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• Video Games Killed The Radio Star

  The Devil Has The Best Tuna - 2009-05-11 21:20:35

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  Lemming
  Genre: Indie / Alternative / Rock
  From: Zanesville / Columbus / Newark / Athens, Ohio, United States
  
  Lemming is an indie rock trio born in 2002 in the podpunk town of Zanesville in Ohio but raised on the Seattle sound of Grunge and Alternative rock.
  
  Getting together in 2nd grade at Westview Elementary the future Lemming band mates Dustin Rouan and Corey Bruns found themselves a drummer and formed Pen15 (juvenile but they were young and not to be confused with North Carolina punkers, an no less juvenile, Pen15) in 1998. The pair formed Lemming in 2002 and, after a variety of line ups and regular changes of drummer, finally settled on the current Lemming line up last year when Julie Zylinsky joined and Dustin bowed to the inevitable and became the permanent drummer.
  
  The Lemming sound ticks so many alt rock boxes it makes you dizzy. It's a heady mix of slacker punk, lo-fi pop, casually nonchalant psychedelia. From the lo-fi Dandy Warholian 'Slowly Going Numb', to the Pavementesque 'Away From You', from the snarling pop punk blast of 'Imperfect' to the lo-fi twee pop of 'Dandelions', they even manage to throw in a track that sounds like a drugged up woozy Velvet Underground ('Hallowed Ground').
  
  The band sent me an email which said, simply, we are Lemming and maybe you will like us. Well Lemming I bloody well love you.
  
  Go Try
  
  MP3 - Lemming - Slowly Going Numb
  MP3 - Lemming - Away From You
  If anyone from the IFPI is reading these tracks are published with the permission of Lemming so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
  
  MP3 - Lemming - Imperfect
  If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from the Tinnitus website and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.
  
  Go Visit
  
  Lemming - Myspace
  
  Go View
  
  Lemming
  Imperfect
  
  
  
  

  

• New Ponytail Video - "Celebrate The Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)"

  stereogum - 2009-05-05 17:05:56

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  Ponytail is not for everyone. But the best way to know if Ponytail is for you is to listen to "Celebrate The Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)," in all seven minutes of its ecstatic ambition. Until they entirely reinvent themselves it will be their signature song, so it's just as well that this is by far their showpiece video. It's a great visual interpretation of their loopy, spastic, sugar-buzzed jags and thrusts, mixing hypercolor backdrops and swirls to hypercut imagery, the violence of smashed fluorescent light rods and the juvenile joys of amusement parks/roller skating rinks/double dutch, perverted children's photos, and of course backdrops of psychedelic bursts that look something like kaleidoscopic spermy orgasms. Or something. Nice job, director Sophia Peer.

  
  Continue reading New Ponytail Video - "Celebrate The Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)"...

  

• Derby Day Deadheat on Viva Radio

  33/45 - 2009-05-02 01:49:39

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  ^^^^^^ My pick to win. Good luck out there people.
  Viva stream [noon Saturday] | Archive stream
  
  Deadheat No. 30 [5/2/09]
  Chet Atkins & His Gallopin' Guitar - Kentucky Derby
  Silkworm - Bourbon Beard
  Sonic Youth - Bull in the Heather
  Pavement - Kentucky Cocktail
  The Rapture - Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks
  James Gang - The Bomber
  Royal Trux - Follow the Winner
  Velvet Underground - Run Run Run
  Wooden Shjips - We Ask You to Ride
  Palace - Horses
  Bob Dylan and the Band - Odds and Ends
  Preacher - Life Is a Gamble
  Lenny Williams - You Got Me Runnin' (Danny Krivit Edit)
  Lonnie Johnson - The Best Jockey in Town
  Peter Grudzien - Kentucky Candy

  

• T Nile's Canadiacana

  Some Velvet Blog - 2009-04-30 16:57:22

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  Canadian singer-songwriter Tamara Nile goes by the name of T Nile and is releasing the Cabin Song EP on June 9th. It follows her 2006 debut, the acclaimed At My Table. Tamara's acoustic heart is warm and welcoming, and her songs are just beautiful, often intimate and soulful. With good reason she won Best New/Emerging Artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. If she was from the States, I guess one would refer to the genre as Americana. But being she's from Canada, one could call this Canadiacana.
  
  Cabin Song - T Nile

  

• Taktfast, krautlegt og kætir

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2009-04-28 21:01:59

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  Tvær sveitir heimsóttu mín eyru í liðinni viku sem eru frá sitthvoru tímabilinu en eiga samt sameiginlegan hljóm. Annarsvegar þýsk-ameríska sveitin The Monks, sem stofnuð var af bandarískum hermönnum árið 1964 staðsettum í Þýskalandi. Og hinsvegar hin brezka, þónokkuð töff, sveit The Horrors. Kannski ekki margt sem þeir eiga sameiginlegt nema kraftmiklar og taktmiklar lagasmíðar. Einskonar múzík blekuð af krautrokki (sem reyndar kom síðar fyrir The Monks a.m.k.) og sálarfullu rokkabillý eða blúsi. The Horrors sækja reyndar sitt stuff úr brunni bæði The Cramps, JAMC og shoe-gazer tímabilsins. En ef þið hlustið á lögin hér, þá eru þau með geislandi grúví trommuleik og væpið svipað.
  
  Nýlega kom út efni sem ekki hefur séð geisladisk áður með The Monks, efni sem tekið var upp á árunum 1964-5 og má glögglega heyra afburða frumleika miðað við tímabil. Sannarlega eitthvað aðeins á undan sinni samtíð. Líklega mjög mikilvægt fyrir velunnara rokktónlistar að kynna sér hana, því margt hljómar kunnuglega.
  
  The Horrors gáfu út nýlega út plötunna Primary Colours sem er þeirra önnur. Þeir eru ginkeyptir fyrir vel útlítandi myndbönd, og bloggfélagi minn ghostdogjr, benti réttilega á frambærilegt myndband við lagið sem ég fleygi hér fram. Áður höfðu þeir gert myndband með Chris Cunningham sem prýddi Samönthu Morton í aðalhlutverki. En allavega. Nýja platan er sérdeilis hressandi. Lokalagið er líklega eitt af bestu lagasmíðum sveitarinnar. Óbilandi taktur og ávanabindandi grúv sem leiðir út í alskyns tóna og hæðir.
  
  The Monks - Oh, How To Do Now
  The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea
  
  
  
  Að lokum er vert að benda á nýju plötuna með The Dirty Projectors. Sjötta plata þessara títtnefndu sveitar og nefnist Bitte Orca. Sérkennilegur hljómur plötunnar grípur mann heljargreipum, óvanalegir taktar og mjög bjartar og ómfagrar sönglínur kæta. Plata sem hefur unnið á hressilega með hverri hlustun.
  
  Dirty Projectors - No Intention

  

• New Ducktails Video - "Landrunner"

  stereogum - 2009-04-27 13:47:58

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  Matt Mondanile, a member of NJ BTW (and enjoyable live act) Real Estate takes care of his more abstract and/or expansive tendencies in Ducktails and Predator Vision. To date the LP section of Ducktails' discography remains somewhere in the future, but you can expect the first self-titled collection out on Not Not Fun in early May. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Landscapes out on Olde English Spelling Bee a bit later. Here's the Landscapes's driving, sunny "Landrunner" attached to the psyched-out cut-n-paste Max-Ernst-at-the-beach imagery of an Alice Cohen-directed video.

  
  Continue reading New Ducktails Video - "Landrunner"...

  

• Hangover Boogie

  PCL LinkDump - 2009-04-25 15:06:48

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  Maybe the honky-tonk piano isn't the best soundtrack for a massive hangover, but when you're feeling up to some Western swing again after last night's festivities, you might like this collection from Bob Newman.
  
  Great tunes and juvenile humor (see below)....yep, that's why I love my gal Andrea's blog.....
  
  

  

• How I Guess I Never Met Marilyn Chambers

  Heart on a Stick - 2009-04-22 15:29:00

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  Actress Marilyn Chambers - who would have been 57, today - was found dead a week ago last Sunday (you could probably partner her passing with those of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and Judith Krug to form an #amazonfail trifecta).  She was best known for having sex on film.  (Not videotape, not the Internet.  Film.)  It's unfortunate that her other gig as a model for "99 44/100% pure" Ivory soap is often noted as being ironic instead of complementary.  But you know, whatever.  I'm unfamiliar with most of her work.  When I was in high school, I sneaked home a tape of Behind the Green Door from the video store at which I worked and my reaction was mostly "Um?"  (I remember it as being arty and weird and dull; it was probably not made with 16-year-olds in mind.)  Rabid, the David Cronenberg film in which she appeared, is one of the few works by David Cronenberg I've seen only once.

  But when I heard about her death a couple days ago I couldn't help feeling like I might have met her, briefly, in some sort of low-level professional capacity.  I've wound up scraping together coin in some odd places.  But I'd completely forgotten that I was involved with this masterpiece:

  While in film school, I tried to escape the bubble by doing the occasional day or two schlepping on outside productions, upper-level grad school or bottom-barrel indie stuff, for no money.  (My services were honestly not worth much; once they were, I had little patience for these things.)  A friend I'd met on one shoot asked if I would be interested in paid Production Assistant work on a T&A comedy feature that was shooting around the city for a couple weeks.  Paid?  Would I?!

  Private Screenings produced softcore features throughout the early 90s.  They worked quickly - Beauty School sprawled across eleven whole days of principal photography - and recycled locations and talent (and sometimes footage) from past productions.  As I understand it, flicks were in the black before they rolled film:  The consistency of their product and presence of one reliable star of the correct association allowed them to presell video, pay-per-view, and pay and basic cable deals (their stuff was apparently a USA Up All Night mainstay).  Often that star was Marilyn Chambers, who starred in PS' Marilyn Diaries (1990), Breakfast in Bed (1990), Bedtime Stories (1994, available through Turner Classic Movies!), The Naked Detective (1996) and Desire (1997).  (Those last two were written by longtime NYC DJ Ken Dashow, who also acted in a couple other productions.  I invite you to ponder how your sausage gets made the next time you're mired in drivetime traffic.)

  Our production's star was Sylvia Kristel, the Dutch actress made famous by Emmanuelle but probably more familiar to Americans who were teens in the 80s as the seductress in the cable staple Private Lessons (coincidently the only movie for which Willie Nile wrote the score).  The shooting title was Sylvia Kristel's Beauty Academy, but was apparently downgraded because it sounded too highbrow.

  Beauty School concerns a competition between talent agents Sylvia and the Elvira-ish "Countess" (who I just learned was porn star Veronica Hart (NSFW), we all called her "Jane") to win a lifetime contract from lingerie magnate Otis P. Otis.  Otis supplies four models (and one very hideous, cheap-looking brassiere) to each agent for preparation; the underhanded Countess swaps Sylvia's talent with a quartet of reform school girls.  Will Sylvia be able to class these girls up in time for the showcase?  Will everyone involved have at least one soft-focus sex scene?

  The film has never made it to DVD, and I no longer have the copy of the screener I received along with my check.  I forget why there's a buff detective named Colt, or if the butch gym teacher Ms. Pfister (sample line:  "I smell a MAN!") was anything but Porky's-inspired comic relief.  Some phrases from the script are shadows on the back my skull.  It was the sort of shoot where PAs were plugged in wherever; the first thing I did was cut the hole in the plastic sheeting you see that dude peeping through in the trailer (so I guess I started in set design?), by the end I was sort of the director's assistant.  But the bulk of the time on set I spent loosely associated with the continuity department as sort of a sub-script girl, reminding the talent when they forgot their dialogue.  Sometimes running lines with them.  So things like "Bonnie Parker School for Wayward Women" and "I was searching for the perfect breasts, but now I've found the perfect pecs" (one actor freely called the screenplay "an abortion") haunt my subconscious.  There was also a fun clash of accents/impediments; Sylvia's classy Dutch lilt played against Jane's adopted Transylvanian nicely, but one of the delinquents had a Long Island accent so strong it could drain the color from aluminum siding, and the dude playing Otis decided to keep a cigar in his mouth the entire time.

  They used all location sound to maximize the huh? quotient.  So I was in charge of making sure the words you can't understand were all the right ones.

  A lot of it was a good experience.  The crew people were mostly young and fun; we'd work sixteen-hour days, go out drinking for another four (I think that might have been the first time I karaoke'd!  I think that might have been the last time I karaoke'd!), be back on set at daybreak.  When you're plowing through there's not enough time to get hung up on the quality of the material.  The eleven days were spread over three locations, including a stay on Long Island and some post-last-call time in the strip club Goldfingers, which then had a branch on the West Side.  I'm actually in the movie as a club patron, but I'm so far in back that even I wouldn't recognize me.  Some of the Goldfingers dancers stayed past their shifts to play extras.  In the scene I'm supposedly getting a private dance, and the dancer was put off that I didn't seem more interested in her.  It was 5:30a.m.  Unless you're a cup of coffee or a bed, I am not going to be interested in you at 5:30a.m.  The on-set nudity got dull pretty quick.

  For the crew.  For the talent, there were some issues.  Kristel was into her forties, but as the star was expected to show her wares; her scene was shot twice because there "wasn't enough skin" in the first one.  We reshot in a second location, just throwing black fabric over a bed.  They called it a "limbo set."  I'm sure the two tries cut together just fine.  There were strippers in the cast, and a couple Penthouse Pets, who didn't have much in the way of reservations.  Attitudes, like the production, were mostly pragmatic.  Only one of the higher-ups in the production staff seemed openly skeevy.  One actress burst into tears when it came time to do her scene, and whatever your sympathies, most of the talk away from the closed set was how inconvenient the situation was.  Another actress, who paraded around with a wild child air, walked away from a shower scene (wherein she was directed to soap up one of her co-stars) grumbling that she'd never felt so disgusting in her life.

  When Private Screenings called the following summer to see if I wanted to join the crew on that year's outing - Marilyn Chambers' Bedtime Stories - I was happy to be happily employed elsewhere.

  Chambers went back to hardcore porn at age forty-six.  She was never accepted by the mainstream film industry; it's tough for older actresses to get work, anyway.  (Who is Jamie Lee Curtis, now?  She's the Poopy Yogurt Woman.)  From her iafd page, it looks like she had sex in three films between 1998 and 2001, all directed by Veronica Hart.  (Her return, Still Insatiable, was written by Legs McNeil.)  Hart, interviewed after Chambers' death, said:  "I hadn't talked to her since last year... It was tough for her; she had like a regular job and she was working really hard. She said she'd lost a lot of weight and she was sober, and it sounded like she was not living a great life but she was kind of like in a transition period. She was working at an animal place the last time I knew. It was like an animal care place. She was hauling bags of feed in, and she didn't want anybody to know. But she said it was good because she was losing a lot of weight."  Richard Corliss' creepy obituary in Time included one of the world's most depressing phrases in reference to the actress' body:  "discovered last night in her mobile home."

  I wondered what might have become of the Beauty School grads.  I'm no longer in touch with any of the crew and never was in touch with the talent.  Hell, I'd forgotten I'd worked on the thing.  I doubt any of them would remember me, and tracking folks down for a round of "just making sure you weren't found dead in a trailer!" phone calls would be yikesville.  Armchair Googling is of limited use - some of the actresses might have married, some used stage names - but it's what I've got.

  Kristel has been recently productive.  In 2006 she released a memoir, published here as Undressing Emmanuelle (I wonder if Beauty School even manages a mention), and received a special mention at the Tribeca Film Festival for the animated short she directed, Topor et Moi (it's online, though the white-on-white subtitles are maddening).  Veronica/Jane directs both hard- and softcore films and has appeared in small roles in P.T. Anderson's Boogie Nights and Magnolia.  Kevin Bernhardt, a graduate of soaps (General Hospital, Dynasty) who played Sylvia's younger leading man (he had "the perfect pecs"), is a working screenwriter.

  Of the four women who played the delinquent girls, only one seems to still be a working actress, at least under the same name.  Grace Renn (who played "Betty," the geeky one who inevitably removes her glasses (and whatever else) to reveal that she's stunning, etc.) doesn't list the project among her credits on her website.

  Kimberly Taylor ("Kimberly," the "lead" delinquent) had been a Penthouse Pet; she came back for Bedtime Stories and was a running guest on Howard Stern's show for a while.  The more Googlable Elaina Beasty ("Chi Chi" - the "tough one," I guess), who was a blast in person, also wound up in Stern's sphere.  She "appeared on Stern's Butt Bongo Fiesta videotape in the ‘Pick Your Vagina' segment" as well as his pay-per-view New Year's Rotten Eve special.  If Stern fans are to be believed, by 1997 she was a professional dominatrix.  In a 2007 interview, old Stern sidekick Jackie Martling (whose then-wife, Nancy, had a bit-part in Beauty School) said "she may have died... I certainly hope not."

  The biggest career to be launched by Beauty School was probably that of J. J. North ("Renee," the "dumb" one).  Blonde and tiny, with mammoth implants and a Marilyn Monroe voice, she went on to star in direct-to-video fare such as Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold, Vampire Vixens from Venus, and Bikini Hotel.  Her imdb bio notes that "North quit acting in the late 90's and became a female wrestler for Roman Gladiator Wrestling; she participated in numerous matches from 1998 up until 2006."  And wow, I guess she did.  Known as "The Lethal Lady," her specialty move was the "breast smother" aka "J. J.'s kiss goodnight."  Her record was 32 wins, 54 losses, and 8 draws.  Where's her song, Springsteen?

  One confirmed passing:  David Coughlin ("Otis P. Otis"), something of a Private Screenings regular, was 47.  Hopefully the others are all alive and happy somewhere.

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• The Ghetto Brothers - Crazy Boys / vintage video

  GRANDGOOD - 2009-04-19 07:06:34

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  Taken from classic documentary on juvenile offenders, Old Enough To Do Time, this clip features The Ghetto Brothers (including Yellow Benjy) performing and discussing a song on gang violence in an unknown street in the Bronx. Jeff Chang has written extensively on the impact of the GB’s on this thing we call hippity-hop (yes, I’m still so uncomfortable with popular media’s interpretation of the term that I have trouble writing it in a serious tone).

  Peace to KingKlast.

• Nýtt frá Hjaltalín

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2009-04-15 00:01:00

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  Sannarlega mikill heiður fyrir þetta ævaforna tónlistarblogg mitt að vera falið það hlutverk að leyfa lesendum sínum að hlaða niður nýjustu afurð sveitarinnar Hjaltalín. Um er að ræða frumflutning á heimsvísu nákvæmlega hér. Og verður lagið hér frítt til niðurhals í einn sólarhring. Sem sagt bara í dag - 15. apríl 2009.
  
  Lagið heitir Suitcase Man og er af annarri plötu Hjaltalín, sem mun að mér skilst koma út næstkomandi september. Sveitin Hjaltalín barst mér til eyrna í Kastljósi að mig minnir fyrst og var það hljómmikill daraðadans sveitarinnar sem vakti athygli. Gamli Zýrður rjómi, útvarpsþátturinn, var fljótur að spila lagið þeirra Goodbye July/Margt að ugga í Kastljósútgáfu í þættinum sínum og var líklega einn af þeim fyrstu til að leika Hjaltalín í útvarpi.
  
  Á tónleikum Danielson Familie í Fríkirkjunni, hér um árið, var alveg borðliggjandi að um var að ræða hljómsveit sem ætti eftir að gera það vel og gott. Mögnuð upphitun þeirra þar vöktu ekki einungis athygli eyrna minna heldur allra tónleikagesta. Þessi indie-skotna kammerpopprokksblanda sveitarinnar hrífur og ekki skemmir fyrir einskær hæfni meðlima sveitarinnar á hljóðfæri. Sprenglærð en hafa ekki gleymt gleðinni. Ef marka má lagið Suitcase Man þá gerast Hjaltalín ögn ævintýragjarnari á notkun hljóðfæra, sem lofar góðu. Bongótrommur óma undir niðri og auk þess finnst mér hljómur vera dýpri og víðari. Mörg lög af tónum, röddum og töktum. Einnig finnst mér poppkeimurinn sem einkenndi síðustu tvö lög sveitarinnar fara dvínandi, þó aldrei langt undan, sem að mínum dómi veit á gott. Ég nefnilega kann betur við sveitina þegar hún gerist þyngri, flóknari og árásargjarnari á eyrun. Svo beisikk er ég.
  
