Primal Scream ... Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Sacrilege" ...
It's been a hot hour since I've updated this little bloggy-blog, and that's completely my fault. Some great things have been a-brewing on the writing front in that I've secured a lovely position at The Weekly Alibi as a Copy Editor/Staff Writer. In keeping with tasteless self-promotion, keep an eye out for this next issue in which I have two articles (one for the Arts section and one for the Music section). Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's get back to what we do best: MUSIC!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have shared their first single from their upcoming record, titled Mosquito. I don't have a release date on-hand (my bad!), but the track is good ole Yeah Yeah Yeahs at work. You can hear Karen O's voice go from angelic and soft to thrashy and wild (which is what we love about her!). This track instills faith that they are still good at what they do and this upcoming album shouldn't be a disappointment. You can hear "Sacrilege" below:
Moving along ... I got into Primal Scream within the past couple of years (I know I've written about their '90s record, Psychedelica, a couple of times.) But, they've shared a new track from an upcoming album, More Light, that's scheduled to come out on May 13th. Now, besides the aforementioned album, and a performance I saw of them on Jools Holland with Alison Mosshart (of The Kills), I don't know too much about them, but if this track is anything to go by, this album will be purchased by yours truly. You can hear "2013" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Monday, December 31, 2012
When New Years Pour...
End of year thoughts...VU always there...
So, every New Years Eve is spent looking over the past year, trying to make amends, but at the same time, seek retribution for the year to come. You look in the mirror and tell yourself things like "I'm going to be more assertive...I'm not going to take no for an answer..." Or for those who are scorned within the amour-twinged afterlife, say "I'm only going to date people that treat me well." Yadda yadda yadda.
For me, a new year means one thing, and one thing only. I survived another one. I was able to take in the sweet, savory breaths of another wicked morning, and yet, I was able to dive face-first into the concrete, in the hopes that this dirt would taste as sweet as the rhythmic jumble and tumble of the previous day's scar tissue. But hey, that's just my take on things. Every year people make these so-called "resolutions," and they yearn to fill a gap that needs no filler. They strive to deconstruct the weariness of their daily lives in the hopes of finding a cure...or at least a momentary antidote. But each time, they set themselves up for the most prominent failure: fear of failing.
So, I make no resolutions this year. I make no promises to myself. Instead, I will thank baby Jesus that I made it through, or at least, made it a little further. With some good tunes, good people and good moments, maybe a resolution will come on its own... or at least something interesting. Cheers folks.
So, every New Years Eve is spent looking over the past year, trying to make amends, but at the same time, seek retribution for the year to come. You look in the mirror and tell yourself things like "I'm going to be more assertive...I'm not going to take no for an answer..." Or for those who are scorned within the amour-twinged afterlife, say "I'm only going to date people that treat me well." Yadda yadda yadda.
For me, a new year means one thing, and one thing only. I survived another one. I was able to take in the sweet, savory breaths of another wicked morning, and yet, I was able to dive face-first into the concrete, in the hopes that this dirt would taste as sweet as the rhythmic jumble and tumble of the previous day's scar tissue. But hey, that's just my take on things. Every year people make these so-called "resolutions," and they yearn to fill a gap that needs no filler. They strive to deconstruct the weariness of their daily lives in the hopes of finding a cure...or at least a momentary antidote. But each time, they set themselves up for the most prominent failure: fear of failing.
So, I make no resolutions this year. I make no promises to myself. Instead, I will thank baby Jesus that I made it through, or at least, made it a little further. With some good tunes, good people and good moments, maybe a resolution will come on its own... or at least something interesting. Cheers folks.
Monday, December 3, 2012
It's Just a Reflection
The Alibi...Putrifiers...
So, it's been a hot minute since I even took a look at this thing, and that's definitely my bad, and I'd like to say that I'll be more diligent about posting updates and new music, but that would be difficult for two reasons. The first is that my internet connection is nonexistent. At this moment, I am using my work computer. My second reason is that since my internet connection is nonexistent, it's hard to keep abreast of new music and new inspiration, though I've been working on art at a more diligent pace, so maybe this no-technology thing has its advantages?
