Admittedly, I never got into Beulah like well- a lot of people- but I dig Kurosky's solo stuff. His first solo album, The Desert of Shallow Effects, will be released on March 9.
Her Take: Lightspeed Champion- Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, the latest offering from Lightspeed Champion, tells a loosely tied together story of heartbreak, misery, and an eventual ascent back to happiness. In keeping with the style of 2008’s Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, easy and beautiful melodies mesh with unexpected lyrics. Unfortunately, the unexpected lyrics are still too predictable with themes of sadness and failed relationships. Maybe if Falling Off the Lavender Bridge hadn’t been so refreshing, I wouldn’t have expected so much from Life is Sweet.
The album is a pleasant enough listen, fading into the background quite easily, but it is hardly memorable. "Sweetheart", "Madame Van Damme", and "Middle of Dark" are highlights, but the rest of the album is just so-so.
The album is a pleasant enough listen, fading into the background quite easily, but it is hardly memorable. "Sweetheart", "Madame Van Damme", and "Middle of Dark" are highlights, but the rest of the album is just so-so.
Blind Pilot
Browsing through one of my favorite vintage shops yesterday, I heard a song that gave me the chills. Turns out, it was 3 Rounds and a Sound by Blind Pilot. The song is the title track from the album, released in July 2008.
Usually I have to hear an entire album before I decide to buy it, but not this one. It's beautiful and haunting in the best of ways. Check it out:
Usually I have to hear an entire album before I decide to buy it, but not this one. It's beautiful and haunting in the best of ways. Check it out:
Har Mar Superstar- Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Funny story about Har Mar- the first time I saw him, I was a bit terrified. But as all good things do, he grew on me. His live shows are great, and the newest addition of having a live band for backing instead of a boom box make them even better.
Broken Bells - The High Road
by J.Paul
Danger Mouse and James Mercer? Yes. As a fan of all things Shins, especially his voice and lyrics, I am completely stoked. As a fan of Mr. Mouse and his sheer creativity, I'm stoked. Listen to this song and you'll be stoked too.
Also, their website is a fair amount of fun and has a link to their myspace(yeah, I know) for another outstanding song, "Vaporize."
http://www.brokenbells.com/home.html
Danger Mouse and James Mercer? Yes. As a fan of all things Shins, especially his voice and lyrics, I am completely stoked. As a fan of Mr. Mouse and his sheer creativity, I'm stoked. Listen to this song and you'll be stoked too.
Also, their website is a fair amount of fun and has a link to their myspace(yeah, I know) for another outstanding song, "Vaporize."
http://www.brokenbells.com/home.html
The beards interview with producer Max Tannone
After stumbling across the Jaydiohead project and thoroughly enjoying it, we knew we needed to hear more and know the full story. Awesomely, the man behind it has been busy. We were able to dig into Jaydiohead: The Encore and Doublecheck Your Head and even better; he was cool enough to answer some of our questions about his work, his process and what he might have in store for us down the road.
What inspired the Jaydiohead project? Jay Z and Radiohead are pretty far apart, musically. What was it that made them come together for you?
I first heard the track "I Might Be Wrong" by Radiohead, and thought that it would make a great hip-hop beat. So, I did it, and put Jay-Z vocals for "Pray" over it. Then I did another track with Thom Yorke's "Black Swan" and Jay-Z's "Ignorant Shit." I had these two tracks done for about a year before I decided to make it into a whole album. When I thought of the name "Jaydiohead", it spurred me to see the project through. It was a personal challenge, just to see if I could make it sound cool.
What are some of your most important musical influences?
So many really, but lately I've been influenced by the Beastie Boys, productions from DJ Premier, Beck, and King Tubby.
Best burger in NYC?
Cafe Orlin on 8th street btwn 1st and 2nd avenue. Its $10 with fries and a salad which is a pretty good deal around here.
What have you been listening to lately?
Beck, Miike Snow, Breakbot, and dub music.
Hit the jump for the rest of the interview...
Dark Halls by Au Revoir Simone
By J.Paul
Continuing with the indie pop theme from the post below, I gotta mention this one. Au Revoir Simone is an all girl 3 piece from Brooklyn with unbelievable songwriting chops. If this bouncy, beautiful track can't lift your spirits a bit then you're probably dead. The video itself is kind of amateurish and goofy, but that's not the point; the point is definitely how the hook grabs you right away and how the harmonizing and handclaps endear the song to you even more. Or maybe that's just me; the ultimate sucker for a catchy, well-crafted pop song?
Continuing with the indie pop theme from the post below, I gotta mention this one. Au Revoir Simone is an all girl 3 piece from Brooklyn with unbelievable songwriting chops. If this bouncy, beautiful track can't lift your spirits a bit then you're probably dead. The video itself is kind of amateurish and goofy, but that's not the point; the point is definitely how the hook grabs you right away and how the harmonizing and handclaps endear the song to you even more. Or maybe that's just me; the ultimate sucker for a catchy, well-crafted pop song?