  Hjaltalín og þeirra fólk eiga allar mínar þakkir fyrir að leyfa mér að bjóða lesendum upp á þetta magnaða lag.
  
  Munið að þetta er einungis hér í einn sólarhring. Það er einnig til sölu á tónlist.is, en þar fylgir með ansi svo mjög vafasamt remix af laginu eftir Gísla Galdur.
  
  Hjaltalín - Suitcase Man

  

• This Week's Interesting Music Releases (April 14th, 2009)

  Largehearted Boy - 2009-04-13 18:02:07

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  Metric's first album in four years, the highly anticipated Fantasies hits store shelves tomorrow.

  The week's release list is filled with quality music, Bill Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle and The Handsome Family's Honey Moon are already among my favorite releases of 2009. From the albums that have already crossed my path, I can also strongly recommend Ida Maria's Fortress Round My Heart, Papercuts' You Can Have What You Want, Pomegranates' Everybody, Come Outside!, and Wooden Shjips' Dos.

  The most interesting music release of the week may be Easy Star All-Stars' Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, a dub remake of the Beatles' classic album.

  Lights in the Attic follows its critically acclaimed (10.0 at Pitchfork) reissue of Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson with two Monks releases, the remastered Black Monk Time (with bonus tracks) and a reissue of The Early Years: 1964-1965. Other reissues of note include Beck's remastered One Foot in the Grave and two remastered Dukes of Stratosphear discs, 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot.

  What new releases can you recommend? Have I left anything off the list?

  This week's interesting CD releases:

  Amen Dunes: Dia (vinyl)
  Animal Collective: Danse Manatee (import vinyl reissue)
  Animal Collective: Spirit They've Gone Spirit They've Vanished (import vinyl reissue)
  Balkan Beat Box: Nu-Med (vinyl reissue)
  Beck: One Foot in the Grave (remastered with bonus tracks)
  Bernie Williams: Moving Forward
  Big Business: Mind the Drift
  Big Star: #1 Record
  Big Star: Radio City (vinyl reissue)
  Bill Callahan: Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle (vinyl)
  Bjork: Voltaic (import Dualdisc)
  Blue Giant: Target Heart (vinyl)
  Bob Dylan: Basement Tapes (import reissue)
  Bob Dylan: Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (import reissue)
  The Boy Least Likely To: The Law of the Playground
  Buddy Guy: The Definitive Buddy
  Camera Obscura: French Navy (import single)
  Cannibal Corpse: Evisceration Plague (vinyl)
  Caroline Weeks: Songs for Edna (vinyl)
  Circus Devils: Gringo (vinyl)
  Crippled Black Phoenix: 200 Tons of Bad Luck (vinyl)
  Death Cab for Cutie: The Open Door EP
  The Death Set: Rad Warehouses Bad Neighborhoods
  Dengue Fever: Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (dvd)
  Derek Trucks band: Already Live EP
  Dukes Of Stratosphear: 25 O'Clock (remastered)
  Dukes Of Stratosphear: Psonic Psunspot (remastered)
  Easy Star All-Stars: Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
  Eat Skull: Wild & Inside
  FACT: FACT
  Fastball: Little White Lies
  Fire on Fire: The Orchard
  Genesis: 1970-1975 (6-LP vinyl box set)
  The George-Edwards Group: 38:38 (vinyl reissue)
  Grand Duchy: Petits Fours
  The Handsome Family: Honey Moon (vinyl)
  Harvestman: In a Dark Tongue (vinyl)
  Herbie Hancock: Thrust (vinyl reissue)
  Ida Maria: Fortress Round My Heart (vinyl)
  In Flagranti: Brash and Vulgar
  Jake Shimabukuro: Live
  Jeniferever: Spring Tides
  Jill Sobule: California Years
  John Doe: Country Club (vinyl)
  Juan Maclean: The Future Will Come
  Kevin Blechdom: Gentlemania
  Kurt Vile: God Is Saying This to You (vinyl)
  Lady Gaga: Poker Face (import single)
  Life and Times: Tragic Boogie
  Life on Earth!: A Space Water Loop (vinyl)
  Malajube: Labyrinthes (vinyl)
  Marissa Nadler: Little Hells (vinyl)
  Medeski Martin & Wood: Radiolarians II
  Metric: Fantasies
  Mia Doi Todd: Morning Music
  Mike Farris: Shout! Live (vinyl)
  Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (vinyl reissue)
  Miles Davis: In a Silent Way (vinyl reissue)
  Miles Davis: Nefertiti (vinyl reissue)
  Miles Davis: Sketches of Spain (vinyl reissue)
  The Monks: Black Monk Time (remastered with bonus tracks)(vinyl)
  The Monks: The Early Years: 1964-1965 (reissue) (vinyl)
  Mount Eerie: Live in Copenhagen (vinyl)
  Mulatu Astatke &The; Heliocentrics: Inspiration Information, Vol. 3 (vinyl)
  Neko Case: Middle Cyclone (vinyl UK import)
  No-Neck Blues Band: At 6 AM We Become the Police (vinyl)
  Noisettes: Wild Young Hearts (import)
  Oasis: Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (reissue)
  Papercuts: You Can Have What You Want (vinyl)
  Peter Bjorn and John: Living Thing (vinyl)
  PJ Harvey & John Parish: Black Hearted Love (import single)
  Pomegranates: Everybody, Come Outside!
  Prefuse 73: Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (vinyl)
  Project Jenny Project Jan: The Colors EP
  Radio Moscow: Brain Cycles (vinyl)
  Serge Gainsbourg: Songs on Page One (reissue)
  Silversun Pickups: Swoon (vinyl)
  Simon & Garfunkel: Live 1969
  Sleepy Sun: New Age (vinyl)
  Static-X: Cult of Static (vinyl)
  Sun City Girls: Napoleon and Josephine: Singles, Vol. 2
  Super Furry Animals: Dark Days/Light Years (import)
  Telepathe: Dance Mother (vinyl)
  Thunderheist: Thunderheist (vinyl)
  The Twang: Love It When I Feel Like This
  Various Artists: Destroy That Boy! More Girls with Guitars
  Various Artists: Honey and Wine: Another Gerry Goffin and Carole King Song Collection
  Venetian Snares: Filth (vinyl)
  The Who: Maximum R&B; Live (dvd)
  Wildbirds & Peacedrums: The Snake (vinyl)
  Willie Nile: House of a Thousand Guitars
  Wooden Shjips: Dos
  Woods: Songs of Shame
  Yonlu: A Society in Which No Tear Is Shed Is Inconceivably Mediocre

  also at Largehearted Boy:

  previous CD & DVD release lists
  Try It Before You Buy It (music from this week's CD releases)
  2008 Online Year-end Music Lists

  tags: music cd list indie album releases

  

  

  

• This Week's Interesting Music Releases (April 14th, 2009)

  Largehearted Boy - 2009-04-13 18:02:07

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  Metric's first album in four years, the highly anticipated Fantasies hits store shelves tomorrow.

  The week's release list is filled with quality music, Bill Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle and The Handsome Family's Honey Moon are already among my favorite releases of 2009. From the albums that have already crossed my path, I can also strongly recommend Ida Maria's Fortress Round My Heart, Papercuts' You Can Have What You Want, Pomegranates' Everybody, Come Outside!, and Wooden Shjips' Dos.

  The most interesting music release of the week may be Easy Star All-Stars' Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, a dub remake of the Beatles' classic album.

  Lights in the Attic follows its critically acclaimed (10.0 at Pitchfork) reissue of Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson with two Monks releases, the remastered Black Monk Time (with bonus tracks) and a reissue of The Early Years: 1964-1965. Other reissues of note include Beck's remastered One Foot in the Grave and two remastered Dukes of Stratosphear discs, 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot.

  What new releases can you recommend? Have I left anything off the list?

  This week's interesting CD releases:

  Amen Dunes: Dia (vinyl)
  Animal Collective: Danse Manatee (import vinyl reissue)
  Animal Collective: Spirit They've Gone Spirit They've Vanished (import vinyl reissue)
  Balkan Beat Box: Nu-Med (vinyl reissue)
  Beck: One Foot in the Grave (remastered with bonus tracks)
  Bernie Williams: Moving Forward
  Big Business: Mind the Drift
  Big Star: #1 Record
  Big Star: Radio City (vinyl reissue)
  Bill Callahan: Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle (vinyl)
  Bjork: Voltaic (import Dualdisc)
  Blue Giant: Target Heart (vinyl)
  Bob Dylan: Basement Tapes (import reissue)
  Bob Dylan: Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (import reissue)
  The Boy Least Likely To: The Law of the Playground
  Buddy Guy: The Definitive Buddy
  Camera Obscura: French Navy (import single)
  Cannibal Corpse: Evisceration Plague (vinyl)
  Caroline Weeks: Songs for Edna (vinyl)
  Circus Devils: Gringo (vinyl)
  Crippled Black Phoenix: 200 Tons of Bad Luck (vinyl)
  Death Cab for Cutie: The Open Door EP
  The Death Set: Rad Warehouses Bad Neighborhoods
  Dengue Fever: Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (dvd)
  Derek Trucks band: Already Live EP
  Dukes Of Stratosphear: 25 O'Clock (remastered)
  Dukes Of Stratosphear: Psonic Psunspot (remastered)
  Easy Star All-Stars: Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band
  Eat Skull: Wild & Inside
  FACT: FACT
  Fastball: Little White Lies
  Fire on Fire: The Orchard
  Genesis: 1970-1975 (6-LP vinyl box set)
  The George-Edwards Group: 38:38 (vinyl reissue)
  Grand Duchy: Petits Fours
  The Handsome Family: Honey Moon (vinyl)
  Harvestman: In a Dark Tongue (vinyl)
  Herbie Hancock: Thrust (vinyl reissue)
  Ida Maria: Fortress Round My Heart (vinyl)
  In Flagranti: Brash and Vulgar
  Jake Shimabukuro: Live
  Jeniferever: Spring Tides
  Jill Sobule: California Years
  John Doe: Country Club (vinyl)
  Juan Maclean: The Future Will Come
  Kevin Blechdom: Gentlemania
  Kurt Vile: God Is Saying This to You (vinyl)
  Lady Gaga: Poker Face (import single)
  Life and Times: Tragic Boogie
  Life on Earth!: A Space Water Loop (vinyl)
  Malajube: Labyrinthes (vinyl)
  Marissa Nadler: Little Hells (vinyl)
  Medeski Martin & Wood: Radiolarians II
  Metric: Fantasies
  Mia Doi Todd: Morning Music
  Mike Farris: Shout! Live (vinyl)
  Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (vinyl reissue)
  Miles Davis: In a Silent Way (vinyl reissue)
  Miles Davis: Nefertiti (vinyl reissue)
  Miles Davis: Sketches of Spain (vinyl reissue)
  The Monks: Black Monk Time (remastered with bonus tracks)(vinyl)
  The Monks: The Early Years: 1964-1965 (reissue) (vinyl)
  Mount Eerie: Live in Copenhagen (vinyl)
  Mulatu Astatke &The; Heliocentrics: Inspiration Information, Vol. 3 (vinyl)
  Neko Case: Middle Cyclone (vinyl UK import)
  No-Neck Blues Band: At 6 AM We Become the Police (vinyl)
  Noisettes: Wild Young Hearts (import)
  Oasis: Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (reissue)
  Papercuts: You Can Have What You Want (vinyl)
  Peter Bjorn and John: Living Thing (vinyl)
  PJ Harvey & John Parish: Black Hearted Love (import single)
  Pomegranates: Everybody, Come Outside!
  Prefuse 73: Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (vinyl)
  Project Jenny Project Jan: The Colors EP
  Radio Moscow: Brain Cycles (vinyl)
  Serge Gainsbourg: Songs on Page One (reissue)
  Silversun Pickups: Swoon (vinyl)
  Simon & Garfunkel: Live 1969
  Sleepy Sun: New Age (vinyl)
  Static-X: Cult of Static (vinyl)
  Sun City Girls: Napoleon and Josephine: Singles, Vol. 2
  Super Furry Animals: Dark Days/Light Years (import)
  Telepathe: Dance Mother (vinyl)
  Thunderheist: Thunderheist (vinyl)
  The Twang: Love It When I Feel Like This
  Various Artists: Destroy That Boy! More Girls with Guitars
  Various Artists: Honey and Wine: Another Gerry Goffin and Carole King Song Collection
  Venetian Snares: Filth (vinyl)
  The Who: Maximum R&B; Live (dvd)
  Wildbirds & Peacedrums: The Snake (vinyl)
  Willie Nile: House of a Thousand Guitars
  Wooden Shjips: Dos
  Woods: Songs of Shame
  Yonlu: A Society in Which No Tear Is Shed Is Inconceivably Mediocre

  also at Largehearted Boy:

  previous CD & DVD release lists
  Try It Before You Buy It (music from this week's CD releases)
  2008 Online Year-end Music Lists

  tags: music cd list indie album releases

• Otto Luening, "Lines from 'A Song for Occupations'"

  ANALOG blog - 2009-04-10 17:43:47

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  Born in Milwaukee, OTTO LUENING (b. 1900) studied in Germany and Switzerland, notably with Jamach and Busoni, while earning o living as a flutist. He then returned to the United States in 1920 to begin a career as a composer, conductor, flutist and teacher at the Eastman School, University of Arizona, Bennington College, the Juilliard School, Bamard College, and Columbia University. He is one of the pioneers in the development of tape composition. His autobiography, The Odyssey of an American Composer, was published in 1980 by Charles Scribner's Sons.
  
  Lines from "A Song for Occupations" was written for Bamard Convocation in 1964 and is published by C. F. Peters. In 1984, The New Calliope Singers commissioned the composer ond premiered Lines from Blake's "Urizen" and "Vala. or a Dream of Nine Nights."
  
  One of the aims of THE NEW CALLIOPE SINGERS, founded in 1975, has been to sing new music with the kind of energy, enthusiasm, and even abandon that characterizes performances of Messiah. The members of the group, amateur and professional, have been extraordinarily talented and patient as they pioneered this exciting and unfamiliar territory. The chorus, in annual recitals in major halls in New York, has presented premiere performances of over 40 pieces in a wide variety of composing and performing styles. Those on this record are ones which have lasted especially well. High points of the group's career, under the able management of Penelope Parkhurst Boehm, include a performance of Bach's St. John Passion with baroque orchestra, a performance of Webem's Das Augenlicht with Manticore, a guest appearance with the Group for Contemporary Music, a live broadcast of Schubert and Brahms on WQXR with New York Philomusica, the resuscitation of a rare oratorio by Anton Rubinstein, the premiere of a work with computer-synthesized tape by Charles Dodge, and a staged performance of Banchieri's madrigal comedy La Pazzia Senile in a comic translation by Maurice Wright. Members of The New Calliope Singers in the two seasons during which this record was made (each selection has between 12 and 25 singers):
  
  Sopranos
  Anne-Marie Bouche
  Deborah P. Chodoff
  Betsy Johnsmiller
  Jacqueline A. Jones
  Gwen Larron
  Ellen Lerner
  Robin Levine
  Jennifer Miletta
  Barbara E. Morgan
  Margery Parker
  Pearl Powell
  Vicki Watson
  
  Altos
  Sally Durgerian
  Lori Henig
  Linnda C. Johnson
  Karen K. Krueger
  Marcia K. Miller
  Anne Marin
  Adria Mary Quinones
  Marie Cawso Stauffer
  Lisa Udel
  
  Tenors
  Bruce C. Johnson
  Ronald H. Lee
  Mukund Marothe
  Dond Matarasso
  Mitchell Morris
  Elliot Schnopp
  Gary Stephens
  
  Basses
  Hayes Biggs
  David Chodoff
  Michael Fine
  Jonathan E. Fuller
  Ed Kelly
  Kenneth Livingston
  John McDonald
  Steven Silberblatt
  John Uehlein
  
  Rehearsal accompanist:
  Michael Skelly

  

• Someday, My Spring Will Come

  Heart on a Stick - 2009-04-10 15:57:00

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  This will-they/won't-they weather has foiled my musical needs.  I want to throw off the headphone earmuffs and throw open the windows and let the bright and bouncy out to battle with neighbors' sounds while I run around humping crocus.  Global Weirding says no, here's a snowy morning, your late-April Easter will be colder than Christmas.

  Willie Nile - Run (mp3)(buy)

  The climatory ambivalence ain't helping any inclinations towards the new Willie Nile record, House of a Thousand Guitars (currently available from CD Baby or in a bizarre variety of packages direct from the musician's myspace page).  Nile is, depending on your point of view, either an unjustly overlooked blue-collar New York singer-songwriter whose career was derailed by label difficulties - Guitars is only his fifth full-length since his self-titled 1980 debut, a contract dispute caused a decade-long gap between albums two and three - or a second-rate also-ran who perpetually busks at the corner of Dylan & Springsteen Streets.

  It's easy to walk by a lot of the new disc without tossing any coin.  Even at his best Nile's a straightforward presence, at his worst his words will exhaust you with obviousness.  The title track is a miserably dated roll call of axe heroes (Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, John Lennon) which opens, "Jimi Hendrix plays all night long in the house of a thousand guitars, through a purple haze you can hear the song..."  Purple Haze!  Get it?  Wow.  It's almost galling when Nile offers, in his usual affected wheeze, "You can hear Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones and there'll be no vultures picking on their bones!"  Um, much?  Anyone who still has a subscription to Rolling Stone: The Magazine (that still exists, right?) will probably be churning their own butter all over themselves.

  A lot of the language is as automatically plugged in.  This house is located beneath both "the moon AND the stars," whoa-ho!  GPS that, motherfuckers.  When Nile sings about a "howling wolf call" in "Give Me Tomorrow" it's tough to know whether it's another nod or just another cliché.  The album wraps up with a Big Apple ode; when the lights go out, I hope you took Broadway in the office pool.

  All this is done to music that starts off energetic and agreeable (the record does have some nice guitar work, and solos are never overbearing) but soon becomes regular and tiresome.  It doesn't help that Nile's lyrically long in the tooth (and given to sledgehammered social-minded stuff; "Now that the War is Over" makes me want to firebomb orphanages), every song could lose at least a minute, simplicity is best kept short.  Cut down to three minutes, the twangy insides-out anthem "Run" would have been a go-to head-bobbing sash-opener.

  Willie Nile - Asking Annie Out (mp3)(buy)

  Like that one.  Nile's last record, 2006's Streets of New York, has a few of the same faults but falls way on the other side of the line.  Groaners (he sings about rainbows at one point, for fuck's sake... when clothes are "tattered" they are, of course, also "torn"... there is a "gun that shoots kindness"... the streets of New York are "a maze made of iron and stone") and long-winded on-and-on Dylanesque delivery are totally trumped when they actually pay off.  "Faded Flower of Broadway," a treacley Pocketful of Miracles thing that contains the line "left her dreams out in the rain" and cites Sgt. Pepper's, delivers a lush fantasy chorus that'll give you involuntary sway.  "The Day I Saw Bo Diddley in Washington Square" ignores the obvious chug and becomes a winning wisp of Irish-flavored Village poetry (Bo's performance leaves "much dirty laundry in need of repair").

  Streets has an honest exuberance and material of genuine quality.  "Best Friends Money Can Buy" is a great stomp, dressed up by a bit of Byrdsy jangle.  "Cell Phones Ringing in the Pockets of the Dead" (which sounds quite a lot like "Old Men Sleeping on the Bowery" from Nile's self-titled first record, but, whatever) binds scattershot references and an anarchic enthusiasm into something unsettling.  "Lonesome Dark-Eyed Beauty" is the song with the rainbows.  It also pairs "riddles" with "rhyme."  Mountains are (yawn) climbed and seas are swum, poets weep, yes they do.  But as angels wade, Nile asks his girl to "touch me with your midnight," says "the echoes of my fingers cross the borders of your skin."  "You don't have to be specific, you don't have to be immense, you don't have to mount or circumvent an NFL defense."  By the end of its six minutes, the singer has worked his way in, sucks harp.

