Yeti Don't Dance

Yeti's Top Albums of 2008!

2008-12-31T15:25:00.002-05:00

Ummmm. I liked the Dodos album quite a lot.

(I supposed I could have just twittered this.)

Legion of Rock Stars

2008-01-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

Legion of Rock Stars is the cover band that I would probably be like if my Rock Band buddies and I started a real band.

Danzig's "Mother"

Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

Speaking of cover bands. Thermals are playing their karaoke set this week.

Not sure if this is final post of this blog for 2007. I might try tumblr for a while. Maybe cross post in both places. Who knows.

X-mas mix

2007-12-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

Instead of posting a Indie Rock Christmas mix which tend to generally suck, I'll once again link to DJ Riko's Christmas mix from 2005. The only songs I skip are Bright Eyes (blehck!) and the "Snowflakes" song (yawn). But other than that it's really spectacular and much more solid than the one he made last year (although that too has some gems). I haven't yet sampled the other ones he made from 2002-2004, but I'll get right on that and report back here.

Rapidshare link to DJ Riko's Merry Mixmas 2005.

Here's the track list:

Intro
Singers Unlimited - Caroling Caroling
DJ Riko featuring Marcie - My Chimney
Luscious Jackson - Let it Show
The Free Design - Now Sound of Christmas
Lou Monte - Dominick the Donkey
Louis Armstrong - Cool Yule
Mr Hanky - Santa Claus is on His Way
The Ventures - Silver Bells
George W. Bush - Twas the Night Before Christmas (Jima edit)
Kids of Widney High - Christmas is the Time
Ringo Starr - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Madness - Insanity Over Christmas
Augie Rios - Donde Esta Santa Claus
Disney - Santa's Rap
Pizzicato Five - Snowflakes
Chet Baker - Winter Wonderland
Neil Diamond - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Big Ben Banjo Band - Christmas Medley 2
Alvin and the Chipmunks - Chimpunk Song (Slow Version)
Bright Eyes - Little Drummer Boy
Tenchi Muyo vs. The Singing Dogs - Jingle Bells
Wayne Newton - Jingle Bell Hustle
Buchanan & Goodman - Santa and the Satellite
Esquivel! - Frosty the Snowman
Huey Piano Smith and the Clowns - All I Want for Christmas
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Santa Claus - A Visit From Santa Claus
Little Bobby Rey - Corrido de Auld Lang Syne
Santa Outro

It Only Encourages Them

2007-11-12T11:10:00.000-05:00

I shouldn't be doing this, but I'm posting a band that someone actually sent me. I'm sick of reading emails from bands. Not that I read them. But they still take up space in my inbox. I have to read who sent them before I delete them.

So a guy asked me to give Slow Runner a listen, and since he pinned me against the wall and since I wasn't busy at the moment, I did. They are from South Carolina or thereabouts. I like them well enough. Reminds me of Pedro the Lion.

If I had an ftp that worked, I'd post some copywritted material for you guys to gobble up, but for now you'll have to go use ~~friendster myspace facebook~~ myspace.

----------------

Checked out Cadence Weapon and Final Fantasy last night. CW was OK. The crowd wasn't as responsive but given the Sunday night and unique pairing with FF I can understand why. Once again Owen P. was incredible. I wish he'd play here more frequently. The crowd gave rapturous applause almost ever song. That's really the perfect word: rapturous. The rapacious raptors rapturousily raped the Buffalo buffalo.

That's about it for now. Slow week coming up, but Mario Galaxy comes out today and I can devote some of my free time to that.

Rap City in Blue

2007-11-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

My CMJ week truly started off a day earlier with a free concert thanks to Rhapsody (of whom which few in attendance actually knew what they did). For those who don't know, they are the Rent-to-Own of the online music world. Without the "Owning" part.

A tight and talented by otherwise boring Brooklyn band name American Babies started the night. It was a trait, I’d experience many times over the week: yeah you sound fine and all, but I’d never chose you play your songs on my own. We all used up our complimentary drink tickets quickly during that set. The Little Ones played next and as no surprise were much better. In their case, I almost prefer their songs on my ipod. I'm still in love with "Cha Cha Cha" They’ll have an LP out shortly sure enough that I’ll be as hesitant to bond with as I was with Voxtrot’s. Pela provided the next hour’s amusement, and while I’ve always been a fan (occasionally a raging fan), I wondered where they were heading now-a-days. I’m still not sure. They have a big sound that made much more sense another hour later when the National brought their own anthems to fill the Highline.

So the National - they weren’t bad. I don't love them, but now I respect them.

Is this Blog Dead? BAH! I say!

2007-11-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

I was musing over the status and future of this space yesterday, wondering if it was finally time to head into the ole electrical closet and throw the Big Switch. Like a belly-up goldfish circling in its own urea, this site has become a shameful reminder that I'm just as fallible as my anonymous commentors. I still get some great one's from Fall Out Boy fans from time to time, and that warms my heart.

But give in, I shall not. It's a different world we are living in today. To forsake it now, after 2.5 years, would mean it wouldn't ever be the same. I make no apologies. There's few things more lame than a blogger blogging about not blogging. And yet here we are. Because it's really the only thing that there is to say.

I've outlived Stylus. I don't have to think about *my* year end list for 5 whole weeks. I've also outlived Robert Goulet. This drink's for you Mr. Goulet.

I'll begin with my latest failure: CMJ 2007. The winner of CMJ was Bon Iver. It may have been a close call, but the very first official CMJ set I caught was also the best. This is no statement on the rest of the week’s talent -or maybe it is- but Bon Iver stood out among the rest. I wasn’t alone in my sentiments. Big thanks to Brooklyn Vegan who hosted both and only of his CMJ shows. If you had the misfortune to miss them this time around, he'll be back soon.

Bon Iver – Skinny Love (mp3)
Bon Iver- For Emma (mp3)

You can stream the entire album here. It'll get re-released early next year I think, but it'll still make my list of top albums of 2007. They (or rather "he" since he'll be solo this time) return to open up for the always wonderful Elvis Perkins in Dearland on Friday December 7th. Tickets are available here.

So there's that. It's a start.

Richard Hawley to play Bowery Ballroom 12/1

2007-10-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

I'm so happy. Show Info. Richard Hawley: Website / Myspace.

After the Jump at CMJ

2007-09-27T10:14:00.001-04:00

We the folks of After the Jump are throwing some CMJ parties. I think at last count we are doing three, one at the Annex, one at the Yard, and one night show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. We'll finalize the line up for the day shows soon, but the MHW show is set:

Wednesday 10/17
A Place To Bury Strangers
Foals
Cadence Weapon
Sam Champion
Yeasayer
Alberta Cross

$12 A $14 DOS. Tickets on sale this Saturday.

More info to come.

What a Late Night that was: Dan Deacon, White Williams, Girl Talk

2007-09-24T16:29:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe it's been over a week since Dan Deacon, White Williams and Girl Talk played their one-two shows at Webster Hall and Bowery, and I feel I've just barely recovered. I went to the late late show, and I nearly lasted the entire time. I left during Greg Gillis's last "song". You don't get a trophy if you stay till the end and I had a put in a great night already.

Earlier that week, Amrit convinced me to get there early for White Williams who S'Gum's been plugging for ~~months~~ weeks. I'm glad I did as I've been listening to "Smoke" ever since [so that's what, Jerry, 9 days?] "In the Club" which may be the weakest on the album reminds me of a T. Rex tune (any of 'em, really) and "I Want Candy" reminds me of the Strangeloves (of all things). Most surprising at Bowery Ballroom was that Mr. Williams wasn't a laptop artist - he was a full band. The album release party for "Smoke" is October 31st at the Annex. It might be the cool post-parade shindig to attend.

While White Williams was a pleasant warm-up that late (by now it was what? 1:00 AM?), the real action waited for Mr. Dan Deacon [website / myspace]. Holy crap was that fun. Capital "F" fun except in the middle or end of a sentence. Fun: Dan Deacon. The album is a solid piece that seems to always trick me up; I don't think I've ever listened to it straight through. And yet it's brilliant and inspiring. Live, he's even more so. Dan plays his stuff on a table on the dance floor and it got so hectic I think it's time he graduated to the stage. Bring people up with him if need be, like that other guy you tour with.

Speaking of which. Girl Talk. Lowercase fun. More of the same, and that was good -and a few new samples/tunes he throws in. But the highlight for me was Dan's set and Girl Talk was just the late late late cherry on top. With White Williams being the delicious waffle cone.

Dan Deacon's back for CMJ at Bowery Ballroom with White Williams among other bands. Buy tickets while you can.

Eagle Seagull returns this week

2007-09-10T11:39:00.000-04:00

Eagle Seagull [website/myspace] are back in NYC this week from their homestead in Nebraska. If you dont know them still, you really should. They sound like Sunset Rubdown but they formed pre-them, so they arent a rip off. They are good live too.

Eagle Seagull - I'm Sorry But I'm Beginning To Hate Your Face [mp3]

Rest of their tour:
Sep 10 @ Schubas Tavern Chicago, Illinois
Sep 12 @ Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Sep 13 @ Great Scott Allston, Massachusetts
Sep 14 @ The Mercury Lounge New York, New York
Sep 19 @ Duffys Tavern Lincoln, Nebraska

The new album I'm told is currently being mixed, but if that track is any indication, I eagerly await it.

Most Serene Republic & High Places @ Uhall, 9/21

2007-09-05T13:10:00.000-04:00

I tried to see High Places last Friday after Battles & Deerhunter at SSSport, but miscommunication at Death By Audio snafu'd that one. Unfortunately I'll be out of town the weekend of this, but otherwise I'd totally be at Union Hall. I also want to see MSR whom I've never caught either.

I'd buy tickets in advance if I were you.

Ra Ra Riot Interview | Playing Saturday @ ATJ Fest

2007-08-23T10:31:00.000-04:00

I got an opportunity to interview Ra Ra Riot's guitarist Milo [website/myspace] prior to their playing the After the Jump Festival this Saturday. They go on around 5:00. While you browse the text below, check out this new remix they released. It's dope.

Ra Ra Riot - Each Year (RAC Mix) [mp3]

Milo answers thusly:

So you guys are from Syracuse. Did you all grow up in Western New York or just meet there? Is the live scene in Syracuse as non-existent as I may expect and did that encourage you begin to tour?

I am the only one from Upstate NY. Everybody else is from various places on the east coast ranging from the Boston area to Miami. We all just happened to meet when we were at school in Syracuse. There is no shortage of bands coming out of Syracuse, but there is definitely a shortage of places to see live music. Most of our shows took places in various attics, basements and living rooms of our friends' houses.