I'm now living in Albuquerque, NM where I am a part-time copy editor at The Alibi, which is the city's prominent alternative news source. I am also a part-time bookseller at Barnes and Noble, so all in all, I'm living the cliche life of a struggling writer. But, I get a good discount at B & N, which works to my advantage.
LISTENING: I haven't been listening to much besides delving into some old records, like The Monks' Black Monk Time and Heartless Bastards' Stairs and Elevators. But, I recently bought a copy of Cat Power's latest release, Sun, and though it wasn't what I expected because I didn't really read any reviews or press about the album (most of them noting her electronic change of direction), it sort of threw me. I'm still listening to it to get a better feel, but the tracks I like so far are "Ruin," "Manhattan," (which you can hear below) and "Nothin' But Time," which features vocals by Iggy Pop.
Also, today, I've been delving into Thee Oh Sees Putrifiers II, and I can't fucking believe I waited this long to listen to it. Just from a first listen, I'm already blown away, and even their initial single for the album, "Lupine Dominus," should have tipped me off, but alas, it didn't. You can view the video for that song below:
That's all. PEACE.
So, it's been a hot minute since I even took a look at this thing, and that's definitely my bad, and I'd like to say that I'll be more diligent about posting updates and new music, but that would be difficult for two reasons. The first is that my internet connection is nonexistent. At this moment, I am using my work computer. My second reason is that since my internet connection is nonexistent, it's hard to keep abreast of new music and new inspiration, though I've been working on art at a more diligent pace, so maybe this no-technology thing has its advantages?
I'm now living in Albuquerque, NM where I am a part-time copy editor at The Alibi, which is the city's prominent alternative news source. I am also a part-time bookseller at Barnes and Noble, so all in all, I'm living the cliche life of a struggling writer. But, I get a good discount at B & N, which works to my advantage.
LISTENING: I haven't been listening to much besides delving into some old records, like The Monks' Black Monk Time and Heartless Bastards' Stairs and Elevators. But, I recently bought a copy of Cat Power's latest release, Sun, and though it wasn't what I expected because I didn't really read any reviews or press about the album (most of them noting her electronic change of direction), it sort of threw me. I'm still listening to it to get a better feel, but the tracks I like so far are "Ruin," "Manhattan," (which you can hear below) and "Nothin' But Time," which features vocals by Iggy Pop.
Also, today, I've been delving into Thee Oh Sees Putrifiers II, and I can't fucking believe I waited this long to listen to it. Just from a first listen, I'm already blown away, and even their initial single for the album, "Lupine Dominus," should have tipped me off, but alas, it didn't. You can view the video for that song below:
That's all. PEACE.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
"Happy Birthday To Me"
So, today is my birthday...and like any normal grown-up, when it comes time to turn 25, you want to celebrate it in a way that'll make you happy. Since last year's birthday was such a shitstorm of unnecessary nonsense, I decided to make this one as low-key as possible. So...last night, I rekindled my love of horror films and watched a classic 80s slasher flick, titled "Happy Birthday To Me." Pretty morbid, huh? And today, I've spent the majority of my day working because what is a better distraction than making $$$$$. But, as far as music-modes, I wanted to hear a #1 hit from 1987, the year I was born. Since, I don't really care for any of the Billboard Top 100 best singles of '87, I decided to do the original of one of the songs listed. On the list was Billy Idol's cover of "Mony Mony." I decided to post Tommy James & The Shondells' version, well...because it's 10,000 times better. You can hear that below:
That's all.
That's all.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Makes Me Better
Hellhole Ratrace...10-year-old wisdom...
This is going to be a very short one. But, lately, as far as music listening goes, it's been fairly stale. I bought David Byrne and St. Vincent's collaborative effort, titled Love This Giant the day before yesterday but haven't given it a thorough listen which I hope will be remedied within the coming week. Aside from that, I'm still obsessively listening to Girls...you know...that band that had that singer that was raised in a cult, released two albums, and is suddenly no more...yeah that band.
Since I'm fully acclimated to their second album, I've been listening to their first record, titled Album. It's a fantastic listen, and I like that Christopher Owens chose different directions in terms of songwriting as well as his vocal delivery. It was an interesting surprise. But, lately, I can't get the tune, "Hellhole Ratrace," out of my head. You can hear that one below. Also, check out their song, "Big Bad Mean Motherfucker." It's a nice little throwback to good old-fashioned rock n' roll.