  And "Annie," oh Annie.  Tripping over sunshine on the way to school, giddy with urge, innocent with intention, that song is Spring, the Spring that should be here by now.

  (Nile just played the Bowery Ballroom as part of the Conan O'Brien band send-off.  Upcoming area appearances include an instore at Vintage Vinyl in NJ on Record Store Day (with Titus Andronicus and others) and shows in Ringwood(?), NJ and Staten Island.  Concert listings here.)

  *

  It's taken several seasons, but:  Stephanie Mckay's (myspace) very good Tell it Like it Is is finally available on CD from Amazon.  You want that.

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  • Elements of Style
  • Time Ticking Tables Turning

• Föstudagsboogie #4

  B-Town Hit Parade - 2009-04-10 09:00:01

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  The Gap Band samanstóð af þremur bræðrum upprunalega frá Tulsa í Oklahoma. Sveitin var stofnuð á seinni hluta 7. áratugarins en þeir bræður slógu ekki almennilega í gegn fyrr en uppúr 1980. Fjórar af plötum þeirra náðu platínusölu (nefndar Gap Band II, III, IV og V) og fjórar smáskífur af þeim náðu toppsætinu á R&B listanum í Bandaríkjunum. Ein af þeim kom út 1984 og innihélt þetta lag hér, þrusugóður boogie slagari í hægari kantinum.
  
  » The Gap Band - "Outstanding" (Long Version)

  

• Eitthvað fyrir páskana

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2009-04-08 11:28:29

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  Hans-Peter Lindstrom og Thomas Moen Hermansen eru Norðmenn með svakalega tónlistarhæfileika. Saman mynda þeir hið ósigrandi dúó Lindstrom & Prince Thomas. Um er að ræða afar gjöfult og árangursríkt samstarf tveggja manna með óbilandi fortíðarþrá, tónlistarlega. Nýlega kom út önnur plata þessa samstarfs, II. Og ég er ekki frá því að hún sé umtalsvert betri en fyrri platan, og líklegur kandidat sem ein allra sterkasta plata ársins. Alls ekki múzík fyrir alla, siðlegt og silkimjúkt og nostalgíukennt elektró, tótal smúþness. "Adult orientated smooth contemporary easy listening" (Fullorðins þenkjandi nútíma rólyndistónlist); nokkuð öflug útskýring. Það sem einhvernveginn slær svo allt út eru listamannalegar útsetningar, óvenjulegar hljóðbrellur, framúskarandi uppbygging. Þetta gæti hafa verið tónlistin á fínum veitingastöðum í Stokkhólmi árið 1977 en samt ekki. Það er eitthvað dularfullt við þetta líka. Platan krefst þolinmæðis, en verðlaunar þig síðan ríkulega ef þú leggur við hlustir. Ákaflega gefandi plata og eiginleg skylduhlustun fyrir alla sanna tónlistaráhugamenn. Hér er eitt rosalegt. Nett bossanova stemmari í gangi hjá þeim þarna, móttökupíanó, Björgvin Gíslason á gítar (næstum því) og ákaflega kynæsandi uppbygging. Lag sem verðlaunar.
  
  Lindstrom & Prince Thomas - For Ett Slikk Og Ingenting
  
  ---
  
  Svo er hér smá nostalgíupakki. Enda hef verið gjörsamlega að drekkja mér í eldri tónlist að undanförnu, einskonar fortíðarþráhyggja. Kann að vera að þetta sé einkennilegur kokteill sem ég framreiði fyrir ykkur hér en hættiði bara að væla og veriði bara þakklát! Mikið af þessu er eðal rokkabillý. Roddarinn er með geðveikan slagara (skuggalega góður á mjög stuttu tímabili hann Rod) og svo Simple Minds með geðveikt lag. Róleg í eggin, gleðilega páska.
  
  Elvis Presley - Only The Strong Survive
  The Jaguars - Railroad Drag
  Dale Hawkins - Daredevil
  Dale Hawkins - Number Nine Train
  Rod Stewart - Cut Across Shorty
  Simple Minds - I Travel

  

• THE BLACK CLOUD - 2009-04-08 10:06:12

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  Thoughtography
  
  
  
  
  
  "Ted Serios exhibits a behavior pathology with many character disorders. He does not abide by the laws and customs of our society. He ignores social amenities and has been arrested many times. His psychopathic and sociopathic personality manifests itself in many other ways. He does not exhibit self-control and will blubber, wail and bang his head on the floor when things are not going his way."
  
  

  

• MacRock 8 - Canada Cream Corn Can Crease Crybabies Coronations

  Vinyl Mine - 2009-04-02 18:15:42

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  I'm kinda getting worn out with this burst of blogging but I can't NOT get by without noting the stellar HC/Punk line-up on Saturdaynight -- it has a hole bunch of good 'uns --highlights inclood reunited Spanish Bombs and the prolific End of Year ("Michael Larsen" court. DeathWish Inc.). Stick some doom and some 80's generic-core in a grinder and out came Black Teeth. DC's Police & Thieves hew to Faith/Void/Threat altar worship ("Exit Strategy" via Young Blood Recs). Had I ever heard the originals, I'd kinda get nostalgic it's that yeah. I politely fail to point out the whole "you were in diapers when this music was new" meme-thing. If I write anymore, my elbows will collapse and I'll pee in my pants. The rest o the lineup
  
  

  Blue Nile

  181 North Main St., Harrisonburg, VA, 22802

  3:30pm - 3:50pm	Nervous Habits
  4:05pm - 4:25pm	Constrictor
  4:40pm - 5:00pm	Just Die!
  5:15pm - 5:35pm	Shards
  5:50pm - 6:10pm	The Guilt
  6:25pm - 6:45pm	No Excuse
  7:00pm - 7:30pm	Police & Thieves
  7:45pm - 8:15pm	Kingshead
  8:30pm - 9:00pm	Balaclava
  9:15pm - 9:45pm	Savage Land
  10:00pm - 10:30pm	Black Teeth
  10:45pm - 11:15pm	Spanish Bombs
  11:30pm - 12:00am	End of a Year

  
  

  

• Plants and Animals

  Faronheit - 2009-04-01 05:04:50

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  The last straight pop album from Peter Bjorn and John, "Writer's Block," won me over in a lot of its aspects. Apart from "Young Folks" being my favorite song of 2007 and its eventual popularity leading to a high point for the trio, there were a number of also-great songs on that album. The point being, at least half the songs on "Writer's Block" were worthwhile in one aspect or another, they achieved some degree of success and got mad props from Kanye West and plenty seemed right in the world of these Swedes. Then they decided to record an all-instrumental album last year called "Seaside Rock." I immediately ignored it, did not and probably won't ever listen to it. I'm not against instrumental records, but I wanted blissful pop songs from these guys, not some easy-ish listening fluff. Peter Moren also released a largely acoustic solo album, with mixed results. But now Peter Bjorn and John are back with a new album that's a proper follow-up to "Writer's Block," so of course my ears perked up. "Living Thing" is the title of the new one, and you'll find it in stores today.
  
  Here's the part where I curse Kanye West in what may seem like a side tangent but is most assuredly related to all this. Kanye's albums are for the most part great, looking past that auto-tune dominated "808's and Heartbreak" from last year. The guy knows how to come up with compelling beats and rhyme behind them, there's no doubt about that. But then he got it into his head that Peter Bjorn and John would be cool guys to work with. So they played some shows together, with the trio being Kanye's backing band. I'm holding that experience, along with probably many open dialogues with Kanye, as being responsible for the outright failure of the new album "Living Thing." See, for the most part, Peter Bjorn and John appear to have all but abandoned guitars of any sort, instead creating a percussion and vocal-based pop record. Aside from a few stray electric and bass guitars scattered across the record's 12 tracks, you get a whole lot of beats, both from a drum set and a computer, with the occasional piano, handclap of children's choir filtered in. The approach is extremely sparse, and in effect it turns what could have been a lush pop record into an abstract and somewhat boring album with pop aspirations. Disappointments abound.
  
  The band also pulls a couple other sonic experiments that work to varying degrees. To start, the title track "Living Thing" is a one-off venture into Afropop and it reminds me of Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al," but in a much less appealing way. The song stands apart from much of the rest of the album. The two songs featuring a choir's worth of voices are first single "Nothing to Worry About" and "Lay It Down," the former featuring an overly wordy chorus and the latter being generally juvenile in its outward use of the line "hey, shut the fuck up boy." Yet despite both of those songs having their own problems, they may just be the best two things about this album. They also sound the most hip-hop inspired and probably could've even benefited from a guest appearance by their friend Kanye. What happened to the cool, extended electric guitar instrumental portion of the 7+ minute "Up Against the Wall" or the lovelorn acoustic strumming that made "Paris 2004" such a delight? They're certainly nowhere to be found on "Living Thing," and the album suffers for it.
  
  My intention is not to say Peter Bjorn and John should've just re-written "Writer's Block" and released it under the idea that it'd be just as popular. To be fair though, I might not have minded as much had they done that. Because what "Living Thing" comes off sounding like is an experiment. Peter Bjorn and John sound like a group of guys looking for a new direction but unsure of which path to take exactly at the moment. Let's call it a transitional record and hope that they find stronger ground on their next album. Honestly, I don't see myself coming back to this album much for the rest of the year, save for a couple of select tracks that might eventually entangle me in their nets. But I do with the trio well, and do hope they make their way back into the general public's consciousness in the near future. After all, if you've got one "Young Folks" in you, chances are there's another one hidden in those brains of yours somewhere- it's only a matter of time before you find it.
  
  Peter Bjorn and John- Nothing to Worry About [alt]
  
  Stream the entire album at Myspace
  
  Buy "Living Thing" from Amazon

  

• Shena

  Karinski.net - 2009-03-31 23:55:38

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  In dance music, female vocalists rarely get name-checked, never mind seen in a scantily clad video. We’ve been dancing to songs like Michael Gray’s ‘The Weekend’ and Alex Gaudino’s ‘Watch Out’ for years but have we ever heard of the vocalist, Shena?

  A session singer originally, last week Shena released her new single ‘Can’t Stop The Rain’ and although it didn’t do big things, it must surely have tickled the ears of Hed Kandi or Ministry’s A&R people. Sounding like the closest thing to Chic, particularly I Want Your Love, in many a year, it’s full of funky horns, a hip shimmering bassline and Nile Rodgers’ bells. Radio 2 have been playing it on their B-list but I’d love it to pick up somewhere else in the future.

  Paul Lester says it better.

  Click here to view the embedded video.

• man foreground, woman behind

  WFMU`s Beware of the Blog - 2009-03-31 08:41:34

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  I don't want to fall into that trap.  You know the one where because we are seeing a film, or listening to music 40 years after it was made it doesn't seem to be all that shocking.  As a teenager I walked out on
  Godard's "Breathless", the very first time I went to a midnight movie. Of course, I am horrified at that juvenile snafu, but I didn't know any better.  I had to be taught to understand French Cinema in all of it's oddities. Yet, I have been watching "Who are you Polly Magoo?"  for over a week now: rewinding, fast forwarding and I still don't have a clue what to say about it.  Cinematography wise it's a gas.  Fab angles, odd shots of crowds and high places in Paris, the fashion world has never looked more extra terrestrial.  But these stylized images are so part of our almost mainstream now it's hard to be as shocked as we might have been had we sat in the audience on opening night of William Klein's 1966 film.  Criticizing the Parisian fashion world at the birth of its youth market is an easy hit.  Models always look silly  when we see them from behind the camera, vamping and sashaying to and fro.  Magazines and still photography seem to create a peace that separates the action from the outcome and allows the observer to fetishize, belittle or worship as we please. 

  William Klein was a fantastic photographer before he shot this film, with heavy credits in the fashion industry.  He knew firsthand the insanity of the magazine hierarchy and its' willing subjects. Because this film was made as the French New Wave was winding down, that influence feels hearty and obvious.  After all, Klein was an American, at the height of anti-American feelings in France.  One couldn't just waltz in and not make a big nod without trench coats flapping or ballet flats mussed up.  Klein interjects humor and absurdity that frees his influences from their New Wave forefathers and offers up an early Woody Allen quality that suggests we are all in on the joke, we just don't know where we heard it first.

  My only complaint about "Qui Etes-Vous Polly Magoo?" is that the story we are being sold, about how vapid the fashion industry is, especially its models, is such a duplicitous tale.  While we mock them, we also worship, and look to them for strength of good style character. The women in his film are seen as robots to visual reward, yet the male viewers enjoy those efforts.  It's hard to be sympathetic to the poor male lead who frets about Polly's vacuousness while he day dreams about her fashioned false front.  As seen through the eyes of a male film maker this recurring tale will always be resolved with 'man in foreground, woman behind'. 

• Nikke Finke Strikes Back: Says Variety Piece Was An Ordered Hit After Negotiations To Buy Her Site Failed

  :: The Playlist :: - 2009-03-24 10:41:38

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  Man, we'll try and keep the internecine inside-baseball squabbles short cause its possible you couldn't give a rat's ass, but you know how bloggers can never resist the temptation to discuss ourselves.
  
  Obviously by now you've probably read -- on a blog no doubt -- about a three pronged attack from Variety on bloggers, rightfully bemoaning the new school of loose journo ethics, lamenting their growing obsolescence and taking aim at their greatest competition (however, you really should only feel upset with the trade if you've made these transgressions and they've hit a nerve) -- some of the bigger names in the blog world, David Poland (a vocal Variety dissident), Jeffrey Wells, etc.
  
  However, many seem to think the harangues are a thinly-veiled offensive against Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke (Deadline Hollywood) and while that's a bit overstated (they're also generalized pieces as well), unsurprisingly, Finke thinks its all about her too in a retort she wrote last night called, SUNDAY SOUR GRAPES?
  
  Her state of sanity aside, she does deliver a damaging TKO flurry back at Variety claiming that head EIC Peter Bart ordered the hit on her Godfather-style, after negotiations to buy her site fell through.
  

  "Since I did not sign a non-disclosure agreement, I am free to tell Hollywood the following: On February 27th, Neil Stiles, the president and publisher of Variety Group, called me saying Reed Business Information CEO Tad Smith was pushing him to discuss an acquisition of my site."

  Finke then says Bart was not informed of his bosses interest in acquiring her site and when he found out he was incredibly angered and ordered the assault.
  

  "Within a couple of days, the idea of Variety owning DHD was dead. I later learned that the trade publication's editor Peter Bart was not consulted by his overlords about the overture. Instead, he heard about it third-hand. I heard Bart was pissed. Then last week, Bart ordered up for Sunday's Weekly Variety not 1 (written by Mike Fleming), not 2 (written by Cynthia Littleton), but 3 (written by Peter) separate articles about Hollywood bloggers that focused on me. No one from Variety bothered to call me in advance."

  No offense Nikkie, but if your info is true, Don Corleone didn't call up Luca Brasi and tell him in advance he was going to sleep with the fishes (either it's a hit or it's journalism, but you can't have it both ways). She then goes on to reiterate the email she sent to Variety brass about the impending articles she said she knew were coming, blah, blah, blah.
  
  More importantly if Finke's claims are true -- and admittedly as nutty as the reporter can be is this is one of her more sober pieces -- it appears Variety's botched assassination attempt has blown up in their face. If it is true, it looks bad, real bad. If it really proves anything, it's that Variety are as thin-skinned as the new generation of bloggers that continue to get into personalized chest-puffing pissing matches.
  
  Regardless we're sure you, the audience, relishes a time, when the author's ego was in the backseat and the story was the story, and not about the writer itself. The biggest take away we got from the Variety was the lack of graciousness and courtesy in the blogosphere, but with no rules, no editors to enforce them and or make cooler heads prevail, and Variety seemingly playing the same juvenile game as those they're criticizing, its doubtful this narcissistic game will change anytime soon.
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Why We Should We Have Been Rooting For 'Watchmen' All Along?

  :: The Playlist :: - 2009-03-24 09:53:36

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  With "Watchmen" drawing lukewarm to hostile reviews, and with its box office take finishing well below the $150 million production budget (and a not-much-rosier picture overseas), its safe to say that, ignoring the meager profit the film will eventually show somewhere down the line, the film is a disappointment. We're now going to be living in a film world where executives will say things like "We don't want another 'Watchmen' on our hands." The comparisons to "Blade Runner" by the film's fans are more than appropriate, in that you won't get a green light by comparing your film's appeal to a Warner Bros. catalog tile that took years of re-releases to show a return on a hefty investment.
  
  But what if "Watchmen" was a success? Here are five positive factors that would've resulted from Zack Snyder's adaptation scoring big at the box office...
  
  1) As argued excellently by Devin of CHUD.com, "Watchmen" was the movie Zack Snyder wanted to make: While it was a success or a failure on other's terms, it's the perfect representation of what he wanted to accomplish onscreen. Given Snyder's seriously slack acumen, he was a puzzling choice for the material in the first place, but its telling that WB had a property they had valued for over twenty years and decided to give so much freedom to Snyder anyway. Filmmakers notice this fidelity, and in a world where some openly shit-talk their former employers, WB has to be looking mighty appetizing for, if not low budget auteurist, at least big name studio guns who have the an appropriate vision and ideas behind the camera.
  
  2) The star system takes another hit: Out of all the fan-dreamed casts for "Watchmen" compiled over the years, the one Warner Bros. hired has to have the lowest wattage. It's not that these were cheap, fresh up-and-comers, Channing Tatum's or Megan Fox's- these were people who were playing the fourth or fifth lead in terrible romantic comedies and television shows no one was watching. As much of a fan someone would be of, say, Matthew Goode's role, they'd have to acknowledge he wasn't a guy whose phone was ringing off the hook. If "Watchmen" hit big, and it would have to be one of the top grossers of the last few years to do so, it would be a further blow to the already-dying notion that you need a name to score a hit movie. Not to mention it would have increased exposure for one of the cast's shining lights, Billy Crudup- there's a guy who has long deserved his big break.
  
  3) Embrace the R-rating: "Watchmen" certainly earned its R-rating, featuring many of the more gruesome details of the source while also grossly embellishing others. However, the R-rating also suggested that, for once, this kiddie genre of superheroes-on-film was being taken seriously, a genre playground where sometimes monstrously flawed characters were given a chance to explore their humanity. In the increasingly safe world of superhero filmmaking, where the top subgenre of the post-9/11 world has helped render modern audiences docile and complicit in the moral absolutes that would allow a slovenly cowboy infant to be re-elected to a second term, a little bit of color, even if it was mostly gratuitous red, was appreciated. Perhaps the WB dropped the ball on marketing this to adults instead of comic book manchildren- an approach with more integrity but also more commercial uncertainty. But if "Watchmen" was the zeitgeist film it needed to be, we'd have serious filmgoers beginning to look at these kiddie heroics in a different way.
  
  4) For The Love Of Alan Moore: Many of the more undemanding audience members who had never previously read "Watchmen" had to have their interest piqued by the film. If there's one achievement of the film, it's that it rewards the curiosity of those wondering just exactly what this comic was. WB planned a massive Internet campaign geared towards those compelled to pick up "Watchmen" the graphic novel for the first time, and the hope is that the film spurred people to stop acknowledging comics as the realm of the kiddie superheroics. For one, it might also give them a chance to embrace the idiosyncratic work of Alan Moore, and increased exposure for such a maligned art form is warranted. Read a comic, people- you might learn somethin'.
  
  5) Big Blue Dick: "Watchmen" might be the biggest studio production to ever prominently feature a male character nude for an extended period of time. While penis exposure of Billy Crudup's Dr Manhattan was conservative within the film, there's no doubt it was definitely on the minds of plenty of filmgoers, some of whom reacted with typically juvenile distaste. But male nudity, and shame over male sexuality, remains an MPAA lightning rod, and since we all know ratings are driven by cash (who else can explain torture porn pictures skirting X but getting away with an R almost every week?), "Watchmen"'s big blue dick success would likely pave the way for a bit more lax standards over full frontal male nudity. While there's no active campaign to get more male genitalia onscreen, it's a bigger picture issue, an attempt to deflate America's ratings board puritanism that causes apoplexy when someone grabs a breast, not when they stab a breast.