Skybox Live Session at Hear Ya
By J.Paul
Skybox was a show I got dragged to back in November by friends. Had never heard of them but damn, did I walk away impressed. They played at Schuba's and totally lit the place up. High energy indie pop played with gusto and sung with a sweet falsetto and more mellow, folkier songs played with a lot of heart. It seems like whatever these guys put their minds to they absolutely nail it. Their latest record "Morning After Cuts" came out last month and can be streamed in it's entirety at their site: http://skyboxmusic.com/
Skybox - "In A Dream" - HearYa Live Session 1/16/10 from HearYa.com on Vimeo.
This video is taken from their recent live sessions with Hear Ya. Performed live these songs have a new vibe and energy all their own, obviously, and are definitely worth the download. As a companion piece to the record, they offer some great insight into what can be expected from their upcoming shows; though when I saw them they did sound a bit punchier and a bit dirtier.
Check that out here: http://www.hearya.com/2010/02/09/skybox-live-session-65/
Skybox was a show I got dragged to back in November by friends. Had never heard of them but damn, did I walk away impressed. They played at Schuba's and totally lit the place up. High energy indie pop played with gusto and sung with a sweet falsetto and more mellow, folkier songs played with a lot of heart. It seems like whatever these guys put their minds to they absolutely nail it. Their latest record "Morning After Cuts" came out last month and can be streamed in it's entirety at their site: http://skyboxmusic.com/
Skybox - "In A Dream" - HearYa Live Session 1/16/10 from HearYa.com on Vimeo.
This video is taken from their recent live sessions with Hear Ya. Performed live these songs have a new vibe and energy all their own, obviously, and are definitely worth the download. As a companion piece to the record, they offer some great insight into what can be expected from their upcoming shows; though when I saw them they did sound a bit punchier and a bit dirtier.
Check that out here: http://www.hearya.com/2010/02/09/skybox-live-session-65/
Vampire Weekend does Rancid.
by Cori
The New England pretty boys of Vampire Weekend have done a bad bad thing. They've gone andbutchered covered "Ruby Soho". Just when I thought they couldn't do any worse than the piece of garbage that was Contra, they've surprised me again.
Please, Vampire Weekend, for the love of all that is holy, just stop. This sophomore slump is turning into a lifestyle and you're better than that. All of you. Just because you like ska and punk, does not mean that you should attempt to play it. Especially if that attempt is a cover of a pretty iconic song.
Judge for yourself: here.
The New England pretty boys of Vampire Weekend have done a bad bad thing. They've gone and
Please, Vampire Weekend, for the love of all that is holy, just stop. This sophomore slump is turning into a lifestyle and you're better than that. All of you. Just because you like ska and punk, does not mean that you should attempt to play it. Especially if that attempt is a cover of a pretty iconic song.
Judge for yourself: here.
Hockey - Too Fake
by Cori
I think I came across these guys via Pitchfork, I can't remember. They're energetic, a little electronic, and just fun. Their album, Mind Chaos, is out now.
I think I came across these guys via Pitchfork, I can't remember. They're energetic, a little electronic, and just fun. Their album, Mind Chaos, is out now.
Musings: The Strokes
By Cori
Paste Magazine reported today that The Strokes are back in the studio, working on a new album. Initially I was excited- how awesome was Is This It? That record hit me like a freight train and changed my ears forever. But then, it all came back to me. My late 2001 love affair with Julian Casablancas' voice, and in the spirit of full disclosure, his hair. Playing the album so many times that the CD became softly rounded on the edges and scratched to hell. Knowing every word to every song, and singing along loudly, albeit badly. I loved this band. I couldn't wait for more. I couldn't wait to see them live.
On January 28, 2002, the spell was broken at The Web Theater when The Strokes took the stage. All of the magic in Is This It began to wane about the time I realized Julian was so drunk he could barely stand, and vanished completely when he fell over backward, completing the set from a supine position in the middle of the stage. Don't get me wrong, the music was sound- in fact, it sounded so perfect that I almost wondered if they were lip-syncing. (They weren't) But I expected more. I expected the band to be as excited about the show as the audience was. In reality, it seemed like that stage was the last place they wanted to be.
When Room on Fire was released, I was still bitter. First Impressions of Earth found me slightly softened toward the band, so I gave it a shot. It wasn't Is This It, nor was it particularly noteworthy, but I couldn't hate them anymore.
Since the release of First Impressions of Earth, the band has been busy doing other things- 2 solo albums for Albert Hammond Jr., one for Julian, the Little Joy collaboration for Fabrizio Moretti- and my hope is that they've grown up a little. Maybe, just maybe, the time they've spent apart has given them just what they need to be bigger and better than ever.