On a musically unrelated note...I've started writing down weird, funny, and interesting things people say, compiling them on my phone's "notes" app, which is also my attempt at becoming more technologically savvy, and this one was taken from my 10-year-old nephew. This is his response to seeing my older brother's newly-grown beard.
"You look rough, like life is going hard."
That's all. PEACE.
This is going to be a very short one. But, lately, as far as music listening goes, it's been fairly stale. I bought David Byrne and St. Vincent's collaborative effort, titled Love This Giant the day before yesterday but haven't given it a thorough listen which I hope will be remedied within the coming week. Aside from that, I'm still obsessively listening to Girls...you know...that band that had that singer that was raised in a cult, released two albums, and is suddenly no more...yeah that band.
Since I'm fully acclimated to their second album, I've been listening to their first record, titled Album. It's a fantastic listen, and I like that Christopher Owens chose different directions in terms of songwriting as well as his vocal delivery. It was an interesting surprise. But, lately, I can't get the tune, "Hellhole Ratrace," out of my head. You can hear that one below. Also, check out their song, "Big Bad Mean Motherfucker." It's a nice little throwback to good old-fashioned rock n' roll.
On a musically unrelated note...I've started writing down weird, funny, and interesting things people say, compiling them on my phone's "notes" app, which is also my attempt at becoming more technologically savvy, and this one was taken from my 10-year-old nephew. This is his response to seeing my older brother's newly-grown beard.
"You look rough, like life is going hard."
That's all. PEACE.
Friday, August 17, 2012
DECLARE!
Hot Cheetos and Takis...OH SYRIA...
Not much to report other than the fact that I have been OBSESSED with watching this video of some Minneapolis youngsters wrap about their favorite snacks, which are relevant in the title. Part of an after school program that rewards kids with recording their own music for good schoolwork, these kids are little bosses, and I think that this should be a #1 hit on principle alone. This shit will have you singing..."SNACK, SNACK, SNACK...CRUNCH!"
The poem below was one that I wrote a few months ago after a particular incident that took place in Idlib, Syria where a car bomb claimed the lives of five people. Of course, if you've followed the news, you've seen that more lives have been claimed, and the struggle is still ongoing. I submitted this piece to the New Yorker, and it generously got denied, so I thought I'd self-publish it on here.
OH SYRIA
Oh holy light,
Your cursed shell ignites a spark
Within the boundaries of my village.
You search the remnants of burned buildings,
A dead child wakes, gasping for one more breath,
Or a drink of water.
Yet, he falls fast asleep
And breathes no more.
Oh dictator,
How you have created a divide,
Those to the left, those to the right,
One fist can strike a fine blow,
But one blast can steal a million voices.
Though he tried to steal Damascus,
The emblem of his wavering flag
Cutting the wrists of those who wouldn’t drown,
Would not go down
To the sound
Of troops carrying fire-red guns,
One bullet to take them all.
Oh Muslims,
Thine hearts made of metal,
Struck with the shrapnel
Of soldiers unnamed.
They smile at the bloodshed,
Wipe their sweaty heads,
And dance around the graves
Of lost children.
Oh Idlib,
You are remembered,
One bomb, five lives,
One shot…
…can shake the earth,
But who will be there when she gives birth
To a day when silence has no need
For the breathless yell of a thousand feet,
That march toward your new-born ear,
Uttering the quiet prayers
Of those who were born to fear.
Oh Syria,
Your body lays to rest
On isolated waste
Of gutted cities
That feed on the ashes of burned-down tenements.
And we lay out on scraps,
Feeling the roaring of another explosion,
That engulfs our mothers and fathers.
And when the ruins of this land
Fall toward its knees,
One more entreaty will glisten
Under the fiery sun,
Set in motion by the rhythm of
Their fateful march.
“Guardians of the homeland.”