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• I Nirvana in vinile

  Indie For Bunnies - 2009-03-23 08:57:07

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  “Nevermind”, “In Utero”, “MTV Unplugged” e “Bleach” verranno ristampati in vinile.

• "All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"

  Keep The Coffee Coming - 2009-03-18 12:55:42

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  A leisurely morning has meant a late start to Coffee. I think it was yesterday's festivities. My friends and I enjoyed our St. Patrick's day celebration. We sat and laughed and talked and ate, the best combination for a wonderful evening. The new corned beef recipe was the best I've eaten. The time in the oven gave it a most amazing flavor. I've decided it is now my only recipe for corned beef.
  
  We have been celebrating festivities all winter. I keep a calendar of events from the obscure (tomorrow is the Pillsbury Dough Boy's birthday) to the grand. The next big festivity will be Easter dinner. My friends have decided to host.
  
  When I was little, I got all gussied up for Easter. My hat was flowery and I wore little white gloves. My dress billowed around the bottom puffed out by a petticoat. My socks were anklets with ruffles at the top, and I wore Mary Jane's. My coat was a spring coat, a light coat. I remember a dark blue one with white buttons. We always hoped for a warm Easter Sunday.
  
  We'd run to see what the Easter Bunny had left, eat as much as my mother would let us then we'd get ready for church. The church was filled with color for the first time since lent had begun. Lilies were all around the altar. Everyone was dressed to the nines. All the little girls had the same ensemble I did, colors and fabrics being the only differences. The boys all dressed like miniature men. They wore suit jackets, dress pants and clip on ties. In those days, bow ties too were popular and so were fedoras in little boys' sizes. The choir always sang at Easter mass.
  
  Every Easter we went to my grandparents' house. They always gave each of us an Easter present, a small basket with a chocolate rabbit and jelly beans. I have only one vivid memory of all those Easters. My great grandfather always sat in a rocker by the furnace in the living room. He scared me. He never said anything. He just mumbled and sometimes he'd spit. He was what they always called senile in those days. One Easter, when I walked by him, he stole my Easter basket. The last thing I remember is running down the long hall to the kitchen at the other end of the house screaming the whole while. My mother told me she went and got my basket back. That part I don't remember. I just remember the screaming.

  

• New Lucky Soul

  8/1 - 2009-03-15 22:46:56

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  Motown, Dusty Springfield, Ronettes, Smiths, New Order, Kinks, Spector, Scott Walker, Sticky Fingers, There She Goes, Donovan, Blondie, Bobby D, Twisterella, Dionne Warwick, Minnie Ripperton, Lee and Nancy, Serge and Jane, Camera Obscura, el Perro del Mar, Doo Wop Do Wop, Big Hammond, Soaring Strings, Nile Rodgers
  
  MP3: Lucky Soul - Whoa Billy
  ++
  MP3: Lucky Soul -The Great Unwanted

  

• Formleg föstudaxþrenna

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2009-03-06 09:44:43

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  Hó hó hó it's magic. Hljómsveitin Here We Go Magic kom mér svolítið á óvart. Kannski er best að láta meðlimi sveitarinnar útskýra þetta sjálfa. En sem sagt Luke Temple gékk til lið við sveitina og úr varð þessi líka sérkennilega en skemmtilega plata. Hún hefst á gríðarlega þjóðlagakenndum tribal trommum sem síðan leiðast út í fagrar melódíur og "Paul Simon"-legt söngl sem gerist óáheyrilega aðlaðandi. Platan í raun skiptist í tvennt. Eftir lag 4 þá umbreytist platan í indie-ambient drón. Ekki svo mjög skemmtilegt nema með cannabisefni í miklu magni í blóðinu, svo sem fínt, en þó ekki eins hresst og fyrri hlutinn. Lokalagið reyndar endar þetta með dúndur hressleika. En stuff sem kemur á óvart og verður ávanabindandi. Hefði líklega samt verið dúndur plata ef hún hefði verið meira heilsteypt. "Fangela" er eins og bastarður af Fleet Foxes með viðkomu í Animal Colective. Geðveikt lag, kynnið ykkur þessa plötu.
  
  Here We Go Magic - Fangela
  
  
  Súpersveitin Swan Lake er mætt aftur, eða öllu heldur er að fara mæta aftur. Þessi sveit sem átti frábæra plötu fyrir um 2 árum, Beast Moans, virðist gera betur á nýju plötunni, Enemy Mine. Spencer (úr Wolf Parade), Casey (úr Frog Eyes) og Dan (úr Destroyer) mynda þetta magnaða tríó, skipta niður á milli sín lögum, styðja við hvern annan þannig að úr verður í raun, tja, líklega ein af beztu plötum ársins. Að mínum dómi persónulegri, einlægari og meira gæsahúðahvetjandi en fyrri platan. Sem fyrr þá eru Spencer Krug lögin í uppáhaldi, enda einn af bestu lagahöfundum dægurlagatónlistar samtímans, eins og hið drungalega "A Hand At Dusk" sannar. Reyndar þá er Dan hressari á þessari plötu en áður, "Heartswarm" er magnaður andskoti og ekki er Froggarinn síðari. Brillíjant stuff. Þess má geta að Spencer var í Mexíkó í fríi í febrúar. Ekki spyrja mig hvernig ég veit það.
  
  Swan Lake - A Hand At Dusk
  
  
  Að lokum. Gleraugnafyrirmyndin mín, Buddy Holly og líklega einn mikilvægasti tónlistarmaður poppsögunnar. Rúm 50 ár síðan hann lést í flugslysi ("the day the music died"). Út kom síðan gríðarlega frambærilegur pakki í minningu kappans, "Memorial Collection". Skyldueign fyrir fólk sem segist vera áhugafólk um tónlist. Helber SCHnillingur með stórum SCH. Fokk. Ég set in tvö lög, af því ég er í svo góðu skapi.
  
  Buddy Holly - It's Doesn't Matter Anymore
  Buddy Holly - Crying, Waiting, Hoping

• Speaking of the Garden of Allah ...

  PCL LinkDump - 2009-03-05 00:53:03

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  Should you long for the days of lore, why not check out Clifton Guilaroff's blog?
  Scion of famous Hollywood ancestry, Cliff lives with his mother (the former 1950's lead-pencil heiress and socialite, now penniless lush) Cobina Cugat, bandleader husband Rusty Kadiddlehopper, their two cats Poppers & Rage and Basset Hound Pigtails in a one bedroom apartment in the North Valley. Sadly, Cobina believes it is 1954 and that she and her son still live in an impossibly lavish villa at the Garden of Allah Hotel in Hollywood. To make his life easier, he is doing nothing to change that belief.
  Clifton will keep you up to date on Hollywood history, the Garden's residents, and other flotsam at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights. Oh, and he sells vintage jewelry, too.

• New Elvis Perkins In Dearland Live Video - "Shampoo" (Gold Room Session)

  stereogum - 2009-03-03 10:20:41

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  This clip paints a nice image of what it's like to be Elvis Perkins In Dearland. This is a Gold Room Session, from the same people that bring you the DUMBO Sessions, so it's essentially the same premise (record a bunch of live songs for embeddability) except that the DUMBO sessions are filmed at a label-operated space in DUMBO, Brooklyn, while the Gold Room is somewhere outside the industry circuit, upstate and away, closer to the sound of livestock than the buzz of publicists. Also the room is actually gold hued and full of '70s shagadelic adornment to match the band's handsomely hirsute espressos-and-Proust vibe. The song we have from the sessions, "Shampoo," is a standout amongst standouts and one of the best folk songs you'll hear this year, and I'm not just saying that because it contains the best John Jacob Niles reference since Mos Def in Black Star. The tour dates are listed after the vid because this is what they sound like live so you'll probably want them.

  
  Continue reading New Elvis Perkins In Dearland Live Video - "Shampoo" (Gold Room Session)...

  

• Suddaleg bjórdaxelektroferna

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2009-03-01 12:35:10

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  Get ekki annað en verið frekar sáttur við múzík undanfarna daga. Svona þegar heimurinn allur stendur undir þrumuskýi er eins og tónlistarmenn vakni til vitundar og helvítis gleðin í tónlistinni hverfur og dekkri hlutir fara að gerast. Gleðipopp er ekki ofarlega í huga mínum þessa dagana enda bara fínt að hvíla sig á "síbylju" (vafasamt orð). Elektróið er gjöfult um þessar mundir. Tim Exile er kappi sem er dálítið undarlegur. Gerir út frá Berlín og er að koma með nýja plötu nú í lok mars, platan Listening Tree. Fyrsta smáskífan er "Family Galaxy" sem hefst eins og dæmigert Boards of Canada lag en svo fer þetta í allt aðra átt og verður mun áhugaverðara. Gríðarlega efnileg plata sem ég reyndar verð að viðurkenna að tekur þokkalega margar hlustanir áður en henni verður kyngt.
  
  Tim Exile - Family Galaxy
  
  Svo er það Fever Ray, hliðarverkefni Karin Dreijer söngkonu The Knife. Ég ætla ekkert að skafa af hlutunum heldur beinlínis fullyrða að plata hennar verður líklega ofarlega á árslistum 2009. Að mínum dómi er þetta langbesta plata ársins hingað til, ásamt Swan Lake, og á eftir að vera í lok árs í efstu sætum lista þessa bloggs. Platan er skuggaleg, svo drungaleg að ég ráðlegg fólki að hlusta á hana til að byrja með í skömmtum. Sándið er óviðjafnanlegt, ómur sem minnir sterklega á Visage, Gary Numan, Ultravox og Steve Strange á árunum 1979-1982, nema hvað að þessir hljómar og sánd eru notuð á annan hátt, nútímalegri. Ég fæ einfaldlega ekki nóg af þessari hrikalega mögnuðu plötu. Svo er þetta myndband við lagið When I Grow Up ekkert nema helber schnilld.
  
  Fever Ray - When I Grow Up
  
  
  
  Svo ber að nefna Gui Borratto. Hann sendi frá sér gleðilegt elektró fyrir tæpum 2 árum nú er hann mættur skuggalegri tóna.
  
  Gui Borratto - Take My Breath Away
  
  Að lokum í þessum elektrópakka er nauðsynlegt að benda á samstarfsverkefni Modeselektor og Apparat, nefnilega MODERAT. Evrópskt og seiðandi elektró í þyngri kantinum. Platan byrjar á þessu og aftur verður ekki snúið. Flott samstarf.
  
  Moderat - A New Error

• 'Inglourious Basterds,' The "Worst Movie Ever Made?" Based On The Teaser Trailer?

  :: The Playlist :: - 2009-02-28 16:17:58

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  We'll admit, the Eli Roth-looking torture-porn-y posters and the campy, slightly over-the-top trailer of "Inglourious Basterds," have taken the enthusiasm out of our sails for Quentin Tarantino's new WII movie. Or maybe, they've just managed our expectations: we're probably getting something closer to the B-movie movieness "Kill Bill," or "Death Proof" rater than the rawness of "Reservoir Dogs," or the greatness his script points to, but that's ok. Those films are good and fun, but it's maybe just not the masterpiece hinted at in the screenplay. That's fine, we'll just have to live with that.
  
  But asking if it's "The Worst Movie Ever Made?," just based on the teaser trailer? Shouldn't a publication like the U.K. Guardian be above that kind of reactionary and juvenile hyperbole? One would think, but in a recent "review"/ rant of the film based on the teaser trailer (not even a full trailer yet!) the Guardian has given Tarantino's new movie a full thumbs down.
  

  "Perhaps there will prove to be a level of postmodern self-ironising to this new Tarantino offering, which stars Brad Pitt as second world war soldier Lt Aldo Raine, a Jewish-American determined to take it to the Nazis with extreme prejudice? Perhaps serving up Kill Bill with the Holocaust as a backdrop will be a fabulously worthwhile endeavour? Somehow, though, I doubt it. If this film isn't the work of a man who not only has nothing left to say, but is revelling in his ability to continue not saying it, then I don't know what is. That Gorno king Eli Roth is playing one of Raine's crack troops (he's the one smirking in the trailer) serves as a clear enough pointer as to where this film is heading (well, that and the fact that Raine's speech has the customary "I shall strike upon thee with furious anger" cadences). There's going to be lovingly, lingeringly-choreographed gore galore and, what's more, we're going to be encouraged to cheer at it. Because, you see, the victims are Nazis and they deserve it. Being the objects of our blood-thirsty engorgement, that is."

  We agree with the sentiments expressed here, the skepticism therein and the not-so-subtle level of disappointment conveyed , but c'mon now, is this what it had come to these days? We'd bemoan the state of journalism, but it is just a op-ed like blog post (sadly becoming synonymous with easily dismissible rants of zero validity) and not a report or review, but still an inflammatory headline like that? Weaksauce. We would have thought the Guardian of all places, would know better.

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Alcuni aggiornamenti: nella sezione Buy...

  ancora in viaggio - 2009-02-24 22:37:19

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  Alcuni aggiornamenti: nella sezione Buy online, alla vostra sinistra, troverete finalmente il link diretto al mailorder di Jestrai, tramite il quale potrete acquistare con un semplice click la vostra copia di "From Gea with love" (nella versione vinile + cd omaggio) alla modica cifra di 15 euro. Inseriti inoltre nella sezione Press (sempre a sinistra, sotto la sezione Tabs) i links alle prime recensioni di "From Gea with love" e ad un paio di recenti interviste. Nella sezione Testi (a sinistra, sotto la sezione Video) troverete invece il link ai testi delle nuove canzoni (clicca qui). Sul Myspace ufficiale della band potete (per ora) ascoltare in streaming l'intero Lato A di "From Gea with Love". Enjoy it!

  Pubblicato da smasho | Commenti
  
  Tags: recensioni, interviste, audio, gea news, indie news, fans, curiosità, blog updates
  
                                                              
  
  

• The Essential Black Lips

  Indie Selections For Your Erections - 2009-02-14 17:45:37

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  So the Black Lips are pretty awesome. Though hey are self described as "flower punk," many will say they fit into the proto-punk/ garage rock revival mold of bands. Though technically true, to pigeonhole them as this would be an injustice. They are so much more than a throwback act. Their newest album, 200 Million Thousand, will be coming out later this month, and this mix contains six songs from that release. It's a great album. For the mix itself, it generally progresses from their newer, better recorded material to their earlier, more lo-fi and gritty recordings. It's not entirely chronological though, as I put songs from 200 Million Thousand and Good Bad Not Evil together, as well as their first two albums, Black Lips! and We Did Not Know the Forest Spirit Made the Flowers Grow at the tail end of the mix. Songs from their 2005 album and fan-favorite Let it Bloom are on their own and in the middle of the mix. Enjoy!
  
  The Essential Black Lips
  
  1. Starting Over
  2. O Katrina!
  3. Veni Vidi Vici
  4. Trapped in a Basement
  5. Cold Hands
  6. Short Fuse
  7. I'll Be With You
  8. I Saw a Ghost (Lean)
  9. Navajo
  10. Lock and Key
  11. Drugs
  12. Bad Kids
  13. Old Man
  14. It Feels Alright
  15. Everybody's Doin' It
  16. Boomerang
  17. Not a Problem
  18. Dirty Hands
  19. Sea of Blasphemy
  20. Fairy Stories
  21. Hippie, Hippie Hoorah
  22. M.I.A.
  23. Time of the Scab
  24. Ain't No Deal
  25. Nothing at All
  26. Stranger
  27. Sweet Kin
  28. Fad
  29. Throw It Away
  30. You're Dumb
  31. Juvenile

• I fratelli prosecco prograsso (Fat is sexy)

  batteria ricaricabile - 2009-02-14 02:22:17

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  La settimana scorsa mi sono schiodato dal letargo. Tre mesi di allontamento dal clubbing, dieci dal clubbing cittadino sono stati interrotti in onore dei Wighnomy Brothers e delle loro famigerate maratone techno alcoliche dietro davanti sopra sotto alla console. Per avere un'idea eccoli all'opera quando me li sono persi qui più o meno un anno e mezzo fa con Robag Wruhme che fa jogging davanti a Raving, I'm Raving e Monkey Maffia che balla attorno ad un albero del lido. Gente umile e di panza, capace di tracannare intere bottiglie di vodka liscia e capace di set a oltranza che ti ripagano di tutti gli stitici da due ore contate.
  
  
  
  I due entrano dentro a mezzanotte e mezza, più o meno un quarto d'ora prima dell'apertura porte e del mio ingresso, gironzolano e prestano attenzione al set di apertura con un aria pacata che non lascia intendere quello che succederà da lì a poco. Quando devono prendere possesso dei piatti, la prima azione di Robag è quella di mettere un bicchiere basso pieno di prosecco a girare al posto di un vinile. L'inizio è scuro e compresso, con un suono classico. Via via su quello scheletro si incrociano membra sempre più umane fatte di bassline alla Saunderson e rotondità funk di provenienza house. Io mi sento molto arruginito: non riconosco niente a parte Nina Simone con Sinnerman e a parte il vero dj tool dell'anno, ovvero il discorso dell'elezione di Obama (già usato anche dai due ragazzi in apertura). Monkey Maffia è scazzato perché uno dei monitor non va e perché dopo il primo cocktail che gli hanno servito hanno portato solo bottiglie di prosecco per Robag e si è dovuto adattare. Robag invece produce il meglio di sé ballando, scolando una bottiglia dopo l'altra e trovando usi alternativi alle cuffie. Tutti cercano di ravvivare la cassa rotta aggiustando fili o dando botte laterali e Robag trasforma questi gesti nel ballo del pugno al monitor o in quello dello schiaffo di vinile sul monitor.
  
  
  
  Con giradischi e cdj, il loro mixato è sporco vecchia scuola, con i pezzi che entrano e riescono quando necessario. Forse mi sogno il basso slappato di Art Of Letting Go di Supermayer, ma via via che dalla terza bottiglia passano alla quarta i suoni si arrotondano e ammorbidiscono un po'. In un set da cinque ore sulla chiusura di Pimp Jackson partirebbero le ultime due ore prima bpitchkompattose e poi swingjazzorchestrali. Invece qui che al massimo toccheremo le tre ore e mezza, partono con le luci accese gli ultimi due pezzi: su un intro prolungato che sembra un edit di Windowlicker (ma mica era così lungo su disco?!) canto a squarciagola il wehaveallthetimeintheworld di Thom Yorke coi Modeselektor - io che canto una canzone di Thom Yorke, non mi si può vedere. Poi parte un pezzo kompaktosissimo (sono quasi sicuro che fosse Mariposa di Koze) e Robag fa di tutto: mette la quinta bottiglia sul giradischi - cadrà subito - e poi scende ad abbracciare uno a uno tutti i presenti. Vogliono suonare un ultimo disco ma per le sei devono chiudere tutto. Poteva essere Evan & Chan nel remix una-lacrima-sul-viso di Superpitcher, o W.E.E.K.E.N.D. di Arling and Cameron, Raving, I'm Raving o chissà cos'altro. Bisogna però far togliere quest'abitudine agli italiani che urlano "Ul-ti-mo, Ul-ti-mo".
  
  
  

  The White Flash - Modeselektor feat. Thom Yorke
  
  

• Definitive Jux to reissue Funcrusher Plus

  So Much Silence - 2009-02-14 00:48:54

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  She probably didn’t know it at the time, but my wife got me one of the best gifts ever when she ordered Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus for me in the first year or so of dating in 1997. Twelve years later, Definitive Jux, the label run by Co. Flow’s El-P, is reissuing what rightly should be considered an independent classic on May 5 in CD, vinyl and digital formats. The digital release will include the pre-1995 tracks Juvenile Techniques and Corners 94, as well as the last post-Funcrusher Plus songs Simple, DPA and Simian Drugs. The album, originally released on Rawkus (don’t ask El-P about that label) has been out of print since 2006; I still have my CD and I even kept the insert with questions you’re supposed to answer and mail back to the label.

  At the time, in ‘97, I’d been hung up and somewhat obsessed with the Native Tongues, Hieroglyphics and the like. Then Funcrusher Plus came along and pretty much rattled my brain, its desolate production and bleak verses pretty much living up to the album’s title. I’m still not sure I’ve completely wrapped my head around this album.