Paste Magazine reported today that The Strokes are back in the studio, working on a new album. Initially I was excited- how awesome was Is This It? That record hit me like a freight train and changed my ears forever. But then, it all came back to me. My late 2001 love affair with Julian Casablancas' voice, and in the spirit of full disclosure, his hair. Playing the album so many times that the CD became softly rounded on the edges and scratched to hell. Knowing every word to every song, and singing along loudly, albeit badly. I loved this band. I couldn't wait for more. I couldn't wait to see them live.
On January 28, 2002, the spell was broken at The Web Theater when The Strokes took the stage. All of the magic in Is This It began to wane about the time I realized Julian was so drunk he could barely stand, and vanished completely when he fell over backward, completing the set from a supine position in the middle of the stage. Don't get me wrong, the music was sound- in fact, it sounded so perfect that I almost wondered if they were lip-syncing. (They weren't) But I expected more. I expected the band to be as excited about the show as the audience was. In reality, it seemed like that stage was the last place they wanted to be.
When Room on Fire was released, I was still bitter. First Impressions of Earth found me slightly softened toward the band, so I gave it a shot. It wasn't Is This It, nor was it particularly noteworthy, but I couldn't hate them anymore.
Since the release of First Impressions of Earth, the band has been busy doing other things- 2 solo albums for Albert Hammond Jr., one for Julian, the Little Joy collaboration for Fabrizio Moretti- and my hope is that they've grown up a little. Maybe, just maybe, the time they've spent apart has given them just what they need to be bigger and better than ever.
Jaydiohead is cooler than you
by J.Paul
Just a quick update with the coolest fucking thing I've seen in awhile. Jaydiohead. Jay-Z rapping over Radiohead music in the first mashup I can admit to really liking. A lot. Ok, an obscene amount of like is oozing out of me directed right at this thing. Minty Fresh Beats put it all together and really doesn't need my help spreading the word as he got a mention on Carson Daly's wretched show not long after he was done with this project. I just want to gush.
Pure genius in my not-so-humble opinion. Can't believe I missed this when it first got released back in January of 2009. Guess I'm more out of touch than I could have imagined. Regardless, I've never been a Jay-Z fan but I realize now that the guy is a total badass. His rise to prominence happened as I was smack dab in the middle of my ubar-punk rock phase, also known as adolescence. So for me, he was a non-entity as I totally rejected popular music in it's entirety without giving any of it a chance. Very punk by the standards of the unenlightened portion of that subculture I suppose, but certainly not fucking cool in the wider music geek circle I find myself in currently. What this mashup is going to inspire me to do is finally give the man a chance. I'll be something like 12 years late to the party but I don't mind.
Radiohead; what can I say? I love the fuck out of them. Enjoy.
Source: http://jaydiohead.com/
Just a quick update with the coolest fucking thing I've seen in awhile. Jaydiohead. Jay-Z rapping over Radiohead music in the first mashup I can admit to really liking. A lot. Ok, an obscene amount of like is oozing out of me directed right at this thing. Minty Fresh Beats put it all together and really doesn't need my help spreading the word as he got a mention on Carson Daly's wretched show not long after he was done with this project. I just want to gush.
Pure genius in my not-so-humble opinion. Can't believe I missed this when it first got released back in January of 2009. Guess I'm more out of touch than I could have imagined. Regardless, I've never been a Jay-Z fan but I realize now that the guy is a total badass. His rise to prominence happened as I was smack dab in the middle of my ubar-punk rock phase, also known as adolescence. So for me, he was a non-entity as I totally rejected popular music in it's entirety without giving any of it a chance. Very punk by the standards of the unenlightened portion of that subculture I suppose, but certainly not fucking cool in the wider music geek circle I find myself in currently. What this mashup is going to inspire me to do is finally give the man a chance. I'll be something like 12 years late to the party but I don't mind.
Radiohead; what can I say? I love the fuck out of them. Enjoy.
Source: http://jaydiohead.com/
The Step and the Walk by The Duke Spirit
by J.Paul
Lately I can't get enough of this band and their brilliant-all-the-way-through release from 2008, Neptune. It's one of those records where each song has it's own vibe but manages to flow perfectly from the previous song and then into the next. Each member has impressive musical chops and the singer, Leila, has got beautiful, room-filling pipes. I also really enjoy the background juxtaposition of an album featuring nautical themes but recorded in a desert. This pleases me. Should appeal to just about any discerning rock'n'roll fan. They're working on a third album and I can't wait, especially for the live show.
Lately I can't get enough of this band and their brilliant-all-the-way-through release from 2008, Neptune. It's one of those records where each song has it's own vibe but manages to flow perfectly from the previous song and then into the next. Each member has impressive musical chops and the singer, Leila, has got beautiful, room-filling pipes. I also really enjoy the background juxtaposition of an album featuring nautical themes but recorded in a desert. This pleases me. Should appeal to just about any discerning rock'n'roll fan. They're working on a third album and I can't wait, especially for the live show.
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