Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Everything is a Remix

Do you think that Led Zeppelin, Star Wars or Quentin Tarantino are soooo original and innovative works of genius?
think again.

Everything is a Remix is a four part video series (of which three parts have been released). It is a truly engaging breakdown of creativity, invention, and "remixing".

watch it below:

Everything is a Remix Part 1 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.



Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.



Everything is a Remix Part 3 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.

Stephen Colbert presents a rock odyssey with Jack White

part 1 of 3:



I think Stephen Colbert thoroughly disturbed poor Jack.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

new song: Radiohead - Staircase

from the studio for From the Basement, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich's internet webcast.
Radiohead's drummer Phil Selway is joined by Portishead's Clive Deamer.



Radiohead - Staircase [mp3]

presale password: Arctic Monkeys at House of Blues in Chicago


As part of the post Lollapalooza shows (which include Delta Spirit, The Pains of being Pure at Heart and Black Lips), the Arctic Monkeys will play Chicago's House of Blues on Saturday August 6th. Tickets go on sale on Friday morning but you can get presale tickets now by entering the word "MACARENA" in the fan presale box.


Monday, June 20, 2011

Listen: The Strokes cover A Salty Salute (with a hidden bonus)


here is an mp3 from May 19, 2004 of The Strokes covering Guided By Voices' "A Salty Salute". At the end of it, he wishes some of his friends (including Nick's then girlfriend and current wife Amanda De Cadenet) but the very best bit is at the very end, when Julian introduced "Hard to Explain" by revealing that he's getting married

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

watch: Arcade Fire Documentary

via Consequence of Sound:

Fucked Up's Damian Abraham interviews Win and Will Butler. They talk about how much their home influenced them and their slow but steady rise to fame. Watch that and much more in the twenty three minute documentary below:



record review: Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues


Never a fan of Fleet Foxes’ debut album (I love their live sound but didn’t enjoy the recorded versions of their music), their second album, Helplessness Blues, took me by surprise. The album, which incurred many losses from the band (financial, emotional, personal), is absolutely stunning. It garners lush sounds, perfect harmonies and, oddly enough, sharp lyrics from frontman Robin Pecknold, who struggled a lot while writing this album. When he sings: "What makes me love you/what do I see in your eyes--besides my reflection", you can just hear heartbreak in his voice.

Helplessness Blues flows beautifully, a result of the band’s tried and true efforts to record everything at once, flaws and all. The two songs with slashes in their titles ("The Plains/Bitter Dancer" and "The Shrine/An Argument") remind me the most of Simon and Garfunkel, weaving gentle yet gripping stories of love, loss, and the mingling of souls. The latter song contains a very avant garde horn solo which is kind of off putting at first but it’s one of the most memorable bits of the album, and it grows on you.

“Bedouin Dress” has a very old time folksy violin part which I love. When overlooking the oft-harsh lyrics, the entire album is very peaceful and calm--like something you'd play for your child if they were sick.

“Grown Ocean”, one of Fleet Foxes’ most musically ambitious tracks, closes Helplessness Blues perfectly by looking to Sufjan Stevens for inspiration. Pecknold sings as if he is completely at ease on a beach coast, and the song’s soft, steady percussion is the icing on the cake. That is, if cakes could be made with granola and twigs...

4.5/5

watch: The Strokes' entire set at Bonnaroo

holy wow


head over to The Strokes News to watch the entire gig and download the entire concert (in mp3 form) HERE (I uploaded the zip file, it's safe)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

record review: Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See



Arctic Monkeys have come a long way since their hyperactive debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, evolving into a darker, more mature sound heavy on the drums and distortion. They have changed and they have blossomed, but there are certain essential elements which define the band that haven’t changed since 2006. Alex Turner’s interesting lyrics and voice that makes anyone melt weave within songs that are both subversive and groovy.

That being said, Suck it and See is much more like the Sheffield band’s second and third albums than their debut. It seems like the band have found what really drives them artistically and continue to push the limits therein. They draw a lot from the far away guitar sound that Johnny Marr perfected in The Smiths and all of the songs on their fourth album - whether aggressive or slowed down - are deeply emotive. This album makes you feel things, and that's what makes it great. There is not one weak link here, and while the songs are all superbly crafted, they somehow form a very cohesive album when taken together.