  Check out Pitchfork for a great interview with El-P, Bigg Jus and Mr. Len about the news of the reissue.

  • Company Flow | Blind
  • Company Flow (feat. BMS) | Vital Nerve

• Prime recensioni ed interviste radio...

  ancora in viaggio - 2009-02-10 21:42:12

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  Prime recensioni ed interviste radio per "From Gea With Love" (da Gea Myspace)  "...nel trio bergamasco lo spirito indie-rock convive con la tradizione...le canzoni sono spigolose, aritmiche...in fondo sono dei cantastorie un pò naif..." (S.Cerati - Rumore febbraio 2009) "...il gruppo propone nove tracce dal tiro sempre teso...un nuovo lavoro che piacerà ai fan della rock band bergamsca e agli estimatori dell'indie rock fatto di sonorità distorte e ritmi convulsi..." (O.Gordini - Rock Sound febbraio 2009) "Un viaggio tra tormenti e passioni. Da un estremo all’altro. Suonato con dovizia e mestiere. Tagliente, obliquo, stralunato..Formazione triangolare che spinge e danna l’anima. Il fuoco, l’ardore e l’amore!" (E.Tamagnini - Nerds Attack! webzine) "Questo disco dalle sonorità rock, hardcore punk a tratti rasenta il crossover più melodico...bel volo, in vinile!" (V.Carlocchia, MusicClub webzine) Ed inoltre: 1. intervista sulle frequenza di Radio BG (la radio dell'Università), tenete d'occhio il palinsesto e questo link: http://rbg.unibg.it  2. nella settimana dal 09 al 13 Febbraio, su Radio Onda d'Urto di Brescia, "From Gea With Love" è il "Coccolato della Settimana (!!!)" durante la trasmissione "Baraonda d'Urto" (da Lun a Ven su Radio Onda d'Urto dalle 16.00 circa). Grazie JeanLuc!...per maggiori info andate qui!! Trovate tutto il palinsesto, gli orari ed i programmi a questo link: www.radiondadurto.org Settimana prox intervista a Steo per la stessa trasmissione! A presto, stateci bene! Ge_ass

  Pubblicato da smasho | Commenti
  
  Tags: recensioni, interviste, radio, sounds, gea news, indie news, fans, curiosità
  
                                               
  
  

• Mánudags Sveitaró

  B-Town Hit Parade - 2009-02-09 11:03:00

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  Lagið 'Reason to Believe' eftir Tim heitinn Hardin er ein af mestu perlum dægurfólks sögunnar að mínu mati. Einfalt, grípandi og fullt af tilfinningu og sál. Það eru greinilega margir sammála mér í því, enda hefur lagið verið coverað af hérumbil öllum. Cher, Scott McKenzie, Rod Stewart, Glen Campbell, Bobby Darin og Carpenters hafa öll tekist á við það. En þrátt fyrir að útgáfan hans Rod sé býsna góð, þá segi ég að The Youngbloods hafi vinninginn.
  
  
  Wá gæjinn til vinstri passar ekkert inní hópinn. Hann er rosalega 80's
  
  Youngbloods eru þekktastir fyrir hippasmellinn 'Get Together' en náðu aldrei þeirri hylli sem þeir áttu skilið. Platan 'Earth Music' frá 1967 er full af sveitaskotnu gleðipoppi og er ein af fyrstu kántrýrokk plötunum. Þar fær einmitt Reason að hljóma.
  
  *Fegurrrrð*
  
  » The Youngbloods - "Reason to Believe"

• Future Tense: The Week That Was Hit the U.S. in March

  Sound Bites - 2009-02-05 14:05:20

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  Oh happy day. One of my favorite records of 2008 was The Week That Was' debut album, a lush production that recalls the days of Kate Bush, ZZT and The Blue Nile but minus some of the '80s ickier sonics. So I'm very curious how the Brewis brothers are going to pull the album off in a live setting when The Week That Was tours here briefly in March. But if anyone can do it, they can. Field Music were always great live, and all of them are also in TWTW. I guess the real question is how many other musicians will be along for the ride. I can't wait to find out. Here' where:

  Mar 7 The Empty Bottle     Chicago, Illinois
  Mar 9 Mercury Lounge     New York, New York (tickets)
  Mar 15 The Grog Shop     Cleveland, Ohio
  Mar 18 SXSW     Austin, Texas

  The weekend of Mondo Kim's closing, I picked up the 7" of The Week That Was' brilliant "The Airport Line," mainly because it was $2 but then the b-side, the Razmataz Lorry Excitement remix of "Learn to Learn" turns out to be amazing, transforming the song from Peter Gabriel into Heaven 17:

  MP3: The Week That Was - Learn to Learn (Razmataz Lorry Excitement remix)
  
  And the original just for comparison purposes:
  
  MP3: The Week That Was - Learn to Learn (album version)
  
  Buy the album from Insound. It's brilliant.
  
  

• The Week That Was

  Some Velvet Blog - 2009-02-04 21:35:52

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  I've been quietly geeking out over the new record from The Week That Was whose self-titled debut album was chosen by Mojo Magazine as the 8th best album of 2008. I can no longer remain quite about this one. In tone the record is reminiscent of Eno's Another Green World, The Blue Nile, early Tears For Fears, XTC circa Oranges and Lemons with cinematic touches of orch & prog rock (esp. Peter Gabriel).
  
  THTW is a solo project from Peter Brewis of Sunderland's Field Music. Inspired by the writing of Paul Austere, the album is a strange delight. The nine piece collective create a sublime gem of a record. They'll be at SXSW and may be worth putting on your dance card.
  
  "Learn To Learn"
  

  
  

• New Orleans Picture Gallery

  A Deeper Shade Of Soul - 2009-02-03 13:02:01

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  Here are some photos from last month's trip to New Orleans:
  

  Guitarist at Commander's Palace - Three piece jazz band would come to each table to take requests. I asked for "All Of Me." They did it well.
  I took this photo from a trolley car at around noon on New Year's Day.
  

  Bathroom at the Louisiana Music Factory. Dexter Gordon on top of Jackie Wilson next to the toilet paper. Perfect.
  An abandoned house in the Lower Ninth Ward. The empty lot surrounding it contained other homes, pre-Katrina.
  Little Freddie King at D.B.A.
  Gospel Brunch at the House Of Blues.
  

  Gumbo, Jambalaya and a shrimp Po Boy at Mother's.
  

  The Muffaletta at Central Grocery
  
  

  Raw Oysters at the Oyster Bar in the French Quarter after seeing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
  

  Ridiculous brunch at Commander's Palace: Pecan pancake, duck confit and a poached egg with hollandaise. I, unfortunately, didn't have the courage to order this out of fear that I would have a coronary on the spot
  

  Ladies getting on stage to dance during Kermit Ruffin's set at the Blue Nile.
  

  Kermit Ruffin
  

  Kermit Ruffin
  

  Robin Kinchun at House of Blues. Started off slowly, but she got good as the evening progressed.
  

  Rainy night in New Orleans.
  

  
  

  Behind the counter at Mother's.
  

  
  
  

  Artwork by Robert Tannen, a great New Orleans artist who grew up in Coney Island, and moved to New Orleans in the 50's.
  

  Dancing in the street.
  

  
  

  Staff at Cafe Du Monde taking a break.
  Ridiculously good baked oysters with Parmesean cheese at Acme.
  

• :: The Playlist :: - 2009-02-02 12:32:34

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  An Onion Redeemed. Last week the Onion A/V club, or at least some of its members, fell out of favor with many including us over their Guilty Displeasures features. The premise was: "Everyone has at least one work of art that they just don't understand the hype about. What are yours?"
  
  It got ugly to say the least and Tasha Robinson in particular put herself up between the crosshairs for admitting she didn't think "Dr. Strangelove" was funny. We reeled with stunned shock and began to pity her.
  
  Readers weren't the only ones angered. A/V Club writer Scott Tobias said, "With all due respect to my colleagues, I take no pleasure in witnessing the slaughter of sacred cows, and even less in reluctantly wielding the ax myself. I'm feeling a bit like Woody Allen in Annie Hall, ready to drag out Marshall McLuhan from behind a theater standee to tell everyone why their opinions are so painfully wrong-headed."
  
  We basically felt the same way and the feature basically made us want to scream. A/V member Noel Murray was even more to the point. "You know what I don't enjoy? Lists like this," and said the entire feature was one of the most contentious ones the staff had ever written.
  
  We were about to write them off, or at least Robinson, but this week she greatly redeems herself in the flip side Sacred Cows feature. The premise this week was: "What are your pop-culture 'sacred cows'? What entertainment opinions do you consider so inarguable that attempts to argue the subject provoke instant rage or frustration?"
  
  Their collective love for the Simpsons feels more than a little dated, but Robinson redeems herself with this reminder that no genre is worth dismissing outright.
  

  "What I absolutely can't stand, and what puts me into a fighting mood faster than anything else, is people blanket-dismissing an entire genre or subculture or area of effort, especially with the always, always, always-uninformed "I'm not interested in that stuff because it's all the same." So here's my pop-culture sacred-cow statement: Every genre is deep, nuanced, complicated, and diverse to its knowledgeable fans. That doesn't mean every genre is for all tastes. You don't have to like industrial or classical or conscious rap or Chicago blues or Beat poetry or fantasy novels or reality TV or whatever else. You aren't even obligated to try them, much less to make the effort to immerse yourself in them enough to tell the classics and the keepers from the trash. Life is short, the world is big and full, and there's nothing wrong with walking away from things that don't speak to you. But people who get snotty or self-righteous about it, as though their personal tastes reflect some sort of immutable reality, steam the hell out of me. Ignorance isn't attractive, but saying "I've never really gotten into [Westerns, opera, FPS games, whatever], and I'm not really interested" isn't nearly as ignorant as lumping together every example of a genre as unnuanced and unworthy."

  Nicely said and well done. She's no longer dead to us. But, Amelie Gillete continues to prove she is the worst thing to happen to the A/V Club since... well ever since she joined. Being a hater is something all of us can be from time to time; taking pride in the fact that you're a hater is just juvenile. As you were.

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Lil Wayne + Pharrell - "Ay Man"

  Oh, Sweet Nothing - 2009-02-02 12:16:08

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  Ok, one more quickie before I call it quits. From Discobelle, another Pharrell/Lil' Wayne collaboration track. I can't hate, it sounds like Pharrell is back on top of his production game, and I'm actually getting a little excited for whatever project these tracks are coming out of. Is that Pharrell that sounds like Juvenile at the beginning of the track though??
  
  "Ay Man"
  Discobelle Post

• @ Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future -...

  Discheria ElRocco 0.01 - 2009-01-30 10:48:59

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  @ Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future - The Bird And the Bee Approccio da Martini con oliva shakerato in ambiente retrò per questo duo che risuona Bacarach con tinte  elettroniche. Operazione impeccabile fin dalla copertina che diventa una sorta di manifesto sci-pop a testimoniare le influenze sixties e la base di partenza del progetto. L'ipnotica voce femminile di Inara George è il filo conduttore a cui ci si aggrappa anche nei momenti meno riusciti del disco cioè quelli dove  l'ape invcece di svolazzare sui fiori dfinisce con il ronzare a rompere i colgioni all'ascoltatore. MP3# Lifespan Of A Fly - The Bird And The Bees Torrent # The Bird And The Bees :: L'avete Chiesto :: MP3# Flames Like Thunder - Post War Years Sono di casa presso un blog chiamato The Russian Club e sono clienti della Nile on ma la cosa più interessante è che abbiano un " Danceable, other-worldly synth-beat driven sound" celebrato in molti dance club europei.

  Pubblicato da elrocco | Commenti
  
  Tags: musica, music, free, mp3 , label, 2009
  
                                               
  
  

• cubikmusik update

  CubikMusik - 2009-01-28 22:58:43

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  haven't been posting as often as i'd like over the past while. not sure why but there seems to be a few of us out there that have quieted down since before christmas. business of getting ready for that and the stress of putting together best of year lists is always a challenge. ;)
  i've been listening to lots of new music over the last while as well as devouring books. such is the weather in ireland, not much hangin' on the beach and whatnot.

  two posts i came across today that has got to be shared are from jus' like music and jez at innersounds.
  'myron and e with the soul investigators' at one and 'alice coltrane, pharoah sanders and joe henderson'.

  another thing i've been doing over the last month or so is thinking about cubikmusik and what it means to me. along with that have been wondering if it allows me to share a lot of what catches my eye (pun intended) on most days. i've always loved design and art and over the past few years have delved into both worlds somewhat by starting to collect what i think are interesting pieces of art/design/visual stimulation. now i want to try and collect a digital collection of various odds and ends that i come across and at the same time share them with those of you into that kinda stuff. some of this (like the item below) will be music related but most probably won't. if you are into this kinda stuff (music/deisgn/art/film/books) do check out horse latitudes who do it all well and with style.

  so, enough words and more visual stimulation and possibly choice musical control for anyone looking for "maximum modularity and customization of their controlling experience" from jazzmutant. these are a wonderful piece of design that would be appear to be quite effective at their purpose. anyone use one of these? care to comment?

  
  

  

  artists who use lemur in some shape or form include 'daft punk', 'richie hawtin', 'bjork', mia, hot chip and many others.

  (via notcot)

  so, expect more of this kinda stuff. hope you enjoy.

  and thanks to (my bro) keith for egging me on

  Download One Pure Thought (Supermayer Remix)

• cubikmusik update

  CubikMusik - 2009-01-28 21:59:03

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  haven't been posting as often as i'd like over the past while. not sure why but there seems to be a few of us out there that have quieted down since before christmas. business of getting ready for that and the stress of putting together best of year lists is always a challenge. ;)
  i've been listening to lots of new music over the last while as well as devouring books. such is the weather in ireland, not much hangin' on the beach and whatnot.

  two posts i came across today that has got to be shared are from jus' like music and jez at innersounds.
  'myron and e with the soul investigators' at one and 'alice coltrane, pharoah sanders and joe henderson'.

  another thing i've been doing over the last month or so is thinking about cubikmusik and what it means to me. along with that have been wondering if it allows me to share a lot of what catches my eye (pun intended) on most days. i've always loved design and art and over the past few years have delved into both worlds somewhat by starting to collect what i think are interesting pieces of art/design/visual stimulation. now i want to try and collect a digital collection of various odds and ends that i come across and at the same time share them with those of you into that kinda stuff. some of this (like the item below) will be music related but most probably won't. if you are into this kinda stuff (music/deisgn/art/film/books) do check out horse latitudes who do it all well and with style.

  so, enough words and more visual stimulation and possibly choice musical control for anyone looking for "maximum modularity and customization of their controlling experience" from jazzmutant. these are a wonderful piece of design that would be appear to be quite effective at their purpose. anyone use one of these? care to comment?

  
  

  

  artists who use lemur in some shape or form include 'daft punk', 'richie hawtin', 'bjork', mia, hot chip and many others.

  so, expect more of this kinda stuff. hope you enjoy.

• Beelzebubba

  Good Rockin` Tonight - 2009-01-27 16:09:26

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  The Dead Milkmen were a satirical punk band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consisted of Joe Genaro ("Joe Jack Talcum"; guitar, vocals), Dave Schulthise ("Dave Blood"; bass), Dean Sabatino ("Dean Clean"; drums), and Rodney Linderman ("Rodney Anonymous"; vocals, synth).
  
  In 1987, Detroit Tigers rookie Jim Walewander became notorious for being a huge fan of the band; this fact was noted on his baseball card, which described the group as "an obscure punk-rock band". Walewander invited the Dead Milkmen to Tiger Stadium to see a game in which he hit his first and only major league home run, and the Milkmen had a short conversation with Tigers manager Sparky Anderson. I mention this because the following year Beelzebubba was released and when I saw it in the store, there was one of those stickers on the shrink wrap and it had a blurb on it by this guy saying they're loud fast and obnoxious and I love this band. Of course it was so many years ago I can't remember exactly. I thought that was pretty cool and although I had seen the Milkmen's previous albums in the record store I had never purchased any of their albums, but on that day I did buy Beelzebubba based purely on the sticker and boy am I glad I did. By the end of the week I had purchased their previous three albums. To this day this is still one of my favourite albums and it kicks butt from beginning to end.
  
  The Milkmen skewered popular culture, indie trend-followers, and the intellectually challenged, while frequently indulging their taste for tastelessness. Critics alternately praised and dismissed the band as geeky, juvenile wiseasses and virtually every review seemed to contain the word "sophomoric," and either you found them funny or you didn't. I did.
  
  Bad Party
  Born to Love Volcanoes
  The Guitar Song
  Buy It
  
  
  Funny Toon

• Beelzebubba

  Good Rockin` Tonight - 2009-01-27 16:09:26

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  The Dead Milkmen were a satirical punk band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consisted of Joe Genaro ("Joe Jack Talcum"; guitar, vocals), Dave Schulthise ("Dave Blood"; bass), Dean Sabatino ("Dean Clean"; drums), and Rodney Linderman ("Rodney Anonymous"; vocals, synth).
  
  In 1987, Detroit Tigers rookie Jim Walewander became notorious for being a huge fan of the band; this fact was noted on his baseball card, which described the group as "an obscure punk-rock band". Walewander invited the Dead Milkmen to Tiger Stadium to see a game in which he hit his first and only major league home run, and the Milkmen had a short conversation with Tigers manager Sparky Anderson. I mention this because the following year Beelzebubba was released and when I saw it in the store, there was one of those stickers on the shrink wrap and it had a blurb on it by this guy saying they're loud fast and obnoxious and I love this band. Of course it was so many years ago I can't remember exactly. I thought that was pretty cool and although I had seen the Milkmen's previous albums in the record store I had never purchased any of their albums, but on that day I did buy Beelzebubba based purely on the sticker and boy am I glad I did. By the end of the week I had purchased their previous three albums. To this day this is still one of my favourite albums and it kicks butt from beginning to end.
  
  The Milkmen skewered popular culture, indie trend-followers, and the intellectually challenged, while frequently indulging their taste for tastelessness. Critics alternately praised and dismissed the band as geeky, juvenile wiseasses and virtually every review seemed to contain the word "sophomoric," and either you found them funny or you didn't. I did.
  
  Bad Party
  Born to Love Volcanoes
  The Guitar Song
  Buy It
  
  
  Funny Toon

• Seth Rogen's 'Green Hornet' Might Get Canned By Sony

  :: The Playlist :: - 2009-01-25 23:55:32

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  Is Sony going to can Seth Rogen's "The Green Hornet" project? It appears ever since Stephen Chow ("Kung Fu Hustle") began to "waffle about his participation in the film," the studio has started to get cold feet. We never thought this project would be good for Rogen and we do hope it dies, especially without Chow who seemed perfect for it.[Hitflix]
  
  "The fact it and Chris Nolan weren't nominated is a shame. And I plan on casting a write-in vote for it on the final ballot," says one anonymous Academy member. Could more people protest the "The Dark Knight" snub by casting a write-in vote? It won't matter as their vote would just go to waste, but even adults can be silly and juvenile. [E!]
  
  Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry and Noah Taylor have joined Tim Burton's "Alice In Wonderland"? File under rumor for now. [/Film]
  
  "It's definitely possible. I really hope it works out. It would be a really fantastic experience I'm sure." - Dakota Fanning has learned the art of diplomatic answers and admits that she is in talk to appear in the "Twilight" sequel "New Moon." What she means is, if my agent and cheap-ass Summit come to agreement I'd love to star in it. If not... [HitFlix]
  
  "Charlie's Angels III"? Someone would bother with this idea? Yes, Drew Barrymore might bother with this for some reason. [Sci-Fi Wire]
  
  Isla Fisher has joined Johnny Depp in the Gore Verbinski-directed animated adventure project "Rango." Abigail Breslen is also doing joined the voice cast. [MTV]
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Nicole Atkins, Locksley, Willie Nile & Pat DiNizio to play benefit salute to Buddy Holly at Vintage Vinyl

  extrawack! - 2009-01-24 21:31:30

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  As anyone in the Jerz will tell you, the best record store on the East Coast is Vintage Vinyl in Fords.  No further discussion needed.  I just found this press release in our in-box for what looks like a killer free event at "The Double V":

  
  
  Record Store Day Sponsoring "Buddy Holly Lives!" festival at Vintage Vinyl to raise money for Parkinson's research
  
  January 23, 2009- Record Store Day, presented by a consortium of independent music retailers spanning the United States and overseas with hundreds of store locations, will be sponsoring Buddy Holly Lives on January 31st, 2009. Vintage Vinyl Records will host "Buddy Holly Lives," a live in-store concert event.
  