What are some of the cooler bands you've played with?

We just came off tour with Tokyo Police Club. It was our first official tour ever, so we don't have much to compare it with. However we all had lots of fun and most of the shows were really fun and successful. We are definitely looking forward to playing more shows with those guys.

When did things start to pick up for the band? You appeared on many of our blog-radars shortly before CMJ 2006 but I also read that you guys hadn't even been around long before then?

We played CMJ not knowing what to expect. We just assumed we'd be lost in the lineup and nobody would be at any of our shows because there were 1,000 other bands that they could have gone to see on any given night. Much to our surprise there actually were some people at some of our shows, and a few of them even wrote nice things about us afterwards. After that it began to seem like doing the band full time could be a reality.

Any funny or wacky tour catastrophes?

Well, about a week into our tour with TPC, their van broke down. Luckily, we had recently bought a trailer that was much, much too big for us -so we ended carrying all of their gear and t-shirts and them along with all of our stuff.

Your cover of "Hounds of Love" [mp3] just works so well with your style. Accident or intention? Would you consider Kate Bush an influence?

I think the first time we all heard Kate Bush's original version of 'Hounds of Love' we all immediately fell in love with it. Wesley is a huge Kate Bush fan, and he introduced the rest of us to her music. Lately we have been playing another one of her songs, called 'Suspended in Gaffa.' Kate Bush is definitely an influence to us all in different ways. Personally, I think she is a really great songwriter and she often has interesting song structures and arrangements.

You guys played South Street Seaport earlier this year, the first performance after tragically losing your drummer and friend John Pike. Was it a hard decision to carry on with that show?

It definitely was a difficult decision to have to make. It was an emotionally taxing show in a lot of ways and it was certainly quite difficult to prepare for it. We've played probably 30 shows since then, and it hasn't gotten any easier.

Have you written songs since then and has this affected the Ra Ra Riot sound? "Healing and Easy Listening"?

We have been working on a few new songs- they are still in the process of being completed. The "Healing and Easy Listening" heading on our Myspace page has probably been up for six months. It's just one of those things that has an entirely different meaning now.

I noticed "St. Peter's Day Festival" streaming on your myspace also. Can you tell my more about this song? It's one of those tracks I hope to hear on an album in its original demo rawness.

'St. Peter's Day Festival' was one of the last songs we had all been working on together before John passed. It was an idea that he brought to the table, and we were in the process of figuring out the structure and other instrument parts. The version that is on our myspace page is a demo he recorded on Garageband after we had all been working on it for some time. I think the intent of that demo was to remember a
specific vocal melody.

You released an E.P. this July and a truly brilliant remix of the opening track, "Each Year (RAC Mix)" last week [see mp3 linked above]. What's next for the band beyond the next tour?

We're releasing a single in the UK in October, and we'll be recording in November or December for a full length that will hopefully be ready to release by April.

If in absence of humans, bears and primates battle for dominion over dry land, who wins?

Primates. When bears hibernate, primates plot. When they wake up, primates attack and take advantage of their groggy foes.

After the Jump Fest Kick-Off Party

2007-08-20T15:33:00.000-04:00

ROOF PARTY!!! Summer's almost over, so kick it out well with a mid-August roof party with free beer before gearing up for the all-day-and-all-night event on Saturday at Studio B.

Check out photos, videos, and audio at After The Jump Fest's Imeem page.

Free Blood & Golem added to After the Jump Fest

2007-08-16T12:09:00.000-04:00

In just over a week, After the Jump Fest will be going down on Saturday the 25th. The line-up's finally complete with the recent addition of Golem [whom I gave much love here] and Free Blood -the new band by former !!! singer John. Golem will play as part of the free day show headlined by Spectrum (Spacemen 3) aka Sonic Boomas well as other great artists. Free Blood play the cheap $12 evening gig with Riot in Belgium, the Virgins and Soulico. Tickets, again, are on sale. It's going to be a shitstorm.

Terminal 5 Opening Up | Not at JFK

2007-08-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

Bowery Presents are planting their flags in venues across the land: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Union Pool, Nokia, seabed of the North Pole and now Terminal 5 [starring Tom Hanks]. The 3,000 capacity venue will be opening up in trendy midtown-West at 56th Street and 11th Avenue to brings us larger and larger acts -acts that were once rinky-dink when about this blog started.

The National, who play for free this Friday at South Street Seaport, start things off October 11. It also appears the Webster Hall Justice show is now at Terminal 5. Since nearly all of Webster's gigs are $20, what'll be the average price for a T5 experience? I'll at least check it out with Justice, and if the mood is right, perchance the Decemberists.

Full line up, some tickets on sale this Friday:

Octoberist:
11: The National
19: M.I.A.
20: Justice
23-24: The Shins with Vetiver

Novemberist:
1-2: The Decemberists
23: State Radio with The Beautiful Girls 30

Decemberist:
1: Ween [BV better blog this or there will be angriness among commentors]

See Private John Vanderslice at the Living Room 8/17

2007-08-06T17:44:00.000-04:00

Following the National's show at South Street Seaport in two weeks, join John V-slice for a private XM radio taping at the Living Room. I have some guest list spots to give away -and while I never EVER do this- I'm breaking my own rules against giveaways. JUST THIS ONCE. So ~~email me here~~ if you're interested.

Friday Aug, 17th @ 11pm The Living Room
Solo John Vanderslice performance
Private Event and taping of “From the Living Room to The Loft” for XM radio

John Vanderslice - White Dove [mp3] off his new album.

Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood to Perform Award-Winning "Popcorn Superhet Receiver"

2007-08-06T10:44:00.000-04:00

Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood will be coming to the States to showcase his piece "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" as part of the 2007-2008 Wordless Music Series. Full Schedule Here. Supposedly this piece is pretty fantastic - so much that it won Radio 3 Listeners' Award at the 2006 BBC British Composer Awards. Wikipedia, the internet's bastion of veracity says, "The piece was inspired by radio static and the extended, dissonant chords of Polish composer Penderecki's 'Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima'." Pitchfork, the internet's bane of opinion says, "As a classical know-nothing, I would be a fool to try to describe the 18-minute-plus piece other than to say that, like a lot of things Radiohead does, it's both pretty and a little creepy."

Tickets are on sale for most of the Wordless shows, but not this one yet.

Jan. 16, 2008 & Jan. 17, 2008
Jonny Greenwood: Popcorn Superhet Receiver
The Wordless Music Orchestra
Brad Lubman, Conductor

Just Pretend has more about the piece and a link to a download.

Spectrum (Spacemen 3) added to After the Jump Fest | Night Tickets on Sale

2007-08-06T10:09:00.000-04:00

Spectrum (Spacemen 3 / Sonic Boom) has been added to the free After the Jump Festival day show on Saturday August 25th. Yaaay. There are a couple more bands to announce, so stay tuned.

Tickets for the night show are now on sale for $12 (advance). So far that line up includes the hemispherical debut of Australia's Riot in Belgium as well as Soulico and The Virgins (whom just sold out Mercury Lounge). We are working on one more super sweet band for that line up as well - but it hasn't been confirmed so I can't say any more.

There's also going to be a raffle to win two CMJ badges and other goodies.

Don't know Riot in Belgium yet? Listen to this:

Riot in Belgium - La Musique Antz Mix [mp3]
Also available for download at myspace.

I'm From Barcelona finally in NYC

2007-08-06T09:28:00.000-04:00

[Picture cred]

Blonde Redhead and I’m From Barcelona both played MacCarren Pool yesterday, and while it was my first time seeing them each, it won’t be my last. Especially I’m From Barcelona [website / myspace] who are also playing Southpaw tonight. The party on stage reignited my zest for their album [my 18th favorite of 2006]. Created with 29 members –each with a varying degree of participation- the album comes alive because they brought (almost) the entire extended band to the States.

So if you are around tonight, go see them at Southpaw. Tickets amazingly are still on sale.

I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona [Adventure Kid Remix] [mp3]

[Picture Cred]

Awesome Pig.

2007-07-27T16:50:00.000-04:00

Homer may have his Spider Pig, but this little fella is way cooler.

Even I Find This News About Sufjan Intriguing

2007-07-26T10:29:00.000-04:00

It appears Sufjan, Messiah of the Undead, has been commissioned by BAM to compose as piece for their Next Wave Festival this fall about the BQE. Ahhhh, lovely I-278. For ages it has brought poets and lovers to gather beneath its shadows in its awe and splendor.

Mashup: Vanilla Ice & WiiSports [Yes, Really]

2007-07-23T09:50:00.000-04:00

DJ BC has a new mashup and it's as odd as it's brilliant.

Vanilla Ice (Play That Funky Music, Whiteboy) & The Wii Sports Theme [mp3]

I bet Vanilla Ice hasn't reached 2367 in Tennis though.

Free Shows: Rock Plaza Central, Bishop Allen, Siren Festival, Band of Horses, Ox Cal

2007-07-20T13:34:00.001-04:00

Lots of free shows this weekend.

First off, my favorite series of the summer continues with Rock Plaza Central and Bishop Allen at South Street Seaport tonight. I've been liking RPC's album more and more since I saw them earlier this year [the Mercury Lounge show was *much* better than the Glasslands show].

Rock Plaza Central -My children, be joyful [mp3]

And look. Holy crap. Bishop Allen has a sophomore LP finally, and it's out July 24th. I still really really love this song, which also appeared on an earlier EP [one of the previous 12].

Bishop Allen - Butterfly Nets [mp3]

Next up: Siren Festival is Saturday. Matt & Kim - Voxtrot pairing is what I'll focus on. I love Elvis Perkins, but that'll be a lot of time in the sun.

Matt & Kim - Yeah Yeah [mp3]
Voxtrot - The Start of Something [mp3]
Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping [mp3]

Finally, Sunday brings two of my favorites in tandem [hey, both are on Sub Pop] to McPool: Band of Horses [now with birdies], and Oxford Collapse.

Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake [mp3]
Oxford Collapse - Lady Lawyers [mp3]

Soak up the sun, and look for me at these things.

After The Jump Initial Line-up

2007-07-18T14:30:00.000-04:00

[AFTER THE JUMP FEST]

AUGUST 25, 2007
STUDIO B (259 BANKER STREET)
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

RIOT IN BELGIUM * SOULICO * THE VIRGINS * RA RA RIOT * LOCKSLEY * APACHE BEAT * GOES CUBE * JUKEBOX THE GHOST * BLING KONG * FINGER ON THE PULSE (DJ SET) * DAVID BRUNO (SLAP YOU IN PUBLIC) (DJ SET) * AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

FREE DAY SHOW (OUTSIDE STUDIO B)
NIGHT SHOW TICKETS ON SALE SOON

ORGANIZED BY:

themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . musicsnobbery . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . yetidontdance . slapyouinpublic . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . fingeronthepulse

All proceeds from the festival will help fund grants written by New York music teachers for their classroom via the Bloggers Choose chapter of DonorsChoose.org. Please join us in making a great day of music and a significant contribution to music education in our city.