“Black Treacle” hosts a super familiar guitar lick and “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala” could have been taken from Pulp’s discography. “Library Pictures” draws from Arctic Monkeys’ second album more than any other track on Suck It And See, however, there are many allusions to their past work throughout the LP (the following track, “All My Own Stunts” sounds like a song from their third album Humbug). “Love is a Laserquest” is eerie and gorgeous like “Cornerstone” was before it. “Brick By Brick” cements the band’s place as a serious rock band (and one under the wing of Josh Homme), no frills, just volume.

The title track may be the best love song Turner has ever written, and it’s not the lone romantic sentiment on the album. Turner sings “when she laughs the heavens hum a stun gun lullaby” on “Reckless Serenade”, easily the best track on the album, which builds itself over a simple bass line and Alex’s slowed down croon. Here we find AM at their finest, cohesive and slowed down, and leaving an imprint on your memory that is not easily forgotten.

4.9/5

Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See [mp3]

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Beirut - Goshen


I love this track because it reminds me of The Walkmen's Lisbon.

Beirut - Goshen by ListenBeforeYouBuy

Beirut's fourth album is called The Rip Tide and will be released at the end of the summer.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Beirut - East Harlem


the previously unreleased track has finally been recorded in studio. download it below and preorder the seven inch HERE (out on June 14). you won't be able to buy the single at a record store...Beirut are selling it exclusively on tour.

support your local record store and get a free Arctic Monkeys print


via Domino Records...

The new Arctic Monkeys album 'Suck It and See' is out next week on June 7th. We are so very excited about the album that we've partnered with independent record stores across the United States to offer you a little something extra for supporting independent retail. Visit a participating indie store to pick up a copy of 'Suck It and See' on CD or LP and you will also receive a limited edition individually numbered Arctic Monkeys letterpress print free with your purchase (while supplies last). A partial list of participating stores is below. If your local store is not listed, please contact them about their participation.

Atlanta – Criminal Records
Austin - End Of An Ear
Austin - Waterloo Records
Baltimore - Sound Garden
Berkeley - Rasputin Music
Berkeley - Amoeba Records
Bloomington – Landlocked Music
Boise - Record Exchange
Bowling Green - Finders Records
Branford – Exile On Main St.
Burlington - Pure Pop
Charleston - Monster
Cincinnati – Shake It
Claremont - Rhino/Mad Platter
Colorado Springs - Independent Records
Columbus - Magnolia Thunderpussy
Dallas – Good Records
Denver - Twist and Shout
Encinitas - Lou's Records
Eugene - CD World
Fords - Vintage Vinyl
Greenville -Earshot
Hollywood - Amoeba Records
Houston - Cactus
Indianapolis - Indy CD & Vinyl
Indianapolis - LUNA MUSIC
Knoxville - Disc Exchange
Las Vegas - Zia Records
Lawrence - Love Garden
Lawrence - Kief's
Lexington – CD Central
Long Beach - Fingerprints
Louisville - earX-tacy
Miami Beach - Uncle Sam's
Milwaukee - The Exclusive Company
Minneapolis - Electric Fetus
Missoula - Rockin' Rudy's
Nashville – Grimey’s
New York - J&R Music World
New York - Other Music
New York - Permanent Records
New York - Sound Fix
Newark - Rainbow Books and Music
Norman – Guestroom Records
Oklahoma City – Guestroom Records
Omaha - Homer's
Orlando - Park Avenue
Phoenix – Stinkweeds
Phoenix - Zia Record Exchange
Portland, ME - Bull Moose Music
Portland, OR – Jackpot Records
Portland, OR - Music Millennium
Raleigh - Music Monitor Network
Raleigh - Schoolkids
Richmond - BK Music
Richmond - Plan 9
Rochester - Lakeshore Record Exchange
Rochester - Record Archive
Sacramento - Dimple Records
Salt Lake City - Slow Train
San Francisco - Amoeba Records
San Jose - Streetlight
San Luis Obispo – Boo Boo Records
Santa Rosa Beach - Central Square
Seattle - Easy Street
Seattle - Silver Platters
St Louis – Vintage Vinyl
Syracuse - Sound Garden
Taylorsville - Graywhale
Toledo - Culture Clash
Tuscaloosa - Oz Music
Ventura - Salzer's
Walla Walla – Hot Poop
West Babylon - Looney Tunes
Wilkes-Barre - Gallery Of Sound
Yakima - Off The Record

watch: The National's entire set at Fox Theater last year

last May, The National played Oakland's beautiful Fox Theater. karmafia captured the show as part of a graduate research project, and the audio/visual quality is amazing. you can watch the songs individually on the youtube channel or enjoy the entire set below.