  The free concert will seek to raise money for the Light of Day Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease. The event begins at noon and is expected to run until about 5 PM.
  
  The performers, including celebrated NY rocker Willie Nile, Columbia recording artist Nicole Atkins, Pat Dinizio, lead vocalist of the Smithereens, MTV featured artists Locksley and more, will each perform their favorite Buddy Holly tunes to celebrate the life of the rock legend and commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his tragic plane crash. The event will take place on the Vintage Vinyl in-store stage.
  
  Vintage Vinyl Records is an independently owned and operated records store in NJ since 1979.
  
  To learn more about this event, visit vvinyl.com and vvinyl.com/buddy.php
  
  Location: Vintage Vinyl Records, 51 Lafayette Road Fords, NJ 08863
  

  
  

  
  

  My Morning Jacket & Nicole Atkins - "Islands In The Stream (Live at MSG on NYE 09)" mp3

• Patetici tentativi di tastare il polso al paese reale

  inkiostro - 2009-01-24 11:27:16

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  DISCLAIMER: Questo post parla di Grande Fratello, preferenze sessuali, informazione. È lunghissimo, diviso in due parti, ed è anche un tantino moralista. Non parla di musica. Se leggete sapete a cosa state andando incontro. Parte seconda:  LO STATO DELL'ARTE METTILO DA PARTE Magari poi sono io che vado troppo oltre, ma la sensazione è che questo status di diverso sia pure corresponsabile della leggerezza con cui si occupa di alcune notizie l’informazione italiana. Accade quindi che l’Ansa due giorni fa batta una notizia che suona più o meno così: Leonia Coccia, la 23enne macellaia lesbica che di questo Grande Fratello è una new entry, ha recitato una scena lesbo in un film hard. Di questo film sono già disponibili, pare, 100000 copie pirata pronte ad essere vendute in tutta Italia. Purtroppo io l’originale dell’Ansa non lo posso leggere; però l’ho dedotto facendo un giro per la rete, dove è stato declinato, dalla fonte diretta o per tramiti vari, in diverse fantasie.   Partiamo però dal concetto originale: non suona un po’ strano anche a voi? Perché mai le copie del dvd dovrebbero essere “pirata”? Qualunque casa di produzione con sottomano un’attrice hard che attualmente abbia visibilità nazionale si premurerebbe di ristampare il prima possibile le copie di tale ipotetico dvd. Eppure in questo caso si parla di “copie pirata”. Strano. Ma quando parlando per caso mi avevano detto del “film porno” di Leonia, l’altra cosa che mi suonava strana è che ricordavo di aver letto, qualche giorno prima, questa notizia: [...] La Coccia, 23 anni, romana, attualmente nella casa del «Gran Hermano» il Grande Fratello spagnolo ma che lunedì prossimo sbarcherà nell'edizione italiana, ha una relazione sentimentale con una donna. Si tratta di Caterina D'Agostino, protagonista di «La sfortuna mi fa capoccella», un documentario sulle tematiche dell'omosessualità femminile, visibile su You Tube […] (pubblicato il 18 novembre 2008 e che finora ha avuto solo 13 visualizzazioni), la D'Agostino racconta di avere una relazione sentimentale con Leonia. Appare anche la madre della concorrente del Gf, che parla con grande serenità del rapporto della figlia con la compagna, con cui è diventata amica. «Con Caterina ci siamo incontrate quattro anni fa — racconta Leonia — all'inaugurazione di un centro commerciale, io facevo le carte, lei era lì e dalle carte è uscito fuori che aveva un'attrazione per le donne». A sua volta la D'Agostino racconta: «Dopo tre anni di convivenza ho incontrato altre tre ragazze, sempre più giovani di me. Per un anno e mezzo ho portato avanti quattro storie, ma alla fine... mi è partita la testa». [http://www.corriere.it] Documentario che peraltro non si sa neanche se sia vero: prodotto come docufiction (quindi vai a sapere quali sono i fatti reali e quali quelli immaginati), secondo alcuni Leonia e la madre ne sarebbero solo attrici: […] non si è trattato di un outing ma di un’indiscrezione nata da un documentario disponibile su Youtube pescato dal Corriere della Sera. […] Leonia non sarebbe gay e quel video on line, e proposto anche da noi, sarebbe semplicemente una fiction. […] Stando alle dichiarazioni di un lettore che ha partecipato alla realizzazione del documentario, Leonia e Caterina sarebbero solo grandi amiche: la loro lunga relazione, durata almeno 4 anni, sarebbe dunque una invenzione narrativa, nata magari per ‘nascondere’ l’identità della vera compagna di Caterina. [http://www.televisionando.it]   Uh-oh. Già sembrerebbe che il Corriere abbia fatto un buco nell’acqua con il documentario. Prontamente ripreso in giro per il web, e vabbé, capita. Ma il punto è che questa notizia e quella del film hard potrebbero essere quasi accostate da una mente semplice. Certo, l’equazione “documentario con protagonisti omosessuali” = “film lesbo” = film hard è un po’ forzata. Un po’ tanto. Eppure, vuoi vedere che… ma no, la scintillante stampa italiana? La gloriosa agenzia ANSA? Allora ho cominciato a leggere le varie versioni:   Leonia però ha deciso di regalarci di più di una semplice vita sotto ai riflettori infatti, sul mercato nero, è già in agguato un filmino-scandalo dove la Coccia recita in scene lesbo con la sua compagna. E se l'Ansa stima la vendita di almeno 100mila copie pirata tra Palermo e Milano, noi pensiamo che questo film avrà un effetto ancora più grande. Leonia non ha mai negato la sua omosessualità e ha addirittura dichiarato di avere una relazione stabile con una donna ormai da quattro anni. Il suo nome? Caterina D'Agostino che, per dirla tutta, è la protagonista di un documentario sul lesbismo caricato su YouTube nel novembre 2008. [http://www.newgol.com]   Uh, beh, no: qui c’è un film hard E un documentario in cui questa Caterina parla del lesbismo. Per dirla tutta. E in cui (ma non si dice) c’è anche Leonia. Epperò: Leonia ha dichiarato questa sua relazione? Davvero? Vogliate apprezzare:   A corroborare questa tesi soprattutto le dichiarazioni della stessa Leonia durante il Gran Hermano: avrebbe detto di essere attratta solo dai ragazzi e di non essere interessata a giochetti lesbo. [http://www.televisionando.it]   Beh, no. Non ha dichiarato nulla del genere. Ma magari vuole solo tenerselo per sé. Vediamo piuttosto che dicono altrove del film hard:   […] Parliamo del lesbo-dvd di Leonia, la concorrente del Gf arrivata dal Gran Hermano spagnolo. In uscita sul mercato della pirateria, la versione integrale del film scandalo "La sfortuna mi fa capocella" dove la mora e trasgressiva Leonia Coccia recita in scene lesbo con la sua compagna Caterina D’Agostino. Sono 100.000 le copie che saranno vendute sulle bancarelle da Palermo a Milano secondo le fonti del mercato nero. [http://www.ilgiornale.it] [http://www.leggo.it]   Ah. Il lesbo-dvd. La versione integrale del film scandalo. Che sarebbe la docufiction di prima. E vabbè, se lo dice Il giornale. Dico, un’autorevole testata nazionale. Talmente autorevole che hanno delle personalissime “fonti del mercato nero”. L’espressione ha un che di straordinario. Chi sono, vorrei sapere, cosa sono queste fonti? I giornalisti del Giornale parlano con i boss della camorra? Davvero? Sto sottovalutando il Grande Giornalismo d’Inchiesta di scuola montanelliana? Poi sì, certo, ci sono espressioni evitabili. Vogliate gradire il tocco di colore: “le bancarelle”, le note bancarelle di dvd contraffatte, diffusissime da Palermo a Milano. “Da Palermo a Milano”. Solo andata. Quindi a Trento nulla, attaccatevi. E poi c’è quell’errore di battitura su “capoccella”. Epperò, insomma, l’avranno visto ‘sto dvd, se ne parlano così approfonditamente. Come qualcosa avranno visto anche loro:     Grande Fratello/ Leonia Coccia ha girato un film lesbo CHOC AL GRANDE FRATELLO: LEONIA HA GIRATO UN FILM PORNO "La sfortuna mi fa capo" è il titolo del film a luci rosse, in cui Leonia Coccia si esibisce in scene lesbo con la bella Caterina D'Agostino. Prodotto in 100mila copie, per il mercato illegale, il film è in vendita sulle strade delle principali città italiane. [http://www.affaritaliani.it] Di questa versione comincerei con l’apprezzare il talento dell’articolista, davvero un virtuoso. Ammirate l’evoluzione dal titolo all’occhiello. Il titolo del film che adesso è diventato “La sfortuna mi fa capo” (ah, i problemi del copiaincolla…), il film in vendita “sulle strade delle principali città italiane”. Non è un’immagine deliziosa? A me viene in mente il neorealismo, un po’ Visconti, un po’ Pasolini. Forse Ladri di biciclette. E poi c’è “la bella Caterina D’Agostino”. “Bella”, come si dice sempre delle ragazze dei film osé. “Bella” o…    Il sito web Affaritaliani.it ha pubblicato una notizia bomba su una delle concorrenti del Grande Fratello, la nuova entrata Leonia Coccia. La ragazza, infatti, avrebbe girato una scena lesbo in un film porno dal titolo "La sfortuna mi fa capo". Il film a luci rosse, in cui Leonia Coccia si esibisce con la prosperosa Caterina D'Agostino, è stato prodotto in 100mila copie "per il mercato illegale" e, sempre secondo il sito web Affaritaliani.it, il film sarebbe in vendita "sulle strade delle principali città italiane". [http://piacenzanight.com] “Prosperosa”. Sì, ecco, “la prosperosa Caterina D’Agostino”. Bello, bello, perfetto. La notizia è ampiamente virgolettata dal sito di sopra (quindi è copincollata senza ritegno ma almeno apertamente), e si parla sempre di questo fantomatico film a luci rosse. Un film che è già in vendita ovunque, perbacco. Giusto? […] Secondo alcune fonti, nei prossimi giorni potrebbe essere diffuso un film nel quale la bella Leonia avrebbe recitato. […] il ruolo recitato da Leonia sarebbe alquanto trasgressivo. Dopo aver rivelato più o meno esplicitamente la propria bisessualità, potremmo vedere Leonia recitare delle scene lesbo insieme alla sua compagna. Il film che ha destato tanto scandalo si intitola “ La sfortuna mi fa capocella”, e sarà disponibile praticamente in tutta Italia. Inoltre, la bella romana, già in passato ha dimostrato di non temere il giudizio in merito alle proprie scelte sessuali. Sarebbe già presente on line sul sito YouTube un filmato in cui Leonia rivelerebbe in presenza della madre i propri gusti sessuali. [http://www.spettegola.com] Sbagliato. Non è ancora disponibile. Perbacco. In più questo film si chiama “la sfortuna mi fa capocella”, come diceva Il Giornale. Cielo. Leonia del resto non teme giudizi: rivelerebbe i propri gusti sessuali persino in presenza della madre. Su YouTube. In un filmato. Che sfortuna vuole essere proprio un estratto della docufiction di cui sopra. Fortuna che ci sono i bene informati: […] la romana Leonia che, a sua insaputa, è tra le più ricercate su YouTube. Il motivo? La sua fidanzata Caterina D’Agostino, dopo aver fatto girare in rete un video nel quale racconta la sua love story con la concorrente romana, ha fatto sapere che esiste anche un video, o meglio un film, anzi per essere precisi un film hard, che vede protagoniste le due fidanzatine in atteggiamenti che solitamente si hanno sotto le lenzuola di casa propria. [http://quomedia.diesis.it] A questi non posso dire nulla. Perché se la D’Agostino fa sapere le cose a loro, beh, chi sono io per controbattere? Poi sono rimasto ipnotizzato dalle crescenti precisazioni dell’autore. Chiuderei pertanto con la delizia del giornalismo italiano: Gf, Leonia spunta il film hard Scene lesbo con la compagna Cristina Si tinge di giallo la presenza di Leonia Coccia, concorrente del Grande Fratello 9, a un film scandalo dove reciterebbe in alcune scene di sesso lesbico con la sua compagna. Tgcom, infatti, ha cercato il film incriminato, dal titolo La sfortuna mi fa capocella, ma non ha trovato la presenza di Leonia in alcuna scena, al contrario da quanto affermato dall'Ansa. Svista o tagli? Leonia ha comunque pubblicamente ammesso la sua bisessualità. Secondo l'Ansa, sarebbe in uscita sul mercato della pirateria, la versione integrale del film scandalo La sfortuna mi fa capocella dove la mora e trasgressiva Leonia Coccia del Gf9 reciterebbe in scene lesbo con la sua compagna. Oltre 100mila le copie che si venderanno sulle bancarelle da Palermo a Milano, secondo le fonti del mercato nero. Leonia aveva già fatto coming out usando un video pubblicato su Youtube, in cui compare anche sua mamma. [http://www.tgcom.mediaset.it] Si tinge di giallo. Un tempo i direttori di giornale avevano un prontuario con le espressioni abusate, da evitare. Però quelli di TgCom sono rigorosi. Rigorosissimi. Tanto da cercare il titolo incriminato, ma non trovare la presenza di Leonia in nessuna scena. Perbacco. Leonia che invece “aveva fatto coming out usando un video pubblicato su youtube, in cui compare anche sua mamma”. Peccato che cercando su youtube, e dovunque in rete, quello che si trovi siano questi due filmati (uno e due). In cui Leonia c’è. E le scene lesbo no. E questi due filmati costituiscono, pensate, la prima e l’ultima parte della docufiction autobiografica “La sfortuna mi fa capoccella”, di Caterina D’Agostino. Che poi magari una scena spinta ce l’ha pure: ma permettetemi di dubitarne, visto il tenore del resto. E permettetemi di credere che nessuno degli scriventi l’abbia visto, che “le fonti del mercato nero” siano l’amico di un amico dell’omino dell’ANSA che ha steso la notizia, etc. Oppure che esista un film hard, che si tratti di tutt’altro filmato, e che l’omino dell’ANSA, o quelli che hanno sviluppato la velina, abbiano mescolato tutto alla bell’e meglio pubblicandolo subito dopo (e subito prima di andarsi a fare un cicchetto).   MORALE DELLA STORIA: non è nuovo il dibattito su quanto sia peculiare il fatto che poche agenzie di stampa coprano, (e quindi filtrino, indirizzino, interpretino) la quasi totalità delle notizie che vanno a finire sui diversi giornali. Perché, malafede a parte - ed il problema della malafede, o in una prospettiva più ampia della democraticità della stampa, è cruciale per la democrazia contemporenea -, errare è umano, e rimediare difficile. Ciò detto, la retorica della maggior parte della stampa, che procede per accumulazione di stereotipi ed approssimazioni fino a distorcere le notizie (in questo caso con un risultato paradossale), è pari solo al totale disinteresse che hanno per la maggior parte delle stesse notizie (al punto che nessuno ha perso dieci minuti di tempo per verificare che cosa ci fosse in quei famigerati filmati su youtube) ed alla trascuratezza con cui le scrivono: espressioni orrende, errori grammaticali, di battitura, refusi di ogni genere, etc. Certo, mi direte: saranno precari, sottopagati, non è che possano sapere tutto, etc. Sarà. Però un po’ di rigore non guasterebbe. Dice: sei pignolo. No. Il pressappochismo, la retorica e l'imprecisione sono mancanze di rispetto nei confronti dei lettori e del materiale di cui si tratta; dimostrano scarsa considerazione, a volte scarsa preparazione, nel caso specifico semplicemente suggestioni improbabili per concetti esotici (certo "film a luci rosse" è più comprensibile di "docufiction queer"). Dice: si parla di una che sta al Grande Fratello, fregatene. Me ne frego dell'evento in sé, me ne frego della tipa, etc; il fatto che automaticamente l'abbinamento "lesbica" e "dvd" faccia pensare ad un porno mi fa rabbrividire sul livello di civiltà del Paese in cui vivo. Il modo in cui le notizie sono riportate assesta il colpo di grazia. D’altronde la salute della presunta informazione libera che internet garantirebbe, a sentire i beppegrillo, è pessima, se ogni notizia del genere viene diffusa a catena con altrettanta acriticità da un buon numero di fattori (ho omesso di riportare tutte le pagine per oggettiva mancanza di tempo e voglia); e una volta consolidata smentirla sarà più difficile ogni giorno che passa. Chiedete a Billy Corgan, è da quando recitava in Super Vicky che lo sostiene anche lui.   P.S.: Quel documentario è talmente orrendo da essere bellissimo. Lo voglio! Ditemi che lo avete. Mi va bene pure la versione censurata, per stavolta. Tanto si fa sempre un tempo a fare un salto sulle bancarelle del mercato nero, da Palermo a Milano.   La bella e prosperosa Caterina D’Agostino [La prima parte del post era qui]

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  Tags: ma anche no, paese reale
  
                                               
  
  

• Bítl

  B-Town Hit Parade - 2009-01-24 02:48:00

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  Ég ólst upp í svíþjóð. Eins og ég man það þá var það ævintýri líkast framanaf, en þegar ég byrjaði í grunnskóla varð það eitthvað erfiðara. Af ýmsum ástæðum kunni ég ekki við mig í kennslustofu. Það voru tvær stofur sem heilluðu mig meira, tónmenntastofan og bókasafnið.
  
  Tónlistarkennarinn í skólanum var efni í heila aðra bloggfærslu.
  
  Ég festi sérstöku ástfóstri við bækur Astrid Lindgren (að sjálfsögðu) og söguheim Narníu, fræðibækur fyrir börn skoruðu líka hátt (minnið mig á að segja einhverntímann söguna af Staten Island).
  
  En það var ein bók sem er mér minnisstæðust, lítil skrudda um bítlana. Varla meira en hundrað blaðsíður. Ég las hana upp til agna, og las hana síðan aftur. Ég var ekkert sérstaklega þjófóttur krakki en ég hafði engin áform um að skila bókinni á bókasafnið. Faldi hana einhversstaðar hjá mér.
  
  Við fluttum til íslands stuttu seinna, og þegar við tókum upp búslóðina fann ég bókina hvergi. Sennilega hefur mamma fundið hana og skilað henni á bókasafnið fyrir mig. Ég var svekktur yfir bókarmissinum í langann tíma.
  
  Síðan þá hef ég haft óseðjandi lyst á bítlalesningu. Ég hef lesið örugglega fleiri þúsund síður um þá, um þarsíðustu jól fór ég létt með 1200 bls bók sem fór um hvern krók og kima sögu þeirra.
  
  Um daginn rakst ég á enn eina bítlaromsuna. Einhver bítlaelskandi ameríkani tók saman og raðaði niður uppáhalds bítlalögunum sínum, frá minnst uppáhalds og upp í mest uppáhalds, og skrifaði stuttann texta með. Mikið af uppáhalds bítlalögunum mínum skora neðarlega hjá honum, og samhengi lagana og textar skipta hann miklu meira máli en góðu hófi gegnir, en það skiptir ekki. Að renna í gegnum þennann texta, og hlusta á lögin í þessarri röð, er búið að vera stórskemmtilegt. Ég er hálfnaður með listann, og er búinn að uppgötva og enduruppgötva helling af lögum.
  
