hey, Johnny Park! [mp3]
Ryan Adams - Hey Parker, it's Christmas [mp3]

The Strokes Post #476

Arcade Fire announce tracklisting for third LP

I have not yet listened to any new Arcade Fire tracks, nor do I have the intention to. I've heard great things about them, but I'll listen to the album in its entirety when it drops (2 August, via Merge Records)

01 The Suburbs
02 Ready To Start
03 Modern Man
04 Rococo
05 Empty Room
06 City With No Children
07 Half Light I
08 Half Light II (No Celebration)
09 Suburban War
10 Month Of May
11 Wasted Hours
12 Deep Blue
13 We Used To Wait
14 Sprawl I (Flatland)
15 Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
16 The Suburbs (Continued)

if you wanna sample it, here is the title track:

Arcade Fire -The Suburbs [mp3]

band of the week: The Growlers

The Growlers have a certain grime about them that is completely irresistible. They're like the aural equivalent of A Clockwork Orange-they leave you in a confused disarray, slightly appalled, but mostly pleased. Combining the winning voodoo charms of a heavy Doors influence with a thoroughly modern fuck-the-world attitude, The Growlers impeccable debut album Are You In Or Out will surely enchant as you slowly fall into the dizzying depths of the intoxicating seasaw guitars, the I-really-don’t-care vocals and the hum drum bass lines. The band, which hails from Costa Mesa, has a heavy drone not unlike a hangover before the obligatory caffeine binge, but it’s satisfying somehow. The super-lo fi songs are adventurous, like taking a bottle of tequila into some uncharted jungle. Take em out for a ride, you won’t be disappointed.

The Growlers - Something Someone Jr [mp3]

visit them on MYSPACE

The Strokes Post #475

Classic Track Thursday

The Beatles - For No One [mp3]

from Revolver (1966)

Revolver is one of my favourite albums ever, and is probably my second favourite Beatles record, after Abbey Road (and I proudly wear it on my chest.) this post, however, was inspired by a book I just finished last night, one of the best books on music theory I have ever read.

This Is Your Brain on Music was written by Daniel J. Levitin, who has studied music and worked as a music producer. he currently teaches musical psychology and "runs the Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise at McGill University". add that to the list of things I want to do with my life.

The Strokes Post #474

via the piece on The National in new issue of Rolling Stone.

needless to say, Matt and co crafted the best album of the year so far and they still find themselves wishing they could be The Strokes. story of my life.

new song: Black Lips - Before You Judge Me

if you're lost in the desert and you start hearing this song, you have lost all consciousness. so ease on into rattlesnake heaven.

Black Lips - Before You Judge Me [mp3]

The Strokes Post #473

if you insist on reading the stupid NME article, here it is.

watching the IOW videos is a better use of your time.

The Strokes Post #472

this one is early, because it is so so good.
LOOK AT NIKOLAI'S HAT!

and here is NYCC

record review: The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

If it aint broke, don’t fix it. On their third studio LP, New Jersey’s hearty punks are back with more punch than ever before. American Slang, while staying true to the band’s previous sound, features cleaner lines and noticeably less chaos than their first two albums. It retains the band’s angst ridden roots but explores more mature lyrics of family and fortune—real life issues, not the nostalgic themes, of, say, the 50’s. In “Orphans”, Brian Fallon sings “you can find some local libertine to take your daughters out on the town”// “I can feel it in my aging bones”. “Boxer” circles around The Clash’s timeless punk classic, “Tommy Gun”, both lyrically and energy wise. The band no longer tries to blur lines of genre; they have picked up a fiery punk blaze on the road and have stuck to it. “Old Haunts” seems to declare the band’s determination to press onward, as individuals and as musicians. American Slang moves away from Springsteen and rather embraces a racy, in the moment force that is holistically representative of the band’s explosive live shows. The dancing guitars which introduce “The Queen of Lower Chelsea” later colour the poignant anthem as Fallon laments the paradoxical struggles of the nation’s female population. American Slang is not a concept album. It is not a belaboured effort. The Gaslight Anthem are demons of punk, and they’re not hiding behind anything anymore.
4.2/5

The Gaslight Anthem - Orphans [mp3]

The Strokes Post #471

oh Scotland.

The Strokes Post #470

Reptilia.

to me, "Reptilia" was always one of The Strokes' weaker live songs. something about it would be lost on stage, timing would be off, etc etc. but now, oh I am happy to eat my words. yes I am.

this is seriously the greatest band in the world.

video: Delta Spirit on The Morning Becomes Eclectic

watch the 40 minute set + interview HERE. really, do.

it's like Neil Young infiltrated Matt's soul at KCRW. wow.

Sunday Morning Covers

ZIP FILE!

Broken Social Scene - Kennel District (Pavement cover) [mp3]

Jeff Beck - She's a Woman (Beatles cover) [mp3]

The Hives - Find Another Girl (Jerry Butler cover) [mp3]

Ben Sollee - A Change is Gonna Come [mp3]

Jamie Cullum - Catch the Sun (Jimi Goodwin cover) [mp3]

Jack Johnson - We're Going To Be Friends (White Stripes cover) [mp3]

Elvis Costello - Beautiful (Christina Aguilera cover) [mp3]

Ben Harper - Michelle (Beatles cover) [mp3]

Elliott Smith - Dead End Street (The Kinks cover) [mp3]

Ben Folds - Such Great Heights (Postal Service Cover) [mp3]

Joshua Radin - Sesame Street (Joe Raposo cover) [mp3]

Oasis - Octapus' Garden (Beatles cover) [mp3]

The Black Keys - Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran cover) [mp3]

Foals - The Bed's Too Big Without You (The Police cover) [mp3]

The Submarines - Waiting for a War (The Morning Benders cover) [mp3]

The Strokes Post #469

I was out of town this weekend, so although I managed to snag TICKETS FOR OUTSIDE LANDS

I totally forgot about The Strokes playing in England yesterday. as I was nursing a massive hangover, this is what the Strokes were doing:

there is a very good reason why I have been doing daily posts on this band for the last year and a half. BECAUSE THEY ROCK THE SHIT OUT OF THE EARTH'S CORE.

they played only old songs (in all honesty, this is a strategy I quite like):

watch a lovely interview with Nick HERE. how grown up and enthusiastic does he sound?

many thanks to Eric and his new website for organizing all of this info nicely

and now, if you'll excuse me, I need to continue icing my stupidly swollen ankle.

Saturday Music Definitions: Street

The Doors - Love Street [mp3]

Ryan Adams - Meadowlake Street (live) [mp3]

Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - On a Freezing Chicago Street [mp3]

The Cure - Fascination Street [mp3]

Kaki King - Hallucinations from My Poisonous German Streets [mp3]

The Takeover UK - Main Street Crush [mp3]

The Clash - The Street Parade [mp3]

Michael Jackson - Streetwalker [mp3]

The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man (live) [mp3]

The Stooges - Down On The Street [mp3]

Delta Spirit - Streetwalker [mp3]

The Strokes Post #468

a loyal reader of mine, Riley Andrews, is a finalist in SPIN's Lolla contest. if you are on facebook, could you take a second to vote for him? all you have to do is leave a comment or a like HERE