Let down your shields,
Your tattered tresses,
And remember the will of the silenced,
The prayers of the scorned,
Who only wish to be born…
Who only wish to be born…
Not much to report other than the fact that I have been OBSESSED with watching this video of some Minneapolis youngsters wrap about their favorite snacks, which are relevant in the title. Part of an after school program that rewards kids with recording their own music for good schoolwork, these kids are little bosses, and I think that this should be a #1 hit on principle alone. This shit will have you singing..."SNACK, SNACK, SNACK...CRUNCH!"
The poem below was one that I wrote a few months ago after a particular incident that took place in Idlib, Syria where a car bomb claimed the lives of five people. Of course, if you've followed the news, you've seen that more lives have been claimed, and the struggle is still ongoing. I submitted this piece to the New Yorker, and it generously got denied, so I thought I'd self-publish it on here.
OH SYRIA
Oh holy light,
Your cursed shell ignites a spark
Within the boundaries of my village.
You search the remnants of burned buildings,
A dead child wakes, gasping for one more breath,
Or a drink of water.
Yet, he falls fast asleep
And breathes no more.
Oh dictator,
How you have created a divide,
Those to the left, those to the right,
One fist can strike a fine blow,
But one blast can steal a million voices.
Though he tried to steal Damascus,
The emblem of his wavering flag
Cutting the wrists of those who wouldn’t drown,
Would not go down
To the sound
Of troops carrying fire-red guns,
One bullet to take them all.
Oh Muslims,
Thine hearts made of metal,
Struck with the shrapnel
Of soldiers unnamed.
They smile at the bloodshed,
Wipe their sweaty heads,
And dance around the graves
Of lost children.
Oh Idlib,
You are remembered,
One bomb, five lives,
One shot…
…can shake the earth,
But who will be there when she gives birth
To a day when silence has no need
For the breathless yell of a thousand feet,
That march toward your new-born ear,
Uttering the quiet prayers
Of those who were born to fear.
Oh Syria,
Your body lays to rest
On isolated waste
Of gutted cities
That feed on the ashes of burned-down tenements.
And we lay out on scraps,
Feeling the roaring of another explosion,
That engulfs our mothers and fathers.
And when the ruins of this land
Fall toward its knees,
One more entreaty will glisten
Under the fiery sun,
Set in motion by the rhythm of
Their fateful march.
“Guardians of the homeland.”
Let down your shields,
Your tattered tresses,
And remember the will of the silenced,
The prayers of the scorned,
Who only wish to be born…
Who only wish to be born…
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Disappearances
Harry Belafonte...Girl in a Coma...I Disappear...
SHIT...It's been a while since I even looked at this thing. I guess I've undergone some weird hibernation where the digital world just didn't satisfy my yearnings. I'm not going to try and pretend like while I was absent from this static blog that I was off enduring some sort of spiritual awakening in some third-world nation. No, I wasn't doing ANYTHING. Just being lazy. But, I figured why not share a little of that laziness with the rest of the world...or at least to the three people that read this. Firstly, let's talk about Harry Belafonte. I'm not ashamed to admit that the first time I heard "Jump In The Line" was watching Beetlejuice when I was 7 or 8, but last night I found myself dancing wildly to it in my room, surely causing a ruckus. But that's neither here nor there. You can hear the wonderful track below:
Also, I recently wrote an article for my local paper about an indie-rock band from San Antonio, called Girl In A Coma. You can read it here. If you haven't heard of them, you should give them a listen. They're not insanely groundbreaking, but the passion in their songwriting is extremely evident, and it makes listening to them enjoyable. I've only heard a few songs from each album, but they do a nice cover of The Velvet Underground's "Here She comes," and I also liked the first track of their newest album, Exits and All The Rest. You can hear "Adjust" below:
Also, I've been writing more and more, and while this poem isn't especially recent, it was a hearkening back to my angsty high school days, when The Faint was the band of the hour, and you couldn't get enough to drink before the night was over. You can read "I Disappear..." below:
I disappear…
Such a fancy line from a lingering high school infatuation,
The Faint is what they were called.
Such a delicate assertion that where
You once held more than a backwards glance,
You can pick up and leave
Before the suitcase is even packed.
Your picture can fade
In the memories of those who claimed to know you,
Claimed to trust you,
And before they were through sending you snickers and smiles,
You flew away…
…lost amidst a sea of wandering faces.