WEBSITES:
www.afterthejumpfest.com
www.myspace.com/afterthejumpfest

CONTACT INFORMATION:
booking@afterthejumpfest.com
charity@afterthejumpfest.com
sponsors@afterthejumpfest.com
publicity@afterthejumpfest.com

Audiofile RIP?

2007-07-16T16:36:00.001-04:00

The brainchild of Thomas Bartlett, Audiofile at Salon is no more.David Marchese's last entry was Friday. The readership is crying out.

We've been examining our culture coverage, as well as our balance of blogs vs. stand-alone, reported features and criticism. We've decided to phase out Audiofile, our daily music feature, though you'll still find its extensive archive of free songs in our left navigation bar under "Special Features."

Visiting just now, I realized I hadn't yet downloaded Richard Hawley's new track. I love this guy:

Richard Hawley - I'm on Nights [mp3] Audiofile on Hawley.

Hopefully, Salon will resurrect the column soon.

"Damn, that's good wine."

2007-07-16T16:15:00.001-04:00

I read a lot of news throughout the day, but this has to be my most favorite story in a while:

It started about midnight on June 16 when a group of friends was finishing a dinner of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp on the back patio of a District of Columbia home. That's when a hooded man slid through an open gate and pointed a handgun at the head of a 14-year-old girl.

"Give me your money, or I'll start shooting," he said, according to D.C. police and witnesses.

Everyone froze, including the girl's parents. Then one guest spoke.

"We were just finishing dinner," Cristina "Cha Cha" Rowan, 43, told the man. "Why don't you have a glass of wine with us?"

The intruder had a sip of their Chateau Malescot St-Exupery and said, "Damn, that's good wine."

The girl's father, Michael Rabdau, 51, told the intruder to take the whole glass, and Rowan offered him the whole bottle.

The robber, with his hood down, took another sip and a bite of Camembert cheese. He put the gun in his sweatpants.

The story then turns even more bizarre.

"I think I may have come to the wrong house," he said before apologizing. "Can I get a hug?"

Rowan, who works at her children's school and lives in Falls Church, Va., stood up and wrapped her arms around the armed man. The four other guests followed.

"Can we have a group hug?" the man asked. The five adults complied.

The man walked away a few moments later with the crystal wine glass in hand. Nothing was stolen, and no one was hurt.

I agree, though: Chateau Malescot St-Exupery is one cuddly wuddly wine.

Disturbing, and yet...

2007-07-13T10:11:00.000-04:00

This gets two votes for "Disturbing" [it's the classic lady punching another in the face] and one for hilarious [OMG the grandma is singing FRANZ!].

Story behind the smack.

"If you are already a musician, stop playing your instrument."

2007-07-12T16:33:00.000-04:00

Nialler9 over at Elbo.ws posted this gem, an article from 1988 by the KLF. It's called, "The Manual: How To Have A Number One The Easy Way." At first [knowing the how threads usually go over at that forum] I figured it was about how to urinate with greater ease. Luckily, it wasn't. Rather, it's about how to have a chart-topping song like Avril Latrine. Hey, everybody, I.P. Freely!

Here's an excerpt:

If you are already a musician stop playing your instrument. Even better, sell the junk. It will become clearer later on but just take our word for it for the time being. Sitting around tinkering with the Portastudio or musical gear (either ancient or modern) just complicates and distracts you from the main objective. Even worse than being a musician is being a musician in a band.

All jokes aside, it's surprisingly truthful, and in the past 20 years nothing's changed. Read on.

Notes: OKX, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Recent Shows, Lunch

2007-07-11T11:54:00.000-04:00

When I was playing with Amrit's new phone [you get one guess which one?] last Friday at the Fujiya & Miyagi show, I was testing it's iPod functionality [damn] and haphazardly selected a tune by David Bazan. Little did I know at the time, but it was actually a song commissioned by Stereogum for all-cover compilation of OK Computer to celebrate it's 10th Anniversary release. Well, the cover album is out and it's getting serious praise. Best of all: it's all free here, including some of my favorite artists like Bazan and Doveman. Too bad Radiohead SUCKS. *ducks*

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My picture also made Stereogum this week. It's not Gawker or Brooklyn Vegan or anything, but I'll take it.

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Fujiya & Miyagi were amazing at the Seaport on Friday. I'll definitely be at their Music Hall of Williamsburg show on September 28. Speaking of which. Their initial line up looks amazing. Les Savy Fav always rule, even with a free show this Saturday, I'll still try to go again this fall.

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Dan Deacon was great at MacCarren pool. Erase Errata and Octopus Project not as much. Bonde Do Role played Spiegeltent last night, and it wasn't a drunken frenzy like their Studio B show. The crowd was non into it - they were baffled, really- and it revealed how little depth Bonde Do Role has. They need a new cadence for their delivery.

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Spoon got Best New Baby Sounds today, just in time for their free River to River show tonight. Which means: yup, it's gunna rain... and right around 7:00.

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I didn't even know Tunng has a third album in the works, but apparently it has already leaked. My source -who wasn't a fan before- says it's actually pretty good. I hope so, since their second didn't do much for me.

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Today for lunch is:
Pesto Penne with Vegetable Soup

New Pornos in Rain | F&M, Octo Proj, Dan Deacon this Weekend

2007-07-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

Picture Credit.

New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours [mp3]

For the second year in a row, rain has dampened the annual River to River Independence Day concert in Battery Park and somehow I managed to stay dry beneath a benevolent tree -but not the one Neko Case claimed to construct an eagle's nest in. While Belle & Sebastian brought Scottish charm last year, A.C. Newman brought even more from Canada leading his New Pornographers through a good mix of their four albums. "God Bless North America" - "... and Central and South," Neko added.

The best songs of the day were the oldies ["Testament To Youth in Verse" is always a favorite] but there were a few newer songs that were unmistakably theirs. The highlight was without a doubt -no great surprise here- "Bleeding Heart Show." It's good to have Neko back if only temporarily.

Midlake was... meh. They closed with "Roscoe", which is a pretty good tune, but -as their best tune- not very festive.

-----------------
Tonight the River to River events continue with Shearwater at Castle Clinton, but more importantly: Friday is Fujiya & Miyagi at South Street Seaport. That should be a blast.

Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries [mp3]
Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone [mp3]

Also remember that Sunday is Octopus Project and Dan Deacon at MacCarren Pool [not associated with R2R].

Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat [mp3] More.
Octopus Project - HMRA Sinnners[mp3] More.

Super Mario and Condom Boots

2007-06-29T08:34:00.001-04:00

Spoof Nintendo Sex-Ed video. The voice work is incredible. Kind of NSFW.

Animal Collective was great at SSSport | Ra Ra Riot Up Next

2007-06-21T16:23:00.001-04:00

Summer's here with all it's free show glory - and as long as the rain holds off I'll be out there. I already skipped out on Television last weekend to duck into FAO to keep dry. Damn rain. Damn giant floor piano.

I was never a huge fan of Animal Collective after a miserable Bowery Ballroom show a couple years ago, but fell for them completely when they hit the South Street Seaport recently. I'd almost be tempted to go to their next show if it wasn't at Webster and wasn't 20 bucks. At least I'll have Panda Bear this Saturday. Maybe that's why I liked Animal Collective so much this time: they seemed to take more a step in Person Pitch's direction.

The next SSSport, that's urbandictionary-speak for South Street Seaport, you fogies, is June 29th's Ra Ra Riot first show since the tragic loss of their drummer. I'll be heading home that weekend, but I wish i could be there. My buds in Sam Champion are opening too.

Tonight: Free Oxford Collapse gig in Williamsburg.

NSFW

2007-06-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

Woah. This is extremely explicit. I hope my parents don't read this site. Penis Power and Vagina Power ahoy, thanks to Atlanta Public Access and Youtube.

Alexyss Tylor: And I mean there's women that can be at work, at their desk, they got the jackrabbit on - it's a part you can buy, hook it onto your clitoris all throughout the day, and you can be having orgasms...

Mother (interrupting): Jackrabbit?

Alexyss Tylor: one of them, I know they call...I knew some girls, that was their favorite product - that was their favorite best buddy they keep in their pocketbook...

Mother: See, I go back to, when I was a little girl being raised in the country - jackrabbit jump from here to there.

Free New Pornographers Tix for July 4 Now

2007-06-20T12:18:00.000-04:00

Free New Pornographers Tix for July 4 Now.

Get them while they last.

After The Jump Festival

2007-06-18T10:53:00.000-04:00

August 25. A day brought to you by bloggers, for ~~anonymous commentors~~ everyone. Hooray for parties.

www.afterthejumpfest.com
August 25, 2007

curated by the people behind:
themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . musicsnobbery . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . yetidontdance . slapyouinpublic . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . fingeronthepulse

for more information, please email:
booking: booking@afterthejumpfest.com
charity: charity@afterthejumpfest.com<
sponsors: sponsors@afterthejumpfest.com
publicity: publicity@afterthejumpfest.com

Up Next...

2007-06-14T11:21:00.000-04:00

This is what I’ll be up to this week:

Tonight:
Elk City play at a reading for Armistead Maupin at Barnes & Noble 7:00.
Elk City – Cherries in the Snow [mp3]

Tomorrow:
The Creek & the Cave [a Long Island City venue] with Beat Radio and Great Lakes Myth Society [LIC Pop event]
Beat Radio – Elegy [mp3]

Saturday:
Afternoon: Television w/ Apples in Stereo at Summerstage
Night: Bad Veins at Union Hall. I’m really liking these two tunes on myspace. If I can figger out a way to upload them [my webftp service is limiting me to 2 MB at the moment] I will.

Have Your Cake

2007-06-12T15:15:00.000-04:00

Have you ever seen Cake? The band, not the dessert. I saw them back in college and it was a glorious sing-a-long. Then, two subsequent concerts proved less than spectacular, as lead man John McCrea had some issues. Last time I shelled out 40 bucks for them [and vowed "Never Again!"] he left the stage for ten whole minutes while the band kepted pulse, all because the audience couldn't sing a fucking song right. Whatever. Anyway, despite a few sour moments, they've still managed to release a few great albums; Comfort Eagle and Fashion Nugget are truly gems. Stick Shifts and Safety Belts!!! Goddang, such a good tune.