  Ef þið fílið bítlana þá mæli ég með að þið gerið slíkt hið sama:
  
  » JamsBIO: Playing the beatles backwards: the ultimate beatles countdown

• Band To Watch: Real Estate

  stereogum - 2009-01-23 13:26:10

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  The words after the backslash at their MySpace are "Let's Rock The Beach," but Real Estate are more about the lovably down-and-out Jersey Shore than a pristine Caribbean. The quartet mention Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood NY, Jersey City, and Brooklyn as their location (that's two out of four, which counts), the Boss and "New Jersey" itself as influences. On top of that, their MySpace Top 8 includes Titus Andronicus and the Ridgewood, NJ Real Estater Matt Mondanile also records as Ducktails, and therein has a song called "Beach Point Pleasant." So, see, we're making shit up with that Jersey Shore claim. Beyond geography, songs like "Suburban Beverage" mix languid psychedelia, muted vocals, a boomy undertow of drums, and jammy repetitions that somehow conjure fellow Garden State crew the Feelies (then again, that could just be because of how they look). It makes sense they mention the Clean as an influence, less so the Beach Boys, unless it's about the sand. Maybe it's best to call it a sunsetting, less ethereal Galaxie 500, but before it gets too dark. Or ignore our descriptions and see for yourself: We have a demo of "Fake Blues" -- which will show up in a different, in the band's eyes "better" version as the A-side of a TBA second 7" and debut full length -- along with "Suburban Beverage," the A-side of their soon to be released first 7".

  

  

• SXSW 2009 Preview : Real Estate

  My Old Kentucky Blog - 2009-01-23 11:39:24

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  Real Estate is a side project made up of Martin Courtney, Etienne Duguay (of Predator Vision), Alex Bleeker, and Matt Mondanile of Ducktails. We received a digital copy of their new self-titled 7" and have been listening to it non-stop. Three lo-fi songs titled Suburban Beverage, Black Lake, and Old Folk
  
  Real Estate - Old Folks
  Real Estate - Suburban Beverage
  
  Having grown up playing shows with friends from Vivian Girls and Titus Andronicus, the members of Real Estate have been together in various incarnations since their middle school years. Their white vinyl release, through Underwater Peoples Records, on February 1st will be available for $7.00 via Paypal on MySpace and via email order to underwaterpeoples@gmail.com, pre-orders are accepted.
  
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• @ Drop The Sword - Day Sleeper Debutto...

  Discheria ElRocco 0.01 - 2009-01-21 10:36:23

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  @ Drop The Sword - Day Sleeper Debutto coi fiocchi per questi ragazzi di Boston che hanno impiegato più di un anno prima di dare alle stampe Drop The Sword. Il progetto parte da un amore incondizionato verso l'intensità sonora tipica dell'età d'oro del feedback con il cantato però che si deve sentire . Ben congeniato nelle melodie e negli arrangiamenti, senza deviare troppo dallo schema pre-scelto: "echoey tambourines and lotsa guitars and yet  vocalist Cas sits pretty squarely in the center of the mix"". L'album si scarica gratuitamente qua. MP3# He Sailed Away - Day Sleeper :: Il Ritorno del Vinile :: Wax.FM si propone di aiutarvi a trovare il vostro album preferito in vinile e fin qua se avete i soldi va tutto bene. La cosa però che merita di essere studiata  è la vecchia cultura della scaletta per LP, dove il posto della canzone aveva un suo perchè. Per esempio, prendete questo album e noterete la presenza della prima ghost track della storia della musica rock.

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  Tags: musica, music, free, mp3 , download, 2009
  
                                               
  
  

• Jonathan Ross: The Daily Mail is unsatisfied

  No Rock&Roll Fun - 2009-01-19 08:55:55

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  Since the rest of the world has drawn a line under the Andrew Sachs phonecalls business, it falls to the Daily Mail to keep the flame of fake outrage burning:
  

  Jonathan Ross is refusing to bow to pressure for a public apology for his part in the obscene phone calls scandal.

  
  That's quite stubborn of him. You'd have thought a public apology would have been the very least he could do. He should follow the example of Jonathan Ross, who apologised publicly back in October:
  

  "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused.
  
  "I have not issued a statement previously because it was my intention and desire to offer an apology to all those offended on my Friday night programme.
  
  "However, it was a stupid error of judgment on my part, and I offer a full apology."

  
  So what the Mail really means is that Ross is refusing to apologise every time he appears in public. Which isn't quite the same thing at all.

• One Track Mind - Willy Deville

  The Giant Panther - 2009-01-17 11:14:09

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  OK, I'm on a minor roll so I'm Bringing The Noise again today. Today's trip down memory lane is an exquisite number by a guy named Willy Deville. Willy was making music with his band Mink Deville, originally from San Francisco if I have my facts straight, but was a house band at the legendary New York club CBGBs in the mid seventies. Mink Deville was finally signed by Captiol Records in 1976 and started recording for the masses. Considering they were performing nightly next to The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Television and Patti Smith that gives you an idea of the kind of stage presence this guy had. His reputation was that he radiated blues, story telling and a street knowledge vibe that was a killer combination. Unfortunately I never saw him perform live myself, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for an opportunity. I always comb the smaller venues for more intimate settings.

  
  

  Mink Deville went through too many personnel changes to mention here, but Willy finally decided to go solo after after six records and eleven years touring as Mink Deville. If you like what you hear in the song I share below you should look into this guy. He had several great songs like Soul Twist, Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl and Cadillac Walk just to name a few. A greatest hits package like Cadillac Walk: The Mink Deville Collection should get you squared away short term. I'm definitely a fan.

  
  

  After Mink Deville broke up Willy formed an alliance with Mark Knopfler of all people. According to legend, Mark's wife inspired this collaboration saying Mark couldn't sing like Willy and Willy couldn't play like Mark. I love that kind of stuff. I don't remember making the connection at the time. I don't pay much mind to producers to be honest. I either like a record or I don't; I could care less if it produced by Mark Knopfler, Todd Rundgren, Nile Rogers or Quincy Jones. I'm sure it has more to do with the finished product than I'm giving it credit for, but no amount of production is going to make a bad record sound good in my opinion. As I was researching this record, called Miracle by the way, it hit my like like a ton of bricks. D'oh!! How could I have missed the connection with the first couple of chords being a dead giveaway on my featured cut; Southern Politician? It's classic Mark Knopfler.

  
  

  Deville is at his all time best for my money on this cut. He does a speak sing thing here that is reminiscent of Lou Reed big time. I might have heard this song once in 1987 and was instantly a fan. That is pretty rare for me. I believe in love at first sight without a doubt, but love at first listen? Well shut my mouth. This song is flat awesome, I don't care what anybody says. I never get tired of listening to it. Willy Deville's solo career unfortunately was even less noticed by the record buying public than Mink Deville was, but I don't care about any of that. People always ask me who sings this song and one of my friends on Cape Cod is just as nuts about it as I am and we have next relatively little in common musically give or take the 1977 masterpiece collaboration by Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane called Rough Mix. I say that with love in my heart too. Anybody who can find the absolute beauty in this song has common ground with me. I hope you agree.

  
  

  Willy Deville - Southern Politician.mp3

  
  

  Willy Deville - Southern Politician.mp3 YSI

  
  

  http://www.willydevillemusic.com/

  
  

• New Elvis Perkins In Dearland - "Shampoo"

  stereogum - 2009-01-13 11:34:33

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  Just before the new year we pointed you over to the new Elvis Perkins In Dearland site, where the fuss-worthy folkie and Class of '06 BTW threw up a few streaming tunes from the forthcoming self-titled long-player. One of those cuts was the heavy-hitting, swinging/stomping "Shampoo," which I'd put next to "While You Were Sleeping" as a trademark tune, in Perkins's setlists since I've been tracking his live shows but only now getting its long overdue studio treatment. Wurlitzer and acoustic, harmonica and harmonies flesh out allusions to John Jacob Niles ("Black is the color of a strangled rainbow / That's the color of my loss / Black is the color of my true love's arrow / That's the color of human blood") which Elvis delivers with a signature mix of breezy melody and nostalgic desperation. Point being, you should have this MP3:

  

• real estate

  Gorilla Vs. Bear - 2009-01-13 11:12:13

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  Real Estate is Matt Mondanile (aka Ducktails) and friends. Not unlike Ducktails, Real Estate makes vaguely tropical lo-fi beach pop that reinforces my disdain for winter. A little more straightforward/less droning than Ducktails' stuff, for sure, but just as warm and sunny. These two tracks appear on the band's upcoming self-titled, white vinyl 7", which is due out February 1 as the first release on Underwater Peoples:
  
  mp3:
  real estate :: black lake
  real estate :: suburban beverage
  
  Pre-order Real Estate's upcoming 7" here. And in case you missed it, one of my favorite songs of the last couple months:
  
  mp3:
  ducktails :: beach point pleasant
  
  In related news, Ducktails recently played a live session on WFMU, which can be downloaded here. Look for him at the Not Not Fun Showcase at SXSW 2009.
  
  **************************
  
  elsewhere:
  
  And since we're already looking forward to the sun:
  
  

  

  

• Bad Day

  Good Rockin` Tonight - 2009-01-12 15:46:51

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  Been having a bad busy day/week. Apologies to all. Here's a quick post till homercat gets back to normal.
  So very lazily of me I say take this major talent adrift in a sea of obscurity, Willie Nile's 1980 debut album is nothing short of a revelation. Mix in equal parts Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Nils Lofgren, and what you get are Nile's celebratory tales of life and love, all delivered in his trademark reedy tenor and supported by a crackling rockin' band. "Vagabond Moon" kicks this album off with a bang, just a wonderful, melodic, straight ahead rock and roll song. Impressive debut for this under appreciated talent.
  
  
  320 kbps
  
  1. Vagabond Moon
  2. Dear Lord
  3. It's All Over
  4. Across the River
  5. She's So Cold
  6. I'm Not Waiting
  7. That's the Reason
  8. They'll Build a Statue of You
  9. Old Men Sleeping on the Bowery
  10. Behind the Cathedral
  11. Sing Me a Song
  12. Edge of the Earth
  
  Copy and Paste this link into your browser to download
  http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NTVGRYLK

• "From Gea With Love", il...

  ancora in viaggio - 2009-01-06 21:18:12

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  "From Gea With Love", il nuovo album dei Gea su etichetta Jestrai: Prodotto dai Gea. Registrato e Mixato al Tray Studio di Inzago (MI) da Fabio Intraina, settembre/ottobre 2008. Masterizzato a Chicago al SaffMastering da Carl Saff, ottobre 2008. Preproduzione alla BDC Room, Bonate Sotto (BG), gennaio 2008. Cover Art e Grafica di Gigi Tufano. Fotografia di Emanuele Gessi (www.losthighways.it). Ufficio Stampa e Booking: Jestrai. Musiche: Gea / Testi: Gea, eccetto “Beyonce Is Dead” (Gea e Matteo Perego). Tastiere su “Joiedevivre” e “Her” di Alessandro Ravasio. Gea: Benny Brezzolari: batteria, vibraslap, cowbell, kawa750 Raul Rota Nodari: basso, tastiere, cavi, hondo Stefano Locatelli: voce, chitarra, tambourine, laphroaig www.ancorainviaggio.splinder.com www.myspace.com/geaband www.jestrai.com www.ginuz.it DAL 14 FEBBRAIO 2009, IN TUTTI I NEGOZI DI DISCHI E PRESSO IL MAILORDER JESTRAI. NONCHE' AI NOSTRI CONCERTI. VINILE 12" E CD ALLEGATO IN OMAGGIO. A PRESTO! GEA [ fonte: Gea Myspace bulletin ]

  Pubblicato da smasho | Commenti
  
  Tags: gea news, fans, curiosità
  
                                     
  
  

• Meira helvítis fokking fokk

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2009-01-06 00:01:00

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  Meira sem mér yfirheyrðist á árinu 2008. Og svo einnig smá nýtt og ferskt.
  
  
  Hér er band sem minnir hressilega á Neutral Milk Hotel. Að vísu þá er þetta band einungis einn maður og er hann gæddur þeim eiginleika að geta framreitt hrikalega áferðafallegar melódíur í hráum lo-fi stíl. Throw Me The Statue er hugarfóstur Scott Reitherman og gaf hann frá sér þessa prýðilegu plötu í fyrra sem mér kom mér gjörsamlega í opna skjöldu í lok árs. Gaf hann þetta út í fyrstu hjá sínu eigin fyrirtæki, Baskerville Hill, en síðar pikkaði Secretly Canadian kappann upp og gaf út aftur með betri dreifingu. Ný plata mun koma út árið 2009.
  
  Throw Me The Statue - About to Walk
  Throw Me The Statue - Groundswell
  
  
  Svo er það gríðar sálarfullt band sem heitir Future Islands. Þessi sveit sem ég veit fátt um hefur gefið út eina EP árið 2007 og síðan stóru plötuna "Waves Like Home" í fyrra. Sú síðari er nokkuð efnileg áhlustunar. Nú er tregafull en með vonarglóða í leynum. Hefur nostalgíutón yfir sér en virkar samt fersk. Á köflum minnir hún mig sterklega á einskonar afbrigðilegt 80's útgáfu af Wolf Parade. "Beach Foam" er til dæmis gríðar sorglegt lag um leið og það er fallegt. Til eru tvær útgáfur af "Beach Foam", önnur er af EP plötunni (þ.e. eldri útgáfa) og hin á stóru plötunni. Mismunandi hljómur. "Old Friend" er hraðari gaur með þessum harða elektróníska tón og hljóm sem gerir þessa sveit dálítið sérstaka.
  
  Future Islands - Beach Foam (af Little Advances EP)
  Future Islands - Beach Foam (af Wave Like Home)
  Future Islands - Old Friend (Af Wave Like Home)
  
  
  Þetta er líka alveg æðislegt stuff. Adventure koma hér með Sega Mega músík dauðans. Algjörlega málið.
  
  Adventure - Wild Wild Ride
  
  
  The Big Pink er spáð glæstri framtíð og frama á árinu 2009. Þetta er tippað sem einskonar nýir MGMT (brezk útgáfa af MGMT) eða Glasvegas/Oasis í MGMT stíl. Hvernig sem hægt er að kalla þetta. Þetta eru tveir tjallar með hor í nefinu og vogrís. Þetta lag er samt dálítið töff. Ómfagurt og með smá MBV fíling, en það líkar mér. Á mæspeis eru fleiri lög með þeim, þau hljóma einnig ágætlega.
  
  The Big Pink - Too Young To Love
  
  Svo er ég að fíla nýja Morrisey lagið.
  
  Morrisey - I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris

• 10 Underrated Films From 2008

  :: The Playlist :: - 2009-01-05 16:15:58

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  2008 is obviously still on the brain and at will be at least for the next week if not longer. Here's seven films we thought were grossly underrated. We were going to title this the 10 Most Underrated Films of 2008, but someone would have surely balked, only because we haven't posted our top 20 list yet. These were definitely under-appreciated in our book though.
  
  "In Bruges"
  Colin Farell and Brendan Gleeson starred as contract killers sent to the medieval Belgian city of Bruges after a botched hit at the behest of their loose cannon boss Ralph Fiennes. Yes, it did start to get a lot of late-season appreciation, particularly by the Golden Globes in the comedy section, but between the time of its release and the ensuing year, it was mostly ignored and vastly under-appreciated. A extremely well-written and crafted, hitman story, part comedy, part vulnerable drama and part light-on-its-feet fairytale. We've been saying that director Martin McDonagh was going to be a star ever since we saw "The Pillowman" on Broadway years ago and this is just the beginning for him. It's also Colin Farrell's best work since he decided to stop being a celebrity prick with a drug habit and get back to serious acting.
  
  "Stranded: I Have Come from a Plane That Crashed in the Mountains"
  You had to be inhuman to not be incredibly moved by this documentary made thirty years after the fact. In 1972, 45 people on a flight from Uruguay to Chile, many of them members of a young ruby team scheduled to play a match in Santiago, Chile crashed in the Andes mountains. 16 people lived and for the first time ever the survivors told, in their own words, their harrowing story of survival which included resorting to cannibalism of their fallen comrades. They survived 72 days in one of the coldest, most brutal climates on earth. Profound and moving.
  
  "Mister Foe"
  David McKEnzie's adaptation of the Peter Jinks' "Catcher In The Rye"-ish novel is at times disturbing but genuine in its depiction of a heartbroken 17 year old boy. What helps balance the taboo subjects of Foe's Oedipus complex and voyeuristic tendencies are the compelling performances by Jamie Bell, as the endearing peeping tom, and rising talent Sophia Myles as the object of his obsession. Carried along by an expressive contemporary indie pop soundtrack (one of the year's best for this type of musical genre, frankly) and lush cinematography "Mister Foe" is a very stylish sexy drama that is definitely worth viewing.
  
  "A Girl Cut In Half" - The New York Times called this remarkable French film by Claude Chabrol, "a rich, textured divertissement by Claude Chabrol, a sinister master of the art, who, after a series of vague if invariably entertaining cinematic sketches, has returned to elegant tight form with an erotically charged, beautifully directed story of a woman preyed upon by different men and her own warring desires."
  
  "You Don't Mess With Zohan"
  What? Yup, no joke. One of the most underrated comedies of 2008 was definitely the extremely silly, but fun Adam Sandler film. Heebs loved the Israeli macho dude send-up all the more. We'll take this with extra hummus. We laughed and laughed and hey, even the New York Times' A.O. Scott loved it, so don't look at us like we're crazy. John Tuturro played a hilarious Palestine and it was probably the most enjoyable Sandler film since the mid '90s.
  
  "Step-Brothers"
  No other film dared to be as spectacularly moronic and retarded. This film was off the charts in its absurdism and we died laughing at the audacity, the outrageousness, the calculated stupidity of it all. The "ending" was if Will Ferrell, director Adam Mckay and John C. Riley tore up the script, threw it in the air and said, "fuck it, let's go for broke." If you have no taste for nonsensical humor or mentally-challenged, juvenile potty comedy that forget it, but mark our words, for this genre, silly ridiculousness was raised to an art form.
  
  "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"
  A jilted ex (Jason Segel) tries to forget his famous celebrity ex and heartbreak by escaping to Hawaii only to find this ex gf, Sarah Marshall (played by "Veronica Mars"' Kristen Bell) there as well with her new boyfriend to boot (British comedian and TV personality Russell Brand). Bittersweet, charming and funny. To boot, it was the best project Judd Apatow was associated with in 2008 and yes, we mean that over the disappointing "Pineapple Express."
  
  "The Go-Getter"
  This road trip flick of personal discovery inspired by a parent's death that starred Lou Taylor Pucci (the breakout star of "Thumbsucker"), Zooey Deschanel and indie-enthusiast Jena Malone was nowhere as "quirky" or twee as some suggested, though hardly anyone at all ever saw it at the time (now it has 20-some Rotten Tomatoes reviews, but at the time of it's super-limited release there were maybe four reviews total). The film had some gorgeous, sun-stroked cinematography, some sharp, "hit the party late, leave early" writing and some charming dialogue and characters. Vastly underrated and we'd go toe-to-toe with it against any other supposed "indie-rock" films that are too precious for their own good.
  
  "Joy Division"
  Grant Gee's (Radiohead's "Meeting People Is Easy") endlessly compelling and well-crafted documentary take on the Joy Division story should be all the more rewarded because it's a tragedy that most music fans know backwards and forewards, but there was never a dull moment.
  
  "Snow Angels"
  David Gordon Green's fourth feature tracked small town relationships, both budding and disintegrating, in this tragic wintry tale starring Olivia Thirlby, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and Michael Angarano. It wasn't necessarily Green's best work ever, but it was a return to form and much funnier than you'd expect, without ever sacrificing the somber subject matter.
  
  We're probably forgetting something..., but like we said, stay tuned for our Top 20 list with honorable mentions too.
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Actors Turned Musician Beef: Jamie Foxx Disses Terrence Howard On Radio

  :: The Playlist :: - 2008-12-30 19:14:09

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  Apparently during promotion of his album a few months ago, Terrence Howard said Jamie Foxx's music wasn't "all that." Fox responded on RadioBigBoy.com and put him on blast. It's kinda juvenile player hate crap actually. Can't we all get along? Didn't anyone tell Foxx both their albums sucked?
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• In attesa del quarto album in uscita a...

  ancora in viaggio - 2008-12-27 12:38:42

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  In attesa del quarto album in uscita a Febbraio per Jestrai records (nonchè disco dell'anniversario della nascita della band) gustatevi in anteprima la copertina. Come già scritto nel #5 bullettin, il nuovo lavoro masterizzato a Chicago (USA) uscirà in una preziosa versione vinile 12" con cd omaggio, a sottolineare che i nostri non disdegnano per nulla i suoni vintage. Se non li avete visti dal vivo, apprezzerete sicuramente le loro foto live (in aggiornamento la sezione 'Gea Photos'). Per ulteriori info andate su www.jestrai.com . Restate in ascolto!