I disappear.
Two words
That calculate one single movement…
The turning of a back.
Easy to leave,
Hard to stay,
But would we have it play out differently?
Would we like to stay to consume more,
Purge less,
And realize that our mind is utterly blank,
Drained from the prospect of sharing one more cigarette.
I’d rather flee…
But I’m shackled by guilt,
Chained by reprehension,
And yet, I stay.
I want to drown in it,
Feed on it,
And taste the foul aftertaste of
bitter wine,
But what the fuck am I supposed to do with an empty glass?
That's all.
SHIT...It's been a while since I even looked at this thing. I guess I've undergone some weird hibernation where the digital world just didn't satisfy my yearnings. I'm not going to try and pretend like while I was absent from this static blog that I was off enduring some sort of spiritual awakening in some third-world nation. No, I wasn't doing ANYTHING. Just being lazy. But, I figured why not share a little of that laziness with the rest of the world...or at least to the three people that read this. Firstly, let's talk about Harry Belafonte. I'm not ashamed to admit that the first time I heard "Jump In The Line" was watching Beetlejuice when I was 7 or 8, but last night I found myself dancing wildly to it in my room, surely causing a ruckus. But that's neither here nor there. You can hear the wonderful track below:
Also, I recently wrote an article for my local paper about an indie-rock band from San Antonio, called Girl In A Coma. You can read it here. If you haven't heard of them, you should give them a listen. They're not insanely groundbreaking, but the passion in their songwriting is extremely evident, and it makes listening to them enjoyable. I've only heard a few songs from each album, but they do a nice cover of The Velvet Underground's "Here She comes," and I also liked the first track of their newest album, Exits and All The Rest. You can hear "Adjust" below:
Also, I've been writing more and more, and while this poem isn't especially recent, it was a hearkening back to my angsty high school days, when The Faint was the band of the hour, and you couldn't get enough to drink before the night was over. You can read "I Disappear..." below:
I disappear…
Such a fancy line from a lingering high school infatuation,
The Faint is what they were called.
Such a delicate assertion that where
You once held more than a backwards glance,
You can pick up and leave
Before the suitcase is even packed.
Your picture can fade
In the memories of those who claimed to know you,
Claimed to trust you,
And before they were through sending you snickers and smiles,
You flew away…
…lost amidst a sea of wandering faces.
I disappear.
Two words
That calculate one single movement…
The turning of a back.
Easy to leave,
Hard to stay,
But would we have it play out differently?
Would we like to stay to consume more,
Purge less,
And realize that our mind is utterly blank,
Drained from the prospect of sharing one more cigarette.
I’d rather flee…
But I’m shackled by guilt,
Chained by reprehension,
And yet, I stay.
I want to drown in it,
Feed on it,
And taste the foul aftertaste of
bitter wine,
But what the fuck am I supposed to do with an empty glass?
That's all.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Another Town, Another Name
Wes Anderson on music and film...Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem" video...Corin Tucker Band share new song...BANGA and Hola Ghost and more...
Wes Anderson was introduced to me by a good friend, and the first film I ever saw was the wonderful Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. However, I wasn't completely won over until I saw The Royal Tenenbaums, which is still my favorite Anderson flick, though I am particularly excited about seeing Moonrise Kingdom, which has been receiving rave reviews from critics. Aside from Anderson's unique visual aesthetics, he's also known for choosing great music to highlight the various themes of his films, making them more memorable and hard-hitting. Who can forget the famous Luke Wilson attempted-suicide scene in The Royal Tenenbaums to Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay"? You can read the interview at Pitchfork. And you can watch the aforementioned scene below:
Next up...Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem" video...it's so weird to think that just a year ago...maybe more...she was virtually unknown, and as quick as lightning, she is on SNL, American Idol, etc. etc. etc. And it just causes me to look at the machinery of fame and wonder how so many worthy struggling artists never reach a wide audience. I'm not saying this woman has no talent, but I think she takes herself way too seriously for the type of music she puts out. It's not like she's producing elaborate compositions that would require weeks of repeated listens to find hidden meanings. She's another pop-starlet who likens herself to a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" to bring an old-Hollywood quality to the forefront, but it's a tired and contrived idea that I'm sure many unknowns would like to harness energy from. The video represents that particular aesthetic, yet Del Rey is incredibly stiff throughout the video, which makes it almost uncomfortable to watch. Also, it features rapper A$ap Rocky in the part of John F. Kennedy to Del Rey's Jackie O. She would go there... You can view the video below:
Lastly, Sleater-Kinney frontwoman, Corin Tucker, is gearing up to release a second album under this project's name, and she is currently streaming the upcoming album's opening track online...you can hear it at Stereogum.