The band is back, hopefully in a better mood, with a B-sides and rarities collection. Track 10 is "Short Skirt, Long Jacket". B-side. Or rarity? Hmmmm

Snarkiness aside, this track reasserts their unique sound and badass basslines. Doesn't fully work for the entire song, but it's not very long anyway.

Cake - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up [mp3]

I Want to Praise You Like I Should

2007-06-12T12:52:00.000-04:00

I never thought hearing Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' on an accordion could get me all teary eyed, but well... it did.

Junior Senior at Highline 8/13

2007-06-11T09:28:00.000-04:00

Rhythm Bandits! It's been two long years since Junior Senior [website/myspace] last played NYC, but they'll be back on August 13 to play the Highline Ballroom. I haven't checked out this venue yet, but maybe I'll finally have a reason. Get ready to dance. Tickets on sale now.

Shout Out Louds EP Out

2007-06-06T10:31:00.000-04:00

Summers in Stockholm.

Shout Out Louds [website / myspace] release an EP today on Merge for their first single "Tonight I Have To Leave It." I've reached the point with the LP "Our Ill Wills" [available stateside in September] where it's my favorite album of the past couple months. Simple fun pop. The tune "Tonight I Have To Leave It" is just one example of the varied auxiliary percussion that makes me so happy.

Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have to Leave It [mp3]

Shout Out Louds play the Spiegeltent on July 16th [tix.. $25?!] and Luna Lounge on July 17th [tix... $15].

"Knocked Up": Great Movie or Greatest Movie?

2007-06-04T09:12:00.000-04:00

I saw "Knocked Up" this weekend: my first opening day screening since I went wild for last summer's anti-sleeper-hit Snakes on a Plane. While I loved SoaP, I think this may be one is the best movies I've seen in years. Don't get me started on the disappointing Pan's Labyrinth [Needed more Pan, needed more labyrinth. I'll never say that about Snakes on a Plane, I can assure you.]

If you're a fan of Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared, or not, rush out to see it. Even the critics are raving. Hell, I think I might go again. Anyone else see it?

Here's an unrelated [maybe] song with the word 'Knock' in it:
"One more time and I'll be satisfied..."

Mississippi John Hurt - Keep on Knocking [mp3]

Ra Ra Riot Drummer Gone

2007-06-04T08:58:00.000-04:00

Ra Ra Riot drummer John Pike went missing after leaving a party in Fairhaven at 3 AM over the weekend. Pike's body was found in 7 feet of water in a bay by a diving crew on Sunday. So terrible. People are expressing their condolences over here. Of all the parties I've left alone in the early hours of the morning, I've never thought very much for my safety. My thoughts and prayers go out to John's family and friends.

Ra Ra Riot - Hounds of Love [Kate Bush Cover live on WOXY] [mp3]

Where, Oh, Where?

2007-06-01T10:34:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. We’re undergoing some restructuring over here at Yeti HQ. More updates to come. Problem is … is that where’d all the great music go? Is it just me or did 2007 begin with a bang and then mostly dry up. I don’t even know what to listen to anymore. My inbox doesn’t help because it's all FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Even my mom is sending press releases now. When I do read me mail, I get, "Yo, I've sent you 4 emails, why don't you respond?!" Delete, delete, delete.

So... ummm... yeah... what's new with you? What’s everyone been listening to? Thermals? Handsome Furs album is pretty good, as well as the Shout Out Louds out on import [or torrent … you pirates]. What else is there?

Well, I’m off to read some blogs now. Or, failing that, work.

Back From Sasquatch

2007-05-30T16:18:00.000-04:00

So I got a little sick on Saturday night, but I managed to make it through another two days of festivities at the Gorge. This year there was a much larger NYC contingent that went. Once again I covered it for the one and only Brooklyn Vegan. The Saturday write-up can be found here, and Sunday can be found here. Decided against !!! tonight so I can rest up. Even the red-eye flightback seemed like a spa compared to the nauseas two night I had camping.

What else is this week? Kiss Kiss play Cake Shop tomorrow, and Animal Collective kick of the annual SSSport shows on Friday. Let summer begin.

Thermals on sale @ Maxwell's 8/10

2007-05-25T12:32:00.000-04:00

Buy Now! This is two days before their Pool show. You know me... I'll be at both.

Thou Shalt Always Kill

2007-05-25T08:39:00.000-04:00

I'm digging this song and video. It's a little cheesey, and reminds me of a similar style song from about 8 years ago, but whatever. It's graduation season afterall.

Next big thing: just a band.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - Thou Shalt Always Kill [mp3 over at 'I Was There']

Lyrics here.

Fan Video for "My Body is a Cage"

2007-05-20T18:11:00.000-04:00

Not my favorite Arcade Fire song, but this video renders "My Body is a Cage" well, showcasing scenes from the film "Once Upon A Time in the West". If you haven't seen it, I'm told it's spoiler material, so watch out. I'm not a big OMGSPOILER! guy and just added the Sergio Leone film to my Netflix queue. Direct link to the higher quality MOV file [worth it.]

!!! at Bowery Ballroom

2007-05-17T09:50:00.000-04:00

!!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos [mp3]

I think I had lost some enthusiasm for !!! before going into last night's gig at the Bowery. Their incredible loft show in Greenpoint earlier this year was unrepeatable -simply one of the craziest times I've had- so I didn't know what sort of show to expect at the reputable Bowery Ballroom. Not only that, but like-minded LCD Soundsystem blew into Studio B over the weekend and left a breathless sweaty mass of dehydrated gyrating trunks & limbs in ruin.

Fortunately the ensemble of boys -and now their female vocalist- always kick things off strong. The venue didn't explode, and the first few songs could have been deceptively tame, but we all slowly built up steam like a booze-filled locomotive rolling out of Shining Time Station. Once again they played "All My Friends Are Weirdos" second and while it would be a killer song at the end of the set, by playing it early it set the tone that no flat-footed creatures would be tolerated.

My favorite moment of the night was having seemingly four or five false endings, only to slip back into the breakdown and get more intense each time. By the end, I was thrusting my fists in the air so violently, my phone flew out of my pocket, momentarily lost to the floor and stampede below.

Will I go back in two weeks at Studio B? I was undecided 24 hours ago, but fuck yeah I'll be there. Buy tickets now. [pic cred]. Whats-his-name loved it too.

Tiki Bar

2007-05-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

I finally got around to watching last week's episode of Tiki Bar. If you don't already watch it, you should subscribe to the video podcast on your iTunes and get caught up. Flash and Quicktime formats available here. Episode 25 below has a guest appearance by Kevin Rose and a mention of Leo Laporte. Dr. Tiki was on TWiT back in March.

This may be the best episode yet.

Sasquatch Festival 2007 Schedule

2007-05-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

The Sasquatch Festival finally released a list with set times but no layout?. I've quickly laid it out on this grid to get a better feeling of the weekend. I'll be covering the event again for Brooklyn Vegan this year, so check over there after Memorial day for recaps. Maybe I'll Twitter the whole thing as my note-taking.

Arcade Fire At United Palace, 5/7/07

2007-05-14T09:46:00.000-04:00

I think there's a concert going on down there.

Back in March, I predicted one would be able to get into Arcade Fire for $20. I wasn't wrong, per se, but before we could find ideal seats [ie: third row center], 3xWes and I were handed free tickets. Free is less than $20, so we had a winner.

Unlike the intimate Judson Memorial shows in February, United Palace Theatre is really really ridiculously big. Gorgeous -yes- but definitely spacious. This isn't necessarily felt in the orchestra but is definitely a factor up above in the balcony. We couldn't even see the audience in front of the band. Were they going nuts? Were they folding their arms? Would we have to hear about it the next day in the comments of Brooklyn Vegan?

Their set was mostly the same they'd played for me a couple months ago. It was powerful, moving, but I had longed for the intimacy of that event. I felt bad for the people who paid $35 - rather $50 with fees- for such distant seats. We got what we paid for and a little more. I was happy.

Nick Drake Song Released

2007-05-04T18:07:00.000-04:00

The Books covered a Nick Drake song on Monday ["Cello Song" actually!] which was a fantastic hybrid of both styles: distinctly Books and distinctly Drake. Here's a "new" song -not great quality- but another bittersweet song he accomplished like none before and none thereafter.

Nick Drake - They're Leaving Me Behind [mp3]

His estate is releasing another album [I think this is the second one they've done] off previously unreleased material called "Family Tree". I'm too lazy to check wikipedia. You be my fact checkers. If you ever have time to kill in Barnes & Nobles, read a few middle chapters in Nick Drake's biography. Interesting stuff.

Mellow Cello

2007-05-04T17:24:00.000-04:00

Since I was already talking about cello’s earlier, I might as well mention this band Contramano. I described them to a publicist as “better than that godawful Wednesday Society’ [another band that publicist had me check out]. The cellist lick in the beginning is the best part that stays put the entire song. There’s some yelping in there too almost.

Contramano – Reality TV [mp3]

At least it'll get that classic "We Belong" song out of my head. And I don't use the term "classic" endearingly.

Big Audio Dynamite II

2007-05-01T15:50:00.000-04:00

What kind of a band has a sequel? B.A.D. that's who. Before I ever knew of the Clash, I was a BAD II fan. My brother got me The Globe (1991) one Christmas and for a ten year old kid with no music sense, it was a revelation. I suddenly held the belief that if I listened to good music, girls would be irrepressibly attracted to me. The Cars. Billy Joel. Never really worked out that way. Well, I mean, now it does. But back then it was hard. I didn't have a blog.

But I digress. I've been playing this all afternoon.

Big Audio Dynamite II - Rush [mp3]

The Books | Wordless Music Series

2007-05-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to talk about the Wordless Music Series for while, not simply because Megan *le sigh* and Ryan *swoon* assist in organizing the event with Ronen, but because it's an experience unlike any other in the indie scene. Their aim is to join the loosely defined "indie" genre with a deeper catalog, turning to contemporary classical music to find points of intersection. Thus it pairs familiar names with an opening ensemble of chamber music, whether that be piano, cello, violin, or "other". You might get a wonderful duet creating a cacophony on piano -and you know what? That beats the Big Sleep opening any day. They've had names like Andrew Bird and Explosions in the Sky as well as smaller acts like Toca Loca and Eluvium [currently #5 album of the year at Metacritic]. It's the depth of the opening acts that distinguishes Wordless from -say- seeing the Books at Webster Hall. Real Quiet -who opened for the Books last night- played three compositions in innumerably altering time signatures. The audiences can be so attentive during a performance, my chewing gum felt like a locomotive in a nursery.