set list:
1) MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS
2) ANYONE'S GHOST
3) BLOODBUZZ OHIO
4) AFRAID OF EVERYONE
5) BABY WE'LL BE FINE
6) BRAINY
7) SLOW SHOW
8) SQUALOR VICTORIA
9) ALL THE WINE
10) LEMONWORLD
11) LITTLE FAITH
12) CONVERSATION 16
13) APARTMENT STORY
14) GREEN GLOVES
15) ABEL
16) ENGLAND
17) FAKE EMPIRE

18) RUNAWAY
19) SORROW
20) MR. NOVEMBER
21) TERRIBLE LOVE
22) ABOUT TODAY
















Friday, May 27, 2011

concert review: White Denim at Bottom of the Hill (26 May)


What's better than putting on a Hendrix album? Going to a White Denim gig and hearing Jimi's eternal spirit channeled through the raw power of the Austin band. Mesmerizing the audience with five-plus minute solos dripping with psychedelic goodness, White Denim had the crowd movin and shakin like it was 1969. Weaving song into song with hardly any breaks, White Denim rocked hard as if prog rock never faded into obscurity. Lead singer James Petralli showed off his impressive range by fluctuating between a soft, sultry hybrid of Devendra Banhart and Wayne Coyne and his rock-your-balls off a la Black Sabbath state of mind.

I always find is very difficult to describe this band's sound, as they draw influences from a vast spectrum of genres. You can hear bits and pieces of southern rock, grunge, jazz, psychedelia among a myriad of other things but the best way to describe this band is that they’re incredibly loud.

White Denim turned to crowd pleaser "I Start to Run" in the middle of the set and it incinerated the dance floor. Guitarist Austin Jenkins continuously pointed his instrument at various bandmates and audience members as if it were a ray gun and the band had a ton of fun on stage, grinning and really letting the music wash over them as they sunk into a veritable state of grunge indebted nirvana. White Denim obliged the crowd’s desperate and loud pleads for an encore, and ended the night triumphantly with a level of noisy distortion which would put Husker Du to shame.

photos:












Go out and see this band. You’ll thank me later.

5/27 - Visalia, CA at Cellar Door
5/29 - Portland, OR at Bunk Bar
5/30 - Quincy, WA at Sasquatch Festival
6/01 - Salt Lake City, UT at Urban Lounge
6/02 - Denver, CO at Larimer Lounge
6/03 - Lawrence, KS at Jackpot Music Hall
6/16 - Memphis, TN at Hi Tone
6/17 - Atlanta, GA at Drunken Unicorn
6/18 - Nashville, TN at The Basement
6/19 - Louisville, KY at Uncle Slayton's
6/21 - Washington D.C. at Rock N Roll Hotel
6/22 - Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brendas
6/23 - Northampton, MA at Pearl ST
6/24 - Boston, MA at Brighton Music Hall
6/25 - New York, NY at Bowery Ballroom
6/27 - Montreal, QC at Il Motore
6/28 - Toronto, ON at El Mocambo
6/29 - Indianapolis, IN at Rock Lobster
6/30 - Chicago, IL at Schubas
7/1 - Columbia, MO at Mojo's
7/2 - Norman, OK at Opolis

Thursday, May 26, 2011

acoustic videos: Alex Turner does "Suck it and See" and "Love Is a Laserquest"






performed for 102.1

I've spent today listening to the new AM record and the thing that stuck out to me that you can really see in these videos is the tenderness in the new songs. can you dig it?

White Denim play Bottom of the Hill tomorrow night (Thursday, 26 May)


the Austin based noise/grunge/psychedelic band is currently supporting their newest album, D


join in on the fun for thirteen bucks and an ID with a birth year prior to 1990. Fake Your Own Death and Angel Island will open the show.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2

this looks so grandiose, my mouth is watering a little:

The National will rerelease the Cherry Tree EP in June


I first listened to Cherry Tree after hearing the band's Black Sessions. I was listening to it this morning and figured I'd post about the upcoming vinyl 12" reissue of the EP. The original 10" is super rare, I can't seem to find it anywhere. 3000 copies of the reissue will drop on June 28th (500 of them will be red vinyl), you can buy it HERE

Tracklisting:
1. "Wasp Nest"
2. "All the Wine"
3. "All Dolled-Up in Straps"
4. "Cherry Tree"
5. "About Today"
6. "Murder Me Rachael" (Live)
7. "Reasonable Man (I Don't Mind)" (feat. Padma Newsome of Clogs)

in the meantime, the band is giving away "About Today" at bandcamp, head on over or grab the track below.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

new music from Arcade Fire - "Speaking in Tongues" and "Culture War"


The music video for "The Suburbs" was taken from a film which Spike Jonze made for Arcade Fire entitled “Scenes From The Suburbs”. It includes these two new songs which very much fit with the general feeling of the band's third record. "Speaking in Tongues" features David Byrne (of Talking Heads). The songs were played for the first time today on Zane Lowe's radio show, listen below:




This should tide fans over until the band releases the deluxe version of their epic album The Suburbs on June 27th.