LISTENING: I've spent my morning getting back into the Spotify groove. There had been a significant period where I didn't listen to it, mainly because I found it a little above my head. While it utilizes the same basic idea as Grooveshark, it just didn't catch on with me as quickly as I thought it would, and today, I've grown a little more aware of its appeal. I started my morning listening to Hola Ghost, which is a band that a friend recommended to me. This Danish duo takes inspiration from genres such as psychobilly, punk rock, traditional Mexican music, and many others. I like that the line-up consists of a guitarist/singer, a bassist, and a "ghost" drum machine. I listened to their second record, The Man They Couldn't Hang, and I like it. I like how they incorporate the use of the drum-machine, and I like the dark mysticism they play with in their songs. Tracks I liked were the title track, "Spanish Moon," "Dragon Balls," and "Marguerita." You can hear "Spanish Moon" below:
I also got a first glance at Banga by Patti Smith, and while I couldn't digest the whole thing (because I'm in the wrong setting), I like what I've heard. I didn't think about how complex Smith's records are, with a meticulous attention to detail in the lyrics, so listening to it on semi-audible volume at work just doesn't suffice. Definitely need to give it a closer listen, but I couldn't get the track "April Fool" out of my head all morning. You can hear that below:
Aside from that, I also listened to The Mamas and the Papas because it's good shit. Who can deny the magic of classics like "California Dreaming," "Dedicated To The One I Love," or Mama Cass's lovely rendition of "Dream A Little Dream"? That's right, you can't. And if it doesn't hit your spirit...something's definitely wrong with you.
That's all. PEACE.
Wes Anderson was introduced to me by a good friend, and the first film I ever saw was the wonderful Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. However, I wasn't completely won over until I saw The Royal Tenenbaums, which is still my favorite Anderson flick, though I am particularly excited about seeing Moonrise Kingdom, which has been receiving rave reviews from critics. Aside from Anderson's unique visual aesthetics, he's also known for choosing great music to highlight the various themes of his films, making them more memorable and hard-hitting. Who can forget the famous Luke Wilson attempted-suicide scene in The Royal Tenenbaums to Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay"? You can read the interview at Pitchfork. And you can watch the aforementioned scene below:
Next up...Lana Del Rey's "National Anthem" video...it's so weird to think that just a year ago...maybe more...she was virtually unknown, and as quick as lightning, she is on SNL, American Idol, etc. etc. etc. And it just causes me to look at the machinery of fame and wonder how so many worthy struggling artists never reach a wide audience. I'm not saying this woman has no talent, but I think she takes herself way too seriously for the type of music she puts out. It's not like she's producing elaborate compositions that would require weeks of repeated listens to find hidden meanings. She's another pop-starlet who likens herself to a "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" to bring an old-Hollywood quality to the forefront, but it's a tired and contrived idea that I'm sure many unknowns would like to harness energy from. The video represents that particular aesthetic, yet Del Rey is incredibly stiff throughout the video, which makes it almost uncomfortable to watch. Also, it features rapper A$ap Rocky in the part of John F. Kennedy to Del Rey's Jackie O. She would go there... You can view the video below:
Lastly, Sleater-Kinney frontwoman, Corin Tucker, is gearing up to release a second album under this project's name, and she is currently streaming the upcoming album's opening track online...you can hear it at Stereogum.