The New Yorker says, "this crowd listens as intently as any audience I’ve encountered outside of Austria, and saves its whoops of enthusiasm for the end. At the moment, there is no more inventive music series in New York."

[Photo Cred]

The Books - Tokyo [mp3]

The Books have nothing to say. -Tunng

Maybe Tunng is refering to lower-case b books in their song "Wind Up Bird", but the similarities between the two bands make me skeptical. Having "nothing to say" fits perfectly for a the Wordless show, despite that they do have words, do have something to say, and actually occassionally project the words on a screen behind them. Doh!

The Books were quiet wonderful. A duo who met in Inwood, they play guitar and cello over electronic samples with formless structures and the resulting combination is less dissonant and more satisfying than I'd expect. I'm not a fan of video projections, but the highly edited footage behind the two performers complimented the pieces smoothly. Such A/V-club attempts are rarely so successful, but the Books are highly in tune with the moods their own music creates - providing sentimental touches as well as humor. They now have a DVD for those unable to get off their couches.

If all goes well, looks like next season's Wordless Music Series will be just as fantastic. They've just announced hosting Beirut for three nights in September. I wonder who's opening?

Brooklyn Heathen was there last night and well as 1xWes and 3xWes.

Avril's so smart.

2007-04-27T12:34:00.000-04:00

She speaks like a fistful of languages and stuff.

The most awkward is probably that last one. I mean, how many syllables can she cram in her mouth?

That's the word I'm looking for, right? Syllables?

Here's a bunch of languages together:

I | theThermals

2007-04-27T11:58:00.000-04:00

I saw the Thermals for the 8th time in the last 11 months last night. Still awesome. I'll see them once more next month at Sasquatch. Glad to see them back to a 3-piece band. No different than the 4-piece really. Less gesturing by Hutch, but still the same intensity. I was so tired that I didn't jump around as much - mostly wallowed in the wings like a hog in mud. *snort* The NYU crowd was great though. No complaints. The Hold Steady -the proper headliner- rocked too, but by golly, I was inexplicably exhausted.

Pi

2007-04-27T09:50:00.000-04:00

Pi on Piano.
Pi on Bass and Flute.

"Free" Albert Hammond Jr. Show May 10th

2007-04-25T11:46:00.000-04:00

Last time I went to a "free" GBH show at Hiro, they tried to charge all the d00dz $10, so we just left and drank until 3AM at a bar. Not that I'm complaining or anything. I hope this really is free this time.

Mugs, Beat Radio, Sure Juror, Mussels show this Friday

2007-04-23T10:19:00.000-04:00

Chris "Hurry Up I Gotta Use The" B-room has cordially invited you to the latest show he's "curated". This is his best yet. If I didn't have Red Sox/Yankees tickets, I'd set up in the corner all night. Hopefully I can get down there after the ~~blowout~~ game.

Kitty

2007-04-17T11:31:00.000-04:00

Meeeeooooow? Meeeeooooow? Can you hear him scratching at the screen door?

Cutest kitty on the interenet... this week.

Tunng - Woodcat [mp3]

CRB Killed the Radio Star

2007-04-17T11:18:00.000-04:00

The RIAA just gets shittier and shittier.

"The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) on Monday issued a ruling denying motions submitted by various webcasters asking the judges to reconsider new, higher royalty rates for streaming music online." [link]

NPR reports more on the impact:

But a small Webcaster, who may put out a one-hour show that includes 15 songs and gets an average of 300 listeners a week, would have to pay more than $1,800 a year in royalties.

And it's not only the little guys who are upset. Clear Channel Communications, the country's largest commercial radio network, joined a number of other organizations last week in filing motions with the Copyright Royalty Board to ask it to rehear the rate increase issue.

Among those organizations was National Public Radio, which filed a motion for rehearing the issue on behalf of all public radio stations that stream their broadcasts online.

One group that pushed for the higher rates is Sound Exchange, a nonprofit entity created by the Recording Industry Association of America to collect royalties for music played via the Internet, satellite radio and other digital outlets.

"Whether you're a corner market versus a big supermarket," Simson says, "you both have to pay the same amount for the milk that you sell. It's not like the little guy gets a cheaper price for milk."

What a terrible analogy. I've already dashed off two letters to my senators. This really pissed me off.

DANGER: EMO!

2007-04-16T13:24:00.001-04:00

WDAZ TV in Grand Forks, ND did a report on the danger of being Emo. Yes, for real. There so much I didn't know - for instance, there's a point system? "You hit jackpot if you attempt suicide." Woah boy. Ummm, someone should clue the news into that those websites are a joke. I mean, cutting boards?

Illinois & Palomar @ Mercury Lounge

2007-04-13T10:19:00.000-04:00

"God I hate this band," I mumbled, as Palomar [website/myspace] tortured their own material once again. Even though I really like their music -and especially their 2004 album- they are not even remotely engaging live. And here they were back at it, looking as bored as ever for their record release party for All Things, Forests. It's actually a pretty good album, but you wouldn't know it from last night. Sorry girls [and guy], but thems the apples. Listen to the album, but see something else. Here's a good one off the latest:

Palomar - You're Keeping Me Up [mp3]

Illinois - Headphones [mp3]

Illinois [website/myspace] is just the opposite. They're really fantastic live. If you haven't seen them yet, you really should. I was enjoying their 7-song EP out on Ace-Fu Records but it didn't prepare me for how tight and energetic they'd be on stage. Reading reports from SXSW, they seemed to be everywhere, so I was sad to miss their Cake Shop show last month. My buddy Del was there and came out raving about them; thus I made a special effort last night. In the song "Headphones" [see above], they borrow the melody of Cat Steven's "Father & Son" [but not to the extent of the Flaming Lips' 'Fight Test']. Whenever they sing "From the moment I would talk*," I want to keep singing, "I was ordered to listen." The recordings of the EP do little to convey how much sound this band can produce, so if you are catching the Kooks or Hold Steady on tour, get there early for Illinois.

*Illinois sing "walk", Yusuf Islam sings "talk". Close enough.

Hold Steady/Thermals Tix on Sale for NYU

2007-04-13T09:57:00.000-04:00

I wasn't going to blog this until I got them myself, but it's all taken care of now. Tickets for the Hold Steady and Thermals show on April 26th are on sale at the NYU Ticket Center. You need a NYU student or alum I.D. and you can get one $5 NYU ticket plus one $7 Guest ticket. If you don't have access to an I.D., and if they aren't sold out, then you can go there at 12:30 on the 26th and buy then. Good luck.

How About Some 'Hot Cross Buns'?

2007-04-09T09:56:00.000-04:00

Virtuoso in the Metro - Washington Post experiments by placing Joshua Bell -one of the world's greatest violinists at a train station during morning rush hour. An interesting read, even if it's a bit snobbish and not an entirely honest approach to the test. Really, morning rush? People put their lives in jeopardy getting to work on time. Update: Salon's Audiofile chimes in.

...

I'm not a person who stops for musicians in the train station. The last one I can recall was a guitarist who approached us at West 4th and insisted he play some John Lennon. "I hate John Lennon," I replied. Not entirely true, but not really false either. Play a cover I haven't heard that week. "What? Who doesn't like Lennon?"

Me.

Yet I'm not entirely of cold heart. Several years ago, when I was living in Paris, I was strolling with my guitar along the quai of the Seine and failing to find some fellow winos, I sat on the edge near one of the party boats. Inside, a wedding banquet was in full swing. While the jazz band was tight and practiced, they were also largely ignored. A few songs later, the vocalist saw me and smiled knowing that he had at least one listening on. I waved, got out my guitar and pretended to play along. The feast beyond evaporated as we amused ourselves for a few moments. I went back to listening -I'm not even very good when I'm pretending- and eventually our band broke up. It was getting late, my Côtes du Rhône has gone dry, and -well- he wanted to start playing some Lennon.

Summer Fridays at South Street Seaport

2007-04-05T10:42:00.000-04:00

One of the best things about summer is spending Friday evenings at South Street Seaport. Last summer gave us Elvis Perkins, Hot Chip, NY Dolls, and many others. This year's line up is just as awesome.

June 1 Animal Collective w/ Danielson
June 29 Ra Ra Riot
July 6 Fujiya & Miyagi
July 13 Menomena
July 20 Bishop Allen, Rock Plaza Central
August 10 Au Revoir Simone, Metronomy
August 17 The National w/ The Forms and Takka Takka
August 24 Camera Obscura
August 31 Battles

This is part of the River to River festival which also includes New Pornographers [July 4 at Battery Park], Shearwater [July 5 at Castle Clinton], Spoon [July 11 at Battery Park], Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings [July 26 at Castle Clinton], and many others.

Mother Mother - Touch Up

2007-04-05T10:10:00.000-04:00

Man Man Kiss Kiss Mother Mother.

Indie bands are chewing too much Doublemint gum. Mother Mother [website/myspace] comes recommended to me by Julseas. If I had an album of the week feature, this would be it. While it sounds like the popiness of Spinto Band, it has the quirkiness, key shifts and rhythm intrigue more common in songs by They Might be Giants. Here are just the first two tracks off the album Touch Up, out now in Canada and soon in the USA. Pre-order here.

Mother Mother - Dirty Town [mp3]
Mother Mother - Polynesia [mp3]

Some quotes, pulled straight off their myspace page:

"Listening to Mother Mother is like reading Hunter S. Thompson – you end up in a place where reality has been delightfully skewed, though you’re not altogether aware of it." - ML, Chart Attack

"When Mother Mother overstep their eccentric bounds and get downright kitschy, the results are pretty disastrous" - Pitchfork

"Touch Up may just be the best album of 2007, and Mother Mother have set the standard that everyone -- Arcade Fire, Stars, Wolf Parade, The New Pornographers, everyone -- will have to try and measure themselves against." - I Heart Music

There you have it: disastrous and best album of 2007.

It's a long story

2007-04-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

My new roommate watched LOST for the first time last night. On seeing Kate and Juliet tethered together:

"Why are they handcuffed to each other?"

Ummm... where to begin... I try to summarize three seasons of plot twists in a few seconds.

Then I realized, we don't even know that answer.

Maybe I'll just point him to Stan's summary.

Menomena @ Bowery Ballroom

2007-04-02T09:16:00.000-04:00

Menomena - Twenty Cell Revolt [mp3]

Everyone in Menomena sings. I forget this when I listen to their albums, not because the guys sound alike, but because they complement each other so well. When they sing three part harmonies, I'm in heaven. "Rotten Hell" -as one example- showcases this talent and through which they attempted to get the audience participating by singing in rounds. Unfortunately it's too brief to really get comfortable, to lean in and belt it out. They need to extend it, air it out, let it breathe.