Explosions in the Sky announce fall tour


09/1 -- Tucson, AZ -- Rialto Theatre

09/2 -- San Diego, CA -- SOMA

09/5 -- Big Sur, CA -- Henry Miller Library

09/8 -- Spokane, WA -- Bing Crosby Theater

09/9 -- Vancouver, BC -- The Vogue Theatre

09/11 -- Boise, ID -- Egyptian Theatre

09/13 -- Denver, CO -- The Fillmore Auditorium

09/14 -- Albuquerque, NM -- Sunshine Theatre

09/16 -- Dallas, TX -- AT&T Performing Arts Center - Strauss Square

09/28 -- New Orleans, LA -- Tipitina's *

09/29 -- Atlanta, GA -- Tabernacle *

09/30 -- Asheville, NC -- Orange Peel *

10/1 -- Baltimore, MD -- Ram's Head Live

10/2 -- Philadelphia, PA -- Tower Theater

10/3 -- Montclair, NJ -- Wellmont Theatre

10/5 -- Boston, MA -- Orpheum Theatre

10/6 -- Montreal, QC -- Metropolis Theatre *

10/7 -- Toronto, ON -- Sound Academy *

10/8 -- Royal Oak, MI -- Royal Oak Music Theatre *

10/10 -- Minneapolis, MN -- First Avenue *

10/11 -- Des Moines, IA -- Val Air Ballroom *

10/12 -- Kansas City, MO -- Uptown Theatre *

10/13 -- Oklahoma City, OK -- Diamond Ballroom *


*Wye Oak supports



Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine [mp3]

Chain Gang of 1974 will play Rickshaw Stop this Thursday

tix are $10 at the door, the show is 18+ and starts at 10PM

Born in San Jose and raised in Hawaii, Kamtin Mohager is the shape-shifting singer/multi-instrumentalist behind the Chain Gang of 1974. According to Mohager, his first proper release was “all over the place, from a piano ballad to songs that sound like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream or Justice.”

Now he sounds like this:

must watch video: The Strokes: "You're So Right" on Jools Holland

sweet goodness this song just keeps getting more badass every time I hear it.


NIKOLAI, YOUSE A BOSS.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

must watch video: The Strokes perform "Gratisfaction" at Cannes

I love three things about this video:
-the fact that you can really hear Albert
-Julian's lack of shoes or sleeves (never before exposed on stage tattoos!)
-"they said the soldier is a necessity in light of all the failures of man"
whoa.


and here's Taken for a Fool:



Sunday Morning Covers


Spoon - Peace Like a River (Paul Simon cover) [mp3]







bonus:

band of the week: The Leafs

Guided by Voices loved to get drunk and go crazy on stage. It sounds like this Melbourne band has similar motives. Crafting a sound between The Magnetic Fields and GBV, The Leafs (Mike Pulsford on vocals and guitar and Gus Kemp on drums and vocals) are driven by a desire for simplicity, cunningly reducing their drum kit to two pieces a la The Velvet Underground.



Their album, Space Elevator, emanates the same soft yet blunt sound that makes Bee Thousand so enjoyable and timeless, and this translates to good news for the listener. Download the whole thing at BANDCAMP

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

listen/download: Best Coast at Daytrotter


I recently looked up the location of my favourite studio, and it happens that Daytrotter is located in Northwestern Illinois. HOWEVER, this recently dug out session was strangely recorded in LA, at Elliott Smith's old studio when the daytrotter guys were out visiting Socal in October of 2009. the recordings are very raw and quite excellent. read more and grab the whole session HERE

daytrotter

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/best-coast-concert/20031236-3738209.html

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/delta-spirit-concert/20054660-110636.html

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

hear more off the new Arctic Monkeys': Suck it and See

The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala:



Library Pictures:



and here are their performances of Don't Sit Down Cause I've Moved Your Chair and Reckless Serenade

The Strokes bring Angles to Jools Holland

yay!