LISTENING: I've spent my morning getting back into the Spotify groove. There had been a significant period where I didn't listen to it, mainly because I found it a little above my head. While it utilizes the same basic idea as Grooveshark, it just didn't catch on with me as quickly as I thought it would, and today, I've grown a little more aware of its appeal. I started my morning listening to Hola Ghost, which is a band that a friend recommended to me. This Danish duo takes inspiration from genres such as psychobilly, punk rock, traditional Mexican music, and many others. I like that the line-up consists of a guitarist/singer, a bassist, and a "ghost" drum machine. I listened to their second record, The Man They Couldn't Hang, and I like it. I like how they incorporate the use of the drum-machine, and I like the dark mysticism they play with in their songs. Tracks I liked were the title track, "Spanish Moon," "Dragon Balls," and "Marguerita." You can hear "Spanish Moon" below:
I also got a first glance at Banga by Patti Smith, and while I couldn't digest the whole thing (because I'm in the wrong setting), I like what I've heard. I didn't think about how complex Smith's records are, with a meticulous attention to detail in the lyrics, so listening to it on semi-audible volume at work just doesn't suffice. Definitely need to give it a closer listen, but I couldn't get the track "April Fool" out of my head all morning. You can hear that below:
Aside from that, I also listened to The Mamas and the Papas because it's good shit. Who can deny the magic of classics like "California Dreaming," "Dedicated To The One I Love," or Mama Cass's lovely rendition of "Dream A Little Dream"? That's right, you can't. And if it doesn't hit your spirit...something's definitely wrong with you.
That's all. PEACE.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
KICK IT!
Pitchfork interviews Cat Power...Matt and Kim share new single...Thee Oh Sees deliver new track...Slow listening...
Well, let's start this off with a little Cat Power. As I said before, when I wrote about her new single, "Ruin," I'm not a huge Cat Power fan. Mainly my liking to her is distilled into one particular album, that being The Greatest. And, to my knowledge, and thus a knowledge gained from having read her most recent interview in Pitchfork, that particular album was her last one with all-original material. Apparently, Ms. Marshall is a fan of covering songs, and if she can do it well, then more power to her. So, I guess that is what makes her upcoming release, Sun, so special...the fact that it's an album of all-original material as well. Either way...you can read the interview here.
As for more information circling the interwebs, Matt and Kim have shared a new single from their upcoming album, Lightning. The song is titled "Let's Go." Matt and Kim...Matt and Kim...they were one of those bands that I heard of years and years ago, when they were still up and coming, and I think that I even saw them play SXSW at some random backyard party, but didn't even really pay attention because I was drunky. But...as time has gone on, so have Matt and Kim...and to bigger and better things. I saw them play at the Fader Fort in Austin during SXSW last year, and let's just say the show was fucking epic. Erykah Badu even came out to play drums on their lauded single, "Lessons Learned." But all nude-music-videos aside, you can hear their newest track below:
Next up...We have Thee Oh Sees, whom I've written about before, so I won't go into them too much...other than to say they're a psychedelic rock band from San Francisco, and they seem to be coming up in the world. I was first introduced to them via The Mohawk, where I saw them during SXSW last year. Or the year before? Can't tell...time is a tricky fucker. But, they've released a new song from their upcoming album, Putrifiers II. The song is called "Lupine Dominus," and you can hear it via Stereogum.
LISTENING: This area has been crazy slow, and only because I've only been listening to Fiona Apple's new album. It's like a weird addictive listening drug that I keep having withdrawals from. It's no joke. Any time I listen to anything else, I just keep thinking about how I want to be listening to The Idler Wheel. I need to hear something other than this that is just as brilliant because at this rate, I don't see it going away...
Other than that, I was reading about how Iggy Pop and the singer from Best Coast (who I still haven't listened to) were collaborating for a song for the soundtrack of True Blood. Weird. But, I remembered Iggy's awesome collaboration with Peaches for her album, Fatherfucker. It's a pretty fun song to listen to, and you can hear that track below:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, let's start this off with a little Cat Power. As I said before, when I wrote about her new single, "Ruin," I'm not a huge Cat Power fan. Mainly my liking to her is distilled into one particular album, that being The Greatest. And, to my knowledge, and thus a knowledge gained from having read her most recent interview in Pitchfork, that particular album was her last one with all-original material. Apparently, Ms. Marshall is a fan of covering songs, and if she can do it well, then more power to her. So, I guess that is what makes her upcoming release, Sun, so special...the fact that it's an album of all-original material as well. Either way...you can read the interview here.