The percussionist looks peculiar as he lifts his arms to the same height [about his shoulder] every swing. I wonder if it's to keep his whole body syncopated with the on-again-off-again nature of the beats. He's a mechanical tin monkey. The guy on keyboards switches to guitar and back again so seamlessly and repeatedly that I'm dazzled at his coordination. The third member covers bass lines and saxomaphones. I can think of no other band which so bravely lends it's melodies and fills to the sax.

Sadly, while I like the Friend & Foe songs more than their previous material, the older stuff is so much tighter and comfortable on stage. They really hit their strides on "The E is Stable" and "Twenty Cell Revolt." F&F sounds so polished in studio, they haven't quite converted it to their live show yet.

Still, Friend and Foe is the acclaimed album that has justly taken the band from playing Sin-e [R.I.P.] to headlining Bowery.

I Know Zip About NCAA

2007-04-02T09:10:00.000-04:00

And yet...

Go Ohio!

Arcade Fire for Cheap?

2007-03-30T11:15:00.000-04:00

United Palace Theatre [3,500 ppl] x two nights + Radio City Music Hall [6,000 ppl] = 13,000 tickets sold.

Sure craigslist is alive with offers and beggars, but hundreds of people bought extras thinking they can easily dump them at the venue if their friends flake out. Wait outside United Palace at show time and get in for 1/2 off. People will be pleading with you to take their spare for $20.

Irving Plaza renamed Fillmore NY - Now with Apples

2007-03-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

Irving Plaza, a New York City institution, is changing it's name to become Starbucks Music Hall. Not quite, but close enough. Live Nation is branding it Fillmore New York. Accordingg to the press release, their goal is to ~~compete~~ complement -blah!- with the 11 House of Blues venues around the nation.

"Upon entering the venue, there will be fresh apples for hungry live music aficionados and a greeter to let them know about upcoming shows."

In the lobby there will be a gift shop with Fillmore NY shirts, mugs and Statues of Liberty.

It all begins with Lily Allen's April 11th show [sold out, boys].

I hope they get rid of that hideous overhang; I hate being trapped under that thing. And what about the free condoms? Who really wants apples anyways? [thx kyu]

Thermals and Hold Steady to play NYU [Or not?] [Or yes?]

2007-03-27T14:51:00.000-04:00

PFM alludes to The Hold Steady playing Eisner & Lubin Auditorium [aka: NYU] on April 26th with an asterisk, that asterisk being the Thermals. If the Blow "sold out", what will this do? Combust?

[thx eduardo]

Update: But since yesterday it's been removed? Maybe this show ain't happening. :(

Update #2: Apparently it *is* happening, but it's a "PRIVATE" show and "shouldn't have included it on the itinerary."

Kate Havnevik @ Joe's Pub

2007-03-26T10:08:00.000-04:00

Kate Havnevik - Grace [yousendit mp3]

Norwegian female vocalist Kate Havnevik [website/myspace] played Joe's Pub last week and although that genre -one on the verge of easy listening- may not normally appeal to me, there was something piqueing about her myspace tunes. "Grace" especially grew on me, and I admit this knowing how dangerous it is for a tough guy like me to do so. Typically I listen to Fall Out Boy while I'm at the gym. It. Gets. Me. Pumped.

Brooklyn Vegan draws a Bjork comparison in her work that doesn't really work, but that's not to say there aren't other artists she's emulating. OK, maybe BV has a point with this picture. Only a handful of her songs are strong her on their own and "Grace" is the only one I genuinely like. She sang a cute Norwegian "Happy Birthday" but I doubt that made the album.

Blogotheque: Arcade Fire

2007-03-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

If you guys haven't familiarized yourselves with the Parisian site Blogotheque, then you really must. They produce gorgeous videos of our favorite artists performing in unique places/situations. I've mentioned the Doveman performance before.

They recently completed their taping of the Arcade Fire before they were forced to cancel their European tour. Win Butler and the ensemble cram into a freight elevator for "Neon Bible" before entering the crowd for "Wake Up."

It gives me chills watching it. Watch here [or click image above].

Wikipedia Article of the Day

2007-03-26T09:15:00.000-04:00

The Care Bears' ultimate "weapon" is the "Care Bear Stare", in which the collected Bears stand together and radiate light from their respective tummy symbols, combining to form a ray of love and good cheer which could bring care and joy into the target's heart. The "Care Bear Stare" has several different looks. One has a beam coming from the tummy being made up of several replicated images of the symbol. Another variation forms a rainbow when multiple Bears and/or Cousins are involved. A yellow beam with red hearts is sometimes seen as well.

[Wiki]

Three Arcade Fire NYC Shows, On Sale Dates Announced

2007-03-23T17:36:00.000-04:00

It's confirmed [thx kyu]:

The long-awaited New York appearances during The Arcade Fire’s North American tour have just been announced. On May 7 and 8, the band will perform at the United Palace at 175th and Broadway. On May 9, they’ll headline legendary Radio City Music Hall as the inaugural event of the David Bowie-curated High Line Festival. Tickets for all three shows will be available through TicketMaster beginning on Friday, March 30 at 10:00 AM.

Better luck this round kiddos. I want them to come back to Judson.

Neat Links

2007-03-21T18:05:00.000-04:00

Some links via Mefi, Boing Boing, and Digg:

- 15 Unintentionally Hilarious Comic Panels.

- Choose Your Own Chose Your Own Advenure Adventure

-GRANDMOTHER: Did you see the politics? It made me angry.
DAD: Me, too. When it was over, I had sex. [Link]

-This American Life Parody

-Ira Glass on Story Telling

-The Codex Seraphinianus on Flickr. Wow.

Random Bits

2007-03-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

-By the End of Tonight play their ONLY NYC show tonight at Cake Shop. There's a praising preview over at Oh My Rockness if you are on the fence. I recommend: GO!

-Three of my favorite albums of 2007 – and likely all three will be top 10 by December- came out yesterday: LCD Soundsystem [easily a 9.2], Andrew Bird, and Panda Bear. Pick up all three somewhere.

- Beat Radio has a new mp3: People Are Talking [mp3] and play Mercury Lounge on Monday. It's been forever since I last saw them.

-V-Fest at Pimlico will be announced this week. Who's playing? I can't say right now, but it should put it on the map with all the other summer festivals this year... including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and my beloved Sasquatch.

Fujiya & Miyagi Aren't Japanese At All

2007-03-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

Fugiya & Miyagi - In One Ear & Out the Other [mp3]
Fugiya & Miyagi - Live KEXP Session [mp3]

"I'm David, and I... I whisper."

That introduction from the above KEXP session is really the best description of how Fujiya & Miyagi use vocals over their synth-groove & electro funk, aided with David's demi-rap delivery. I became an instant fan as the trio played the Mercury Lounge following a set by the novel(ty?) New Violators who were flew in all the way from ~~SXSW~~ ~~Norway~~ 1983. While the Violators grew tiring as they played, F&G only got better.

With the guitarist/whisperer, an array of keyboards and a groove-inducing bass player [both of whom provided back-up whispers], F&G got the crowd sexed-up and swayed down. The result felt like a relaxed chk chk chk -one for which you're more like sipping Black Russians in a lounge than chugging Jack & Cokes in Greenpoint.

Then again, it was a weeknight. Who knows what a weekend gig of Fujiya & Miyagi would produce?

Brooklyn Vegan liked it as well.

Also see: Soundbites & Musicsnobbery, who asserts, "If you haven't heard them yet, they'll be your new favorite band."

Worked for me.

New Voxtrot, Rare Voxtrot

2007-03-20T09:52:00.000-04:00

First off, head over to Born by the River who has an EP's worth of Voxtrot rarities and b-sides I haven't seen elsewhere other than on my turntable at home.
---------------------------------------

Voxtrot could have been the Jorge Luis Borges of the Indie Rock world, never composing anything longer than a short story and we would all love them just the same. Release an EP every month for all we care. Edgar Allan Poe only wrote one novel, so maybe they'll aspire to that analogy.

The Voxtrot LP leaked yesterday and I'm thinking they should have stayed with the EP format. Most band's full-length records could never live up to either of Voxtrot's first EP's, and now we see that -for the most part- neither can Voxtrot. It's a fine record, but it won't be nearly as fondly remembered in a couple months time. This isn't backlash; it's simply the truth. Had they made another EP, we could appreciate their brevity even in their mistakes. Hell, there are enough good ideas on the LP that had it been condensed, it might not even be viewed as a misstep.

My favorite song on the album wasn't even graced with a name, solely titled "Introduction." I've posted a live version of that before, but that's not the one Beggar's released for the blogs. Here's that one:

Voxtrot - Kid Gloves [mp3]

Other reactions:
Faronheit says because the last two EPs were amazing, y'all are hypocrites for disliking this release. I think he/she's jumping to conclusions saying the backlash has started. Most people who dislike this record probably already disliked them before.

Wolfnotes, a late adopter to the band, says "[Ramesh] just keeps singing, and this whole “lets see if I can note-hunt until I stumble upon something catchy” approach seems to me like something more appropriate for a long shower on his own time, and not his band’s first impression."

Obscure Sound aptly reports, "Voxtrot’s full-length debut is better than the majority of straightforward alternative albums released today. The hooks on the album are plentiful and sufficient, even if many of the songs leave the listener craving a bit more."

Also, I still like this remix that Stereogum "commissioned":

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Steve Reich [mp3]

Chris Ott Responds to Tricia Romano's UltraDrrrrvl

2007-03-19T18:39:00.000-04:00

As you may already know, Tricia Romano wrote a cover story this week for the Village Voice who depicted UltraGrrrl as a martyr burning at the stake. I do not care for what Sarah Lewitinn [U.G.] represents nor Ms. Romano for that matter, but I never give them much thought. Tankboy over at Idolator comments in the discussion of the cover illustration, "Is that really the cover? Okay, why are you all wasting your time bashing Ultra when you should be hatin' on the VV art department?!"

Chris Ott -a fellow Village Voice contributor- vocally expressed his distaste for the article on the piece's website on Friday citing the possible conflict of interest in that Stolen Transmission [UltraGrrrl]'s band the Horrors played the Voice's SXSW showcase. He continues: "If Nick Sylvester can be fired because someone he lampooned turned on him, what do we do with you, Trish?"

Knowing the Voice's predisposition to fire or blacklist dissenters, I hope you are still getting along over there. You may have just painted yourself as a martyr, with smaller boobies.