Zachary Cale - Hello Oblivion


Zachary Cale - Hello Oblivion [mp3]

from Noise of Welcome
songs this gorgeous get me weary that the artist won't be able to follow through at this calibre.
Cale is currently on tour and will hit up Daytrotter this Thursday
visit him on MYSPACE

Monday, May 16, 2011

Houses play Bottom of the Hill this Wednesday


Houses - Soak it Up [mp3]
for fans of: Beach House

The Sundelles - Can't Win


from Georgia Swan

Matty McLoughlin from The Soft Pack plays lead guitar on "Can't Win" as well as few other tracks on the album.

The Sundelles on MYSPACE

new Black Lips- "New Direction"


Black Lips - New Direction [mp3]
I like this a lot better than "Modern Art"

The Lonely Island visit Amoeba Berkeley

nothing this cool ever happened when I lived at that freaking store during college.
BLERG

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The National perform "Baby We'll Be Fine" for SPIN in 2005

The Strokes - Hard to Explain at MSG




BONUS:
I had my music on shuffle the other day and this popped up. I love the variation on the opening lyric

The Strokes - Reptilia (Live, 2006.03.08 - Radio One Session, London, ENGLAND)[mp3]

"they seemed depressed when you walked into the room..."

new Arctic Monkeys: Reckless Serenade


this is wonderful. I have full faith in the new AM lp.

Balkans - Troubled and Done


Balkans - Troubled and Done [mp3]
from Balkans, their s/t debut

listen to the entire album on SPINNER or order the CD or LP from Double Phantom Records.


Tour Dates
May 14 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn (LP Release Show)
May 28 - Chicago, IL - 2721 N. Halstead (w/ Mood Rings)
May 30 - Detroit, MI - Lager House (w/ Mood Rings)
June 2 - Brooklyn, NY - Shea Stadium
June 3 - Boston, MA - Problem House (w/ Mood Rings)
June 4 - Brooklyn, NY - Glasslands (w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra)

new Beirut: Santa Fe + Port of Call + Vagabond + Goshen

beautiful beautiful BEAUTIFUL. "Port of Call" is my favourite.



"oh you, you have hope for me now"







Thursday, May 5, 2011

Monday, May 2, 2011

new song: Black Lips - Modern Art


this sounds exactly like The Hives.

from the forthcoming Arabia Mountain (7th June)

Saturday, April 30, 2011

video: Grand Lake - Christmas, California

Grand Lake - Christmas, California from Ryan Terzian on Vimeo.



frontman Caleb Nichols said about the video: "We shot the video in our new hometown of San Luis Obispo, CA. We made costumes for the dancers (the same wonderful duo from the ';Louise' video) out of bed sheets found at thrift stores. Then we wandered around town with a boombox and invaded public spaces and stores (we hit our local record store, Boo Boo records, as well as Urban Outfitters to name a couple) and let the dancers do their thing."

Ennui - Coconino



this is absolutely beautiful and European-esque in the same way that Zach Condon's music is, minus the horn sections. it also reminds me of Amelie.

stream Ennui's entire second album, Formation of Tides, at their BANDCAMP, where you can buy the digital album for $5 or the cd for $7, plus download a couple more tracks for free.

Noisepop presents: Brian Eno Documentary at The Roxie Theatre


Brian Eno 1971–77:
The Man Who Fell To Earth
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
ROXIE THEATER
3117 16th Street, San Francisco
7PM
tickets are $10 and can be purchased HERE

Saturday Music Definitions: Destino

I just came across the most spectacular short film, created by Salvador Dali and Walt Disney in 1946


and here is a beautiful jazz track with the same name:

new Britpop band on the rise: Brother

can you say OASIS?


two new songs from The Morning Benders- "Oh Annie" and "Grain of Salt"


Oh Annie by The Morning Benders

“My only regret with Big Echo is that this wasn’t on it. I wrote it after watching Annie Hall for the 100th time.”
-Chris Chu

Man/Miracle - Don't Waste It

from: Oakland, CA

Friday, April 29, 2011

next Wednesday: The Rumble SF presents Mister Loveless and more

as always, RSVP for free admission, or chalk up 5 bucks at the door.

The Strokes - You're So Right on Fallon

I know we've all seen this but Francisco requested that I reupload it, I think it's disappeared off of youtube.

enjoy!

BONUS: Julian recorded a track to an upcoming tribute album to one of the greats...

Thursday, April 28, 2011