As for more information circling the interwebs, Matt and Kim have shared a new single from their upcoming album, Lightning. The song is titled "Let's Go." Matt and Kim...Matt and Kim...they were one of those bands that I heard of years and years ago, when they were still up and coming, and I think that I even saw them play SXSW at some random backyard party, but didn't even really pay attention because I was drunky. But...as time has gone on, so have Matt and Kim...and to bigger and better things. I saw them play at the Fader Fort in Austin during SXSW last year, and let's just say the show was fucking epic. Erykah Badu even came out to play drums on their lauded single, "Lessons Learned." But all nude-music-videos aside, you can hear their newest track below:
Next up...We have Thee Oh Sees, whom I've written about before, so I won't go into them too much...other than to say they're a psychedelic rock band from San Francisco, and they seem to be coming up in the world. I was first introduced to them via The Mohawk, where I saw them during SXSW last year. Or the year before? Can't tell...time is a tricky fucker. But, they've released a new song from their upcoming album, Putrifiers II. The song is called "Lupine Dominus," and you can hear it via Stereogum.
LISTENING: This area has been crazy slow, and only because I've only been listening to Fiona Apple's new album. It's like a weird addictive listening drug that I keep having withdrawals from. It's no joke. Any time I listen to anything else, I just keep thinking about how I want to be listening to The Idler Wheel. I need to hear something other than this that is just as brilliant because at this rate, I don't see it going away...
Other than that, I was reading about how Iggy Pop and the singer from Best Coast (who I still haven't listened to) were collaborating for a song for the soundtrack of True Blood. Weird. But, I remembered Iggy's awesome collaboration with Peaches for her album, Fatherfucker. It's a pretty fun song to listen to, and you can hear that track below:
That's all. PEACE.
Friday, June 22, 2012
You'd Never Know
Chelsea Light Moving...SCREAM...
Not much today...The only interesting thing that I found in music news today was that Thurston Moore, of Sonic Youth fame, has a new musical project for which he is the frontman, titled Chelsea Light Moving. They've released one song from the project, via Matador's website. They are currently working on their first full-length record, but you can hear their song "Burroughs" here. I like the feel of the song, mainly because it has a post-grunge hard-rock vibe towards it, which anyone that knows me knows is kind of my shit. So, I'll definitely be keeping my ears open for their record.
LISTENING: Nothing much at all today. Seriously. Almost no listening because work has been fucking hectic today. BUT...I remembered that a friend of mine told me about Michael Jackson's "Scream" being the most expensive music video ever made. My weird mind channeled that memory today, and so the first thing I did this morning before I started my aforementioned hectic day, was watch the video. It just looks expensive to the point where it makes me want to vomit when I think of how much money went into the production ($7 million), but then I'm so amazed by it. The video was directed by Mark Romanek, who has directed videos for Madonna, Beck, Fiona Apple, No Doubt, Jay Z, Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, and many more. You can view "Scream" below:
That's all for today. PEACE.
Not much today...The only interesting thing that I found in music news today was that Thurston Moore, of Sonic Youth fame, has a new musical project for which he is the frontman, titled Chelsea Light Moving. They've released one song from the project, via Matador's website. They are currently working on their first full-length record, but you can hear their song "Burroughs" here. I like the feel of the song, mainly because it has a post-grunge hard-rock vibe towards it, which anyone that knows me knows is kind of my shit. So, I'll definitely be keeping my ears open for their record.
LISTENING: Nothing much at all today. Seriously. Almost no listening because work has been fucking hectic today. BUT...I remembered that a friend of mine told me about Michael Jackson's "Scream" being the most expensive music video ever made. My weird mind channeled that memory today, and so the first thing I did this morning before I started my aforementioned hectic day, was watch the video. It just looks expensive to the point where it makes me want to vomit when I think of how much money went into the production ($7 million), but then I'm so amazed by it. The video was directed by Mark Romanek, who has directed videos for Madonna, Beck, Fiona Apple, No Doubt, Jay Z, Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, and many more. You can view "Scream" below:
That's all for today. PEACE.
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