Tricia,

As a Voice contributor - and participant in the I Love Music discussion you mention - I find it curious and not a little convenient that you did not think to reach out to me for a quote on this story. My views on Sarah are public, and far from anonymous. In fact, the two times I have spoken of her, my email address was displayed at the foot of the message (as it is here).

Read the rest of Ott's response.

All at Once Now

2007-03-19T11:30:00.000-04:00

Since you don't have enough SXSW reviews, here are all the other shows I've been to in the past month. I've already reviewed the Thermals in Seattle, The Blow at NYU & Tunng at Union Hall, but I've neglected the dozen or so other shows I've seen.

02-09 Girl Talk @ Studio B
Even before Girl Talk commanded his 0's and 1's from his C:/ drive, the floor of Studio B was becoming most tumultuous for the simple act of the spinning Nirvana. GT didn't even have to do anything and we would be happy; so when he got up there and didn't do anything, we all went batshit insane. The security confiscated most of the girls from the dance floor and placed them on stage, resulting in the dance floor becoming a crushing field of bone and male sweat. You know that scene in A New Hope where they are about to be flattened by the trash compactor? Sort of like that, but not. How was Gillis's nothingness? IIRC, splendid.

02-10 Plug Awards @ Irving Plaza
Every year I have great hope for the Plug Awards, and every year the pacing never works. As David Cross put it during the failing bits, "It looked good on paper, I swear." Malkmus was the saving grace, but by the time he and the Jicks started, the momentum had them defeated.

02-16 Arcade Fire @ Judson Memorial Church
I get spoiled seeing my favorite large bands in these small settings. I was in awe and ready to proclaim that the Arcade Fire at Judson Memorial would be the Next Big Thing. Unfortunately the moment was fleeting and they will be on to bigger and lesser venues. People said Saturday was the best of the bunch, but only knowing Friday, and loving every second, I couldn't imagine it being topped - if only because Friday closed with their amidst-the-crowd rendition of "Wake-Up." It's a song to finish on, like a butterfly's last breath before it freezes in the night.

02-17 Rock Central Plaza @ Glasslands
They sound like an O'death with added quirkiness and varied orchestral arrangements. It wasn't nearly as successful at Glasslands, so we left to hit the open bar at...

02-17 !!!
Wow. !!! might be the best live band ever [See other rival contestant Matt & Kim below]. Some complained it was too short, but I was utterly exhausted by the set's end. Still, that didn't stop us from dancing afterwards until early morning. Whatever you do, go check them out at Bowery [Sold out?] and pick up their new album. Here's one of my favorite track off of it. One of the best songs of the year?

!!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos [mp3]

02-18 Malajube, Rock Central Plaza @ Mercury
RCP [not to be confused with the RHCP] redeemed themselves from Saturday with more crisp dynamics that the Mercury Lounge could provide. Malajube rocked but their charm sparkles with their creative use of the English language. He said something about eat hot dogs on a NY sidewalk that melted all the girls hearts, including the little girl inside my soul.

02-27 Sparklehorse @ Spinhouse
Short set that left me bored and unimpressed. Unfortunate since I loved his performance at Bowery last fall.

03-02 Photo Atlas @ Pianos
Angular post-punk from Denver. They have potential but still need to define their own identity and sound -or at least write an insatiably catchy lick or lyric.

03-03 The Jukebox Ghost @ Pianos
Ben Folds Fivish pop band. Very talented pianist with an excellent voice. Can be a little too cutesy at times, but they don't even have a debut yet, just a 3 song sampler. I'd definitely check them out again next time they come up from D.C.

Go download "Good Day" over at Underrated.

03-04 The Thermals @ Bowery Ballroom
03-05 The Thermals @ Studio B
God I love this band. May also be the best live band ever. Bowery was crazier than Studio B, but they both left me panting in the pit. NY Times reviewed Sunday, Village Voice [with a really fantastic picture] reviewed Monday. Nothing destroys a good moshpit than crowd surfing. But Hutch blessed the attempts, and like following their shepherd, they obeyed.

03-09 Matt & Kim @ Bowery Ballroom
Matt & Kim may be the best live band ever. Their music itself is surprisingly average, but it induces such a fever in the crowd that it makes Beatlemania look like a bunch of bored teens. Perhaps it's in this middle ground that allows for people to let lose. It's not groundbreaking and no one cares. Don't think, just move. With the Studio B show and now this, Matt & Kim are easily the best new live act of 2007.

03-10 Shout Out Out Out Out @ Mercury Lounge
I was getting shin splints from all the dancing and jumping by the end of the week. Thank god SXSW took all the bands away so I could recover. Even if the entirety of the Mercury Lounge wasn't as enthralled as our enclave up front, we didn't care. They brought the dance music and we brought the moves, of which I have exactly two: Jumping and Fist Pumping. Both were married happily to Shout Out Out Out Out and the rest was all a blur. An electrical blur. 3xWes reviewed it here.

Alive Aliv-o!

2007-03-16T10:09:00.000-04:00

I searched and searched this morning for my classic Irish music CD to no avail. Does anybody have a good [and upbeat] version of Molly Mallone? Anyway, here are a few Irish tunes:

The Clancy Brothers - Mountain Dew [mp3]

Paddyrasta - Molly Malone [mp3] [Rasta/Celtic? whatever.]

Gaelic Storm - After Hours at McGann's [Arrangement of: "The Primrose Lass", "Hewlett’s Reel", and "Reel Gan Anim"] [mp3]

That one's from Gaelic Storm's Herding Cats album, and what's a holiday without Cat Drinking Songs?!

Marc Gunn - Wild Kitty [parody of "Wild Rover"] [mp3]

I love the meows with the quesion mark: "meow?"

Tunng at Union Hall

2007-03-13T10:43:00.000-04:00

Tunng - Beautiful and Light [mp3]
Tunng - Woodcat [mp3]

"You're late," I yelled silently in my mind as the hippy-looking British group known as Tunng took the stage. It had been more than a year in waiting for them to play New York and this year they were not promoting the stellar This Is Tunng album, but rather the tepid Comments of the Inner Chorus. I hoped they wouldn't ignore my silent requests I shouted all night - that is, the entirety of This Is Tunng.

Tunng has three acoustic guitarists. That's nearly an orchestra of guitars, or least the early formation of a jam circle. Behind the wall of strings, they had one guy on electronics and another on auxiliary percussion. Yes, in addition to the weird blips bleeps and blops, they had a guy solely dedicated to weird clangs, clunks, clinks. Helping out on auxiliary, was the sole female in the group. As a woman, she was the only member forced to stand for the entire show while the men lounged in chairs. Chivalry is dead.

They began their set with ~~Young Folk~~ "People Folk" and an amazing version of "Beautiful and Light." "Woodcat" and "Jenny Again" were the only tunes off Comment I truly adored. They whipped out their Bloc Party cover "Pioneers" to please many in the crowd, and tried to conclude with "Surprise Me 44." A minute later, the electric power shorted-out on the electronics and they were unable to go on.

Whhhhaaaaa? Surely a band with three acoustic guitarists and two auxiliary percussionists can improvise without a sample machine, no? With the crowd demanding another song, the wall of strings rose out of their chairs and played an incredible version of "Fair Doreen." My dream of seeing Tunng in concert was fulfilled.

Leaving the moment unspoilt, we didn't remain for Loney, Dear.

Tunng play tonight at Mercury Lounge!

Here's a really great bittersweet video for "Fair Doreen."

Tag Team's Sasquatch! Giveaway

2007-03-13T08:34:00.000-04:00

My plane ticket for Memorial Day's ~~Sasquatch~~ Yeti Festival has been booked and the countdown to a return Seattle begun. I feel like I just came from there. Pack your bags, tents & granola and head out to the Gorge for some sunshine, music, and dehydration. Hopefully Neko Case won't be interrupted this year by an act of God.

Tag Team Media is offering a pair of 2-day passes to a winner who emails them here with their name, age, phone number, and the name of the site through which you found the giveaway -ummm ME!. The winner also will interview Tokyo Police Club [another Tag Team artist] for the site he confessed to reading.

Fine print:
-The Deadline for all entries is Monday April 2nd. Entries received after April 2nd will not be considered in the giveaway.
-The winner will be chosen at random and announced Wednesday April 4th.
-Only one entry per individual, per email will be accepted.
-The winner will be responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the festival as well as accomodations over the weekend. The giveaway only covers entrance to the festival.
-The winner and the site/blog through which they enter the contest, with the help of Tag Team Media, will work to coordinate the details of the Tokyo Police Club interview.

Podcasts | Need Recommendations

2007-03-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to more and more podcasts lately, but as I sift through the myriad of topics out there, I find it hard to find programs of good interest or execution. Here are a few I have in my RSS iTunes feeder. There are numerous music podcasts out there too, but I don't care for them. If anyone has a favorite discussion podcast, please share it.

-This American Life - Duration: 60 minutes; Topic: [mostly] Nonfiction
A staple of American radio. It's the first program that got me into podcasts. It's most entertaining when they keep David Sedaris muzzled and far, far away from the mic.

-McLaughlin Group - Duration: 30 minutes; Topic: Politics
A favorite television show of mine for years. John McLaughlin is a superb host who looks like an ornery crank, but is quite pleasant as he moderates the discussion between Pat Buchanan & Tony Blankley [conservative] and Eleanor Clift & -usually- Mort Zuckerman [liberal]. He'll ask each of the panelists, "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing impossibility and 10 representing complete metaphysical certitude, what is the chance of [such and such]" before declaring that "the correct answer is three."

-TWiT [This Week in Technology] - Duration: 100 minutes; Topic: Technology, Internet
I've only listened to this for the first time last week, but there's a reason it's the #1 most popular podcast.

-Lostcast - Duration: 60 minutes; Topic: Lost TV show
Not a great podcast by any means, but its topic is at least of interest. I cringe whenever they make a remark that is wildly wrong about pop culture, or when they make preposterously speculative theories about the show, but whatever.

-Slate's Explainer - Duration: Approx 5 minutes; Topic: Curiosity Tangential to the News.
Great for filling in the gaps of your knowledge. Unfortunately it's far too brief, but there's usually a new one every day.

-Metafilter - Duration: 20 minutes; Topic: Random internet stories
Brand new podcast about my favorite aggregating news website. Matt and Jessamyn discuss the most popular or interesting stories and discussions that hit Metafilter.

The Blow @ NYU

2007-03-08T09:48:00.000-05:00

SOLD OUT! the signs outside the Kimmel Center at NYU read. "Selling" out a free show is no great feat in this expansive city of ours, but for a unreal venue [but not like Unreal Tournatment is unreal] and for a small act like the Blow, it caught most of us off guard and ticketless. I got lucky. Other people just waited and walked easily right in.

Liz Isenberg began the show with songs structured like fancies of Joanna Newsom, but on guitar. The music demanded too much intimacy than the space could provide. I can't say I found her outright boring but at the time I couldn't focus, especially with that crowd. Her stuff on myspace is sweet though, so give that a shot.

Now: the crowd. I don't mind NYU kids. Stereotypes blah blah blah. I dislike people who characterize NYU kids as a brand. I hate prejudices of all types. Trust fund kids bleed when you dismember them too. But there I was, witnessing so much hipness, so much irony, so many kids wearing their father's high school clothes. Freaks and Geeks Redux. I don't mind that even, but put 400 or so of them in a room and -like the little sexy scientists we were- we noticed patterns emerge. I blame the Olson twins. Anyway, why were there so many? Was this some mandatory dorm event? Past NYU events never felt so skewed.

The Blow held the stage much more confidently even though there was still only one person in front of us. Khaela began by directing the lighting - which went from dreadful to plain awkward [although by the end, it wasn't so terrible]. Khaela separates herself from other female singers in that her voice falters and wavers -but not from any nervousness- but rather like she's diddling around the house and not performing in front of hundreds. It's in this unabashed weakness makes the songs most powerful. The songs are so bare it's unfortunate she narrates so often between songs, trying to make the entire show follow some emotive story.

Anyone that has seen the Blow knows the most memorable thing isn't the songs themselves, but Khaela's movements as she sings them. Ever since CMJ, I can't listen to Paper Television anymore without picturing her gesturing to me while she sang Parenthesis. I could feel it. We connected. I melted into a puddle of Red Stripe right there.

This time, in the cavern of the auditorium, she tried she hardest to find me among the students and reach out...

but I blend in too well.

Need an Apartment in NYC?

2007-03-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

My roommate and I need to find a new roommate by the end of the month. Anyone need something? Must be quiet, clean, and cat-friendly. Fort Greene, $850/month. I have a wii.

Parts and Labor

2007-03-06T10:02:00.000-05:00

Back to concert reviews. So, where was I? Ah yes, February 9th Parts and Labor [myspace/website] gig for Girl Talk.

Parts & Labor - The Gold We're Digging off the forthcoming Mapmaker

Parts and Labor have been one of those perennial bands I almost nearly see and yet for some reason [Destiny? Dharma?] always tend to miss. Perhaps it's my impatience with opening acts or that their name is just too familiar in the local music scene that I discounted them. It was pleasant to see the audience pay so much attention to the trio who seem like they play somewhere in New York every few weeks. Maybe this isn't even true, but I remember since I started this blog that Parts and Labor have been on my radar and that's exactly where they had stayed. No longer.

Most memorable of the three was the drummer. Moving at speeds inhuman -or just punk- he drives the songs over their Brooklynesque sound. On the new album Mapmaker - not available until May- that tour de force/france percussion is most apparent on tracks like "Vision of Repair". Sonically they remind me of the local brethren Oxford Collapse, and like that band, the album takes a few spins to grow on you.

Some P&L tourdates:
04/04 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
04/05 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
04/06 Brooklyn, NY - Luna Lounge
04/07 Allston, MA - Great Scott
04/08 New Haven, CT - BAR Nightclub
04/09 Washington DC, - Rock and Roll Hotel
04/10 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
More Dates here.

"Bob Dylan" sings Dr. Seuss

2007-03-05T14:12:00.000-05:00

These are surprisingly good. If you like Bob or Dr. Seuss, both, or neither, give these songs a listen.

Yes, Bob Dylan impersonations are as tired as Monica Lewinsky jokes, but give this a try anyway. It's better than Modern Times at least.

Dylan Hears a Who - Green Eggs and Ham [mp3]
Dylan Hears a Who - Cat in the Hat [mp3]

Download a Zip file of all the songs. [via]

Hey Hey Hey B*tch!

2007-03-02T16:14:00.000-05:00

Sorry to the people who hate the word "bitch", but this song is too funny. I'm really, really sorry. Skip this post, and especially this song.

Everyone knows I like 8-bit music, so when offered to review 8-Bit's "We Sold Our Souls" I said yes before realizing it was a Hip Hop album. This is more along the lines of ridiculousness, so it's not really serious Hip Hop.

So here's some ironic rap to conclude your week. [The 8-bitness is minimal in the track].

NSFW: 8-Bit - Crunk [mp3]

The Blow & Mirah Remixes and NYC Show

2007-03-01T23:10:00.000-05:00

Jona of the Blow, aka YACHT aka My Name is Jona, has release a new compilation of remixes called Our Friends in Hell featuring remixes of The Blow [hey! that's Jona], Architecture in Helsinki, YACHT [see also: Jona], Mirah, and others. It can be bought here for $10.

Here are two tracks off the album:

The Blow - Hock It (We Two Remix) [mp3]

Mirah - Make It Hot (Over Remix) [mp3]

The Blow and Mirah will be playing a free NYU show on March 7th [free at least to students, there may be a nominal fee to non-students the day of the show] at the 4th floor of the Kimmel Center. Brooklyn Vegan has all the Blow's tour dates. The Blow's Paper Television was one of my favorite albums last year.

Reviewed: PB&J, Kiss Kiss, PopRally

2007-02-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

01-30 Peter, Bjorn & John @ Bowery Ballroom

Don't hate me, but I went to this show without being a huge fan. My presence and unfamiliarity wasn't the reason it wasn't a spectacular show; I've seen plenty of bands I know little about and they've left me in awe. Peter Bjorn & John just didn't do much for me that night. They left me feeling they were an average band with a handful of good songs. Writer's Block is fine and all, but my favorite songs are all in the beginning. "Young Folks" isn't even my favorite. Maybe it's overplayed, but I find myself more drawn to "Amsterdam" [which they mangled in concert] and this one:

Peter Bjorn & John - Objects of My Affection [mp3]

01-31 Kiss Kiss @ KF Old Office

The week I got the Kiss Kiss album Reality vs. the Optimist in the mail was the Friday that the Arcade Fire album leaked, and as much as I was tempted to preview the Fire, I couldn't tear myself away from this damn band. It draws from a variety of sounds, some mainstream [~~MCR~~ Queen] some not so [Balkan?] that the album never got repetitive or derivative . I mean, it's not innovative either, but as Jeff said, "Can't exactly tell if they're actually a good band or just an extremely enjoyable one, but the distinction is more or less irrelevant." They have great energy on stage and a sound that was too big for that dinky room. They played again this past Saturday at Sin-e, but replaced their lead singer with a female vocalist. The result -I was told- was as disastrous as I can imagine. The guy's ranging vocals are the bones that make the glue stick. Here's another song off the album, this one sounding a little like the Stars or Dirty on Purpose [especially the end]:

Kiss Kiss - Stay the Day [mp3]

02-02 Cat Power @ MoMa [PopRally]

Open bar, large attendance: not the best circumstances to see Chan Marshall play on a minimally raised stage. It was so impossible to see or even hear her that the attempt was comical. Hell, in our inebriated state, riding the elevator was the pinnacle of hilarity. Even so, I can't complain about a Friday night boozing it up at the Museum. The MoMa would be my favorite bar if it was always serving, and always free.

I'm back | Seattlites Redeem Themselves at the Thermals

2007-02-28T10:15:00.000-05:00

No, this blog isn't dead like a frozen tauntaun. I've been away in Canada this past week among the snow and mountains, aka my natural habitat, aka RWAAAAWR! to my 2 year old niece. After four days skiing in Whistler Blackcomb, and a couple in Seattle, I'm ready to get back to the NYC daily -errrr, nightly- grind. I skied over my blogging thumb on the first day, so bear with me.

The last two times I've been to Seattle, I've been there at the same time as my favorite band the Thermals. Coincidence, or Fate? You be the judge/psychic reader. Last year's show at the Crocodile Cafe was HORRIBLE. The crowd of 50? 60? people would not react enough to the intensity the Thermals required. I swore off crowds in Seattle as worse than NYC - reportedly the worse according to anonymous commentors on the internet [a reputable source].

This year, however, the audience was what I'd expect from seeing them here - singing along, dancing, and flailing like a fish out of water. Chop Suey was Sold Out, which alone nearly made all the difference. I kept away from the dance floor -regulating myself to the Adult Only area, but still as in ecstasy as Bernini's St. Teresa. Satisfied to sing along from the side, I prepared for the mayhem at Bowery Ballroom this Sunday [sold out] and Studio B Monday [Tickets, BUY! BUY! BUY!].

Tears swelled to mine eyes when they played this song, which they neglected at all three CMJ shows:

The Thermals - Everything Thermals [mp3]

They closed again with Top of the Earth and Only Trivia.

NPR: MP3s of Arcade Fire Live at Judson Memorial Church

2007-02-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

This is great quality.

The Arcade Fire - Live from Judson Memorial Chuch, Febuary 17, 2007 [mp3]

See Kathryn's great photos too.

When you have the day off, you watch Tyra.

2007-02-20T10:16:00.000-05:00

Tyra was on twice yesterday. Yes, two times. The second one was a tribute to herself, which I found nearly as appalling as the first about a black man who wanted to be white.

Anyway, when I was looking for the infamous clip where Tyra goes berserk, I found a parody of it. First of all, if you haven't seen the original segment, watch this first.

Then go ahead and watch this. [Click Image].

Polarkreis 18

2007-02-16T16:16:00.000-05:00

It's been ages since I posted new music. Here's a new-ish band out of Germany. Actually they've been around since 1998 when they were 13 so they aren't all that new. I came across Polarkreis 18 [website/myspace] on a message board that was going crazy over this stuff. I didn't pay it much attention until this song "Look" came on and calmed me down from a whorish day here at work.

Polarkreis 18 - Look [mp3]
Polarkreis 18 - Ursa Major [mp3]

Breaking News at Pitchfork.

2007-02-16T11:06:00.000-05:00

This is pretty clever: currently the top news story at Pitchfork is a dig at the Wrens. I've made fun of Pitchfork's "non-news" of the Wrens before - a year and a half ago when they last reported NO NEWS. This time, PFM makes fun of themselves.

The Wrens Don't Announce New Album Details

Today, February 16, 2007, the Wrens did not announce the release date for their new album, the long-awaited follow-up to 2003's The Meadowlands. The New Jersey band did not reveal the record's title or track list, did not say what the first single is going to be, when said single would impact radio, or who directed the video. They did not offer pithy quotes about in-studio antics or what the album sounds like. They did not share an mp3.

Oh well.