  Pubblicato da smasho | Commenti
  
  Tags: gea news, indie news, fans
  
                                     
  
  

• Cold Coke Disco

  American Athlete - 2008-12-26 17:52:17

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  Another great release of 2008 was the re-issue of the 1979 disco classic "Cold Coke". This funky boogie gem was released on the second Disco & Co. album, which consisted of instrumental disco released by Tele Music. The songs were written by Marc Chantereau, Pierre-Alain Dahan, and Slim Pezin of the legendary disco group Voyage. The recent reissue twelve inch, which was released by Tubetracks, featured a solid re-edit by Danile Baldelli and Marco Dionigi. I'm definitely a sucker for instrumental "library" disco music, so just as I was excited about this year's release of DJhistory.com's Le Disco compilation, I was just as thrilled by the recent reissue of "Cold Coke". Enjoy!
  
  Disco & Co. - Cold Coke

• Stream Some New Elvis Perkins Tunes

  stereogum - 2008-12-23 11:29:41

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  Checking in with the Class of '06 BTWs today: In prep for the followup to their excellent debut Ash Wednesday, Elvis Perkins In Dearland are streaming three new tunes, featuring a bit of brass and the memorable, John Jacob Niles-referencing "Shampoo" which you'll remember if you've seen 'em live. Have a listen at elvisperkinsindearland.com.

  

• BESTU LÖG ÁRSINS 2008 (40.-31.)

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2008-12-21 10:51:38

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  40. OASIS - FALLING DOWN
  Aldrei, nei aldrei verið aðdáandi Oasis. Viðurkenni að þeir hafi átt fína spretti og smellin lög en aldrei verið fanatík. Hér er lag sem mér fannst standa upp úr á afurð þeirra þetta árið. Óbilandi og hreinræktaður töffari sem rúllar áfram eins og skriðdreki. Noel syngur með sinni saklausu rödd, ekki eins mikill töffari og Liam (sem sér um bakraddir), en hentar þessu lagi sem er víðáttumikið og sálarfullt. Ekki skemmdi fyrir drulluepískt og vel gert myndband sem gert var við þetta lag. Það hjálpar stundum.
  
  
  39. THE MAGNETIC FIELDS - DRIVE ON DRIVER
  Hugarfóstur Stephen Merritt opnaði plötu sína með óvæntum shoegazerpoppsmelli með surfrock áhrifum. Sándið er óviðjafnanlegt, fjarlægt og grunnt. Drive on Driver kom síðan fyrir miðja plötu, sakleysislegur poppsmellur með umgjörð JAMC. Hápunktur plötunnar Distortion ómaði eins og týndur fjarsjóður frá árinu 1989. Brill.
  
  
  38. SHOCKING PINKS - YOU CAN MAKE ME FEEL BAD
  Shocking Pinks eru frá Nýja-Sjálandi og í raun sendu þeir frá sér plötuna með þessu lagi árið 2007 en barst ekki mér til eyrna fyrr en á þessu. Að mér skilst 3ja plata þessarar lágstemmdu lo-fi sveitar og líklega sú heilsteyptasta. Enduðu hana með hrikalega grípandi og sorglegu lagi.
  
  37. FOUR TET - WING BODY WING
  Líklega það eina sem Four Tet gerði af einhverju á þessu ári, fyrir utan einhver remix. Hann fleygði frá sér þyngri og erfiðari EP plötu en búist hafði verið við. Ringer var 4ra laga, nánast algjörlega byggð á percussion sándum (sterkasta hlið Four Tet) og einhæfum melódíum, minimalískum og með snert af elektrótónum. Vona að þetta meiki sens. Wing Body Wing var samt sem áður besta lagið, hvetjandi fyrir dansspastískar manneskjur.
  
  36. SIC ALPS - MESSAGE FROM THE LAW
  Örlítið smitaður af Pitchfork hér, enda uppgötvaði ég þetta band þar. Helvíti hrátt og Stónslegt rokk með dassshi af Clash. Svona hljómar garagerokk og á að hljóma. Fáránlega catchy og ávanabindandi.
  
  35. HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR - FREE WILL
  Fannst platan aldrei vera það meistarastykki eins og aðrir héldu fram. Finnst þetta vera tilgerðarlegt nýdansrugl út í gegn. Vantaði neistann. Ekki þar sem sagt að platan hafi verið slæm eða að öllu leyti léleg. T.a.m. fannst mér platan aldrei ná að standa undir væntingum eftir að maður heyrði fyrsta lagið. Konukarlinn Antony gefur laginu líka svona hressilega sérlundað yfirbragð.
  
  
  
  34. ARTHUR RUSSELL - CLOSE MY EYES
  Arthur Russell hefur greinilega verið ótrúlegur kappi. Hann er geigvænleg kulthetja í dag, sellóleikari, klassískmenntaður, félagi Philip Glass og Manhattanrotta. Í ár kom síðan út plata með áður óútgefnum, ófáanlegum og sjaldgæfum upptökum frá árunum 1973- til dauðadags. Það sem er svo merkilegt er að bróður parturinn á plötunni er gríðarlega sálarmikill og þjóðlagakenndur. Í anda Bob Dylan, Jackson Frank og Tim Hardin. Þetta lag er náttúrulega snilli.
  
  33. PLANTS AND ANIMALS - FAERIE DANCE
  Lífrænt og epískt. Ómfagurt og seiðandi. Ævintýrakennd og óvænt. Fá orð segja mest.
  
  32. DAVID BYRNE & BRIAN ENO - HOME
  David Byrne er náttúrulega stakur snillingur og hans samkrull með Eno var ekkert nema kærkomið og gríðar hressandi. Mjúk og áreynslulaus plata með nokkrum hápunktum. Home var einn slíkur.
  
  31. CONOR OBERST - CAPE CANAVERAL
  Plata hans olli mér vonbrigðum. Hann einhvernveginn gerðist leiðinlegur eftir því sem leið á plötuna, lögin einhæf og engan vegin áhugasöm. Upphafslagið þótti mér best, í raun fanta gott. Þar mátti heyra hvað Conor er bestur í, persónulegu kassagítarshjali. Frábært lag.

• Inside The Mind Of Shing02

  et down - 2008-12-20 20:00:00

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  Here at Getdownnn we continually try to step our game up. So we've finally dove head first into the interview department as well. The people we choose to interview, you may not find on the cover of the latest Source, but we guarantee you that they are some of the illest at what they do and have lived full lives. Trying to give you the full spectrum. Besides they said, "yes". Please excuse us if the questions may seem elementary at times, but that's the point of view we are taking, what we know best, representing the bedroom heads out there who's first love is music.

  For our first interview, we couldn't have asked for more. Shingo Annen, Shing02, is a man of the world and has been holding it down both as a producer and MC in Japan and the U.S. since the early 90's. He's put in the time, working with everyone from Del Tha Funkee Homosapien to the Nujabes (Samurai Champloo). And still finding time to invent the faderboard. Welcome inside the mind of Shing02.

  
  From The Mind Of Shing02
  

  
  

  -When did you know that music is what you wanted to do?

  My mom was surprised when I started recording and putting out music, because I was more of an art-head, plus I went to college for an engineering degree thinking I might work on AI or something. In fact, I never knew I would become a full-time musician, initially I just kept making music because it was fun. After a while though, I had to make a conscious decision to be a real MC and make music my mission. The reason being, I felt compelled enough that I could apply my ideas to be a voice for people that need the message, and after meeting so many great musicians I knew that I had to be dedicated to make anything happen. So m progression has been really slow, but I'm glad I was able to go through the growing pains in the public eye.

  
  -Who are your musical influences?

  All genres, I like hip-hop but really dig jazz, reggae, dub, funk, soul, you name it.
  

  I guess when you start off as a hip-hop fan you only care about learning all the hip-hop records but when you become a musician you can't help but appreciate everything. Like when you're a bassist you listen to all bass parts by default, when you become an engineer, you're listening to the mixes more than the lyrics.

  
  

  -Top 5 albums or songs all-time (soundtrack to your life)?

  Like everybody else, I have to say way too many to list but here are the first top five that randomly popped into my mind.
  

  Del The Funky Homosapien - I Wish My Brother George Were Here
  

  Pharcyde - Bizzare Ride II

  Aceyalone - All Balls Don't Bounce

  Augustus Pablo - East Of The River Nile

  Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

  
  

  -I love listening to that Augustus Pablo when I visit family on the islands. Throughout your life you have lived in many different places, do you feel like it has had any impact on you as an artist? If so, how?

  Most definitely. Like when I grew up in Tanzania, I saw a UFOs. One time an eagle dropped a chicken head from the sky and I almost got hit by it. I saw starvation and theft first hand when I was three. My best friend was a German Shepherd till I was six. People eating locusts of lamp posts. A humongous lizard came into our backyard to steal eggs from our neighbor's chicken. The villagers killed it with spears and a rock and ate it! A lot of beauty too. Solar eclipse. A cloud of yellow butterflies in the Serengeti. You know, I remember it all like yesterday. I can't say how exactly it impacted me, it's all a part of who I am.

  
  

  -That's crazy interesting. I wish I could travel more, but it's a trip when you actual live in there and call it home. Being bilingual, do you think in English or Japanese first when you write lyrics? Is there any difference or changes you have to make when using one language over the other, especially with using rhyme schemes?

  I usually listen to a beat with the song in mind so it depends on the song. I used to think very differently between the two, but now I just kind of listen to the beat and try to match the vibe.

  
  

  -With your experiences, do you see any major differences between the hip-hop culture in Japan and the U.S.? If so, what?
  

  Definitely, I'd say the biggest difference is the way society interprets what hip hop is. You said "culture", which i still think is key. Most people immediately point to the rap music industry, or hip-hop clothing. The cultural movement needs people that follow the criteria. Hip-hop in Japan is really diverse and strong but for the most part the general audience only sees the pop interpretations of it.

  
  -Nujabes has really caught quite a following here in the U.S., do you have any theories why?

  I think people kinda missed that sound for a while, the early 90's sound.

  The whole "jazzy" movement is cool, but personally the music has to be really unique to speak to me, whether it's a sample or not.

  
  

  -Any chance of more to come with Samurai Champloo? The music, animation, stories, everything was dope!
  

  I'm not involved with the production, I know some people wanted to make a real life version of it, we'll see about that!

  
  

  -Ahhhh, that would be cool. Taking from Inside the Actors Studio, what is your favorite sound or noise? Least favorite? Why?

  Oh I like that show. My favorite sound (or environment) is being inside a hot spring (onsen). That's the real reason I go to Japan a lot. Least favorite has to be scratching a blackboard.

  
  

  -Onsen iiyone! I'll do my best James Lipton...What is your favorite word? Least favorite word? Why?

  I don't know about a word, but I have a favorite AND least favorite phrase because lately, I've been trying very hard to avoid telling people "I know I might have told you this, but..."It's just a gesture to say "I want to reiterate this point although I do recall our previous conversation", because if they think you're retelling the story without realizing it's kinda rude, and at the same time if you keep saying that phrase it gets annoying. You know what I'm saying?

  
  

  -Word. I say that all the time, but I'll stop now. Working with legends like Del and DJ Krush, who else do you want to work with?

  I really don't know at this point, I've been really blessed so far (knock 2x on wood). Last time I saw DJ Krush I asked him for another beat for a concept I had.

  
  -What's next for Shing02?
  

  Hopefully I get to release more songs, and maybe my *first* English album on the horizon.

  
  -Any advice to anyone who wants to be an MC?
  

  Be true, original, fearless, and confident.

  
  

  -The truth. One last thing, the Faderboard is nasty! Hook me up with one :) How did you come up with it?

  You can check http://www.e22.com/faderboard

  
  

  -Damn, I guess I'll have to ask Santa. Thanks for being such a great first guest. Be sure to check out more from Shing02 at www.myspace.com/shing02

• The Melvins @ Scala (London) 12/9/08

  Radio Free Chicago - 2008-12-19 17:49:43

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  The rich festival culture in the UK has a wonderful side-effect for those who can't be bothered to spend an entire weekend gigging away: much of the talent spills into the capital during the adjacent weeks. Fresh from the recent All Tomorrow's Parties festival that they co-curated with Mike Patton, The Melvins  treated their London fans to a night of heavy sludge at Scala in King's Cross. Supported by Big Business, with whom they now share members, the night was also opened by the band's original 1983 line-up peforming as, appropriately enough, Melvins 1983. With a bill so brilliantly distilling ATP's weekender into one night in the city, those of us too lazy to trek out to Minehead had no excuse for missing an event so close to home.

  The thunderous plod of The Melvins' two drummers provided the signal to everyone at the bar that it was time to rush into the main room, and as soon the lethargic guitar strums came in, everyone knew that the hour of slow headbanging had arrived. King Buzzo, the band's instantly recognizable frontman, agreed as well, as his massive mop of grey hair in motion quickly became the focal point of the stage. Clearly there is a correlation between rocking heavily and hair. Buzz: enormous hair, rocks hard. Brian Eno: really fucking bald, rocks gently. Don't think about it too much, it's only fact.

  When you think of rocking hard, however, you think of wild, balls-out abandon, and this was actually a fair amount of the opposite. Despite the intensity of their performance, The Melvins always maintained full control over their sound and never let it carry them away. With such tight precision wrapped around their evil drone, The Melvins demostrated that restraint is every bit as essential to unleashing a crushing noise as letting go.

  Perhaps the biggest surprise in hearing this band perform live is just how rhythmic they are. Listening to their albums, it's easy to get lost in the downtuned guitar buzz, though at one of their gigs it's impossible not to be moved by the beat. I've never seen a band put two drummers on stage without it feeling cheap and gimmicky, but The Melvins made it feel natural as well as necessary.

  Although the band primarily focused on material from 2006's (A) Senile Animal and this year's Nude With Boots, they saved a much-loved oldie for last. Preceded by "The Star-Spangled Banner" in its entirety, Bullhead opener "Boris" emerged from the patriotic rubble to the crowd's delight. In the seventeen years since Bullhead was released, its experimental approach to metal has influenced countless doom-laden descendents, helping "Boris" to not only avoid sounding dated, but making it easily the most powerful song of the night.

  As the band slowly left the stage, Buzz remained to wind his classic down into one of Merle Haggard's. Gently tapping at the strings, he softly gasped out "Okie From Muskogee", the country legend's infamous anti-hippie anthem. Although Haggard would claim decades later that his song was intended ironically, it had already become a popular favorite across the most conservative parts of America and placed him in an awkward position with anyone who prefers LSD over moonshine. Although King Buzzo's rendition was soft and comical, it was subtle enough to keep us guessing about its intentions. Looking up at that gigantic crown of hair on the King's head, however, I was sure there were enough lysergic remnants in its strands to dose the audience twice over.

• Rudy Ray Moore - This Ain’t No White Christmas!

  The Post-Rockist - 2008-12-19 16:12:17

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  Download audio file (Rudy-Xmas.mp3)
  
  Rudy Ray Moore - “Night Before Christmas, Part 1″
  (from This Ain’t No White Chrismas!)

  You shouldn’t listen to this. Honestly, don’t. Even the back of the album warns, “Rated XXX: Not suitable for airplay.” It’s crass, vulgar, juvenile, and stupidly offensive from start to finish. It’s a marvel to think that Rudy Ray Moore actually took the time to sit down and write this. “Hmmm, what rhymes with ‘Saint Nick’?” Albums like this had to be sold in discrete paper bags under the counter for a reason.

  But I won’t hold it against if you accidentally press play.

  You see, you may not know it to look at me, but I was raised on Rudy Ray Moore. Dolemite, The Human Tornado, Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil’s Son-in-Law — I couldn’t tell you the plot of any of these movies without you thinking I’ve been smoking some serious crank, but I could never say ‘No’ to a Rudy Ray Moore flick. So you can imagine my surprise when I was flipping through the stacks at Apop Records and saw This Ain’t No White Christmas! — I mean, Jesus, just look at that cover. It’s genius! And aside from Nat “King” Cole, I can’t think of any other artist who’s got a track called “Eatin’ Pussy” on their Christmas record. While I don’t think there’s any relation between Clement Clarke Moore, the author of the original “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and Rudy Ray, there’s no doubt that Dolemite’s loose interpretation has left an indelible, uhm, taint on the original.

  Belated R.I.P., Mr. Moore.

  

• raven sings the blues - 2008-12-19 09:51:00

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  2008 seemed like it was a banner year for the 7", with many great artists just beginning to find their footing; issuing some high handed promises for what could be in 2009. These were the singles that proposed the greatest promises or held aloft already stellar legacies. Our favorite singles of '08.
  
  
  Jacuzzi Boys - Island Ave 7"
  Jacuzzi Boys, despite showing some questionable skills in the naming department, proved to be quite a powerhouse in the singles sector this year. Of the 3 solo and 1 split that they issued this is the one that makes me most eager to see how this will translate to a full length. Riding a strong Brian Jonestown psych/gaze/garage stomp this was by far one of my favorites of the year.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Jacuzzi Boys - Island Avenue
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant 7"
  Not quite the introduction from Matt Mondanile, but definitely the one that peaked my interest. He's already got quite a few intriguing projects slated for next year and 12" looming on the shores would seem to be pretty fantastic if it lives up the the promises made on this single.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Blank Dogs - Setting Fire to Your House 7"
  Well Blank Dogs don't normally make any promises since there's always about 5 releases all flooding the world at once. However, since this is the fist 7" that contains tracks slated for a full-length, it would seem that the taste has been laid for what aims to be his best yet. Which taking into account that top 15 spot for On Both Sides is certainly saying something.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Blank Dogs - I Was Counting
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything With You 7"
  Setting the world right by releasing a proper recording of their Self-Titled opus on the B-side of this sucker; the Pains couldn't hope to peak any more interest than they have with this single. Appetites are whetted for the looming '09 release (they should be, its spectacular), and the world lays open for the Pains to bring a much needed dose of carefree pop into a gloomy society.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana) 7"
  Nodzzz did deliver pretty well on the promises that this 7" made, though the results were only 16 minutes long (but a pretty great 16 minutes indeed). This is still the seed that kicked off my interest and it's as solid as any single that graced the shelves this year. Let's hope that the boys have a bit more to share over the upcoming year.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Nodzzz - I Don't Wanna (Smoke Marijuana)
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Wavves - Beach Demon b/w Weed Demon 7"
  Well the initial cassette perked everybody's ears but it seems that no Wavves release flew off the shelves faster than this little number. Showcasing both sides of Williams work the upbeat anthems and the noisy ambiance; if you could get your hands on it, this was a pretty great single. Speaking of promises made, it seems that Wavves have a few in order but with a reissue going string on Woodsist and the next album already getting ears burning it seems that '09 might be conquered by Wavves.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Wavves - Beach Demon
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Little Claw - Race to the Bottom 7"
  Though I came in a little late on their last LP, I've been pretty eager to see what they crank out at each turn from now on. This is one of the band's strongest tracks yet and if this is any indication of the direction the next LP is headed, then count me excited. No word just yet but there's a lot of '09 sitting out there uncharted. I'm hoping that Little Claw do something to rectify the situation.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Little Claw - Race to the Bottom
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Black Moth Super Rainbow - Zodiac Girls 7"
  Well a year with out a Black Moth record is sad (though Tobacco seemed to fill that hole nicely), but this little nugget plus the drippers EP filled the gap quite nicely. Still can't top the squirly nostalgia of that organ topping the dusted beats.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Black Moth Super Rainbow - Zodiac Girls
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Snakeflower 2 - Talk About It 7"
  Snakeflower 2 kick the blues right where it hurts and this taster of their following album was a pretty nice surprise this year. Paired up with some pretty keen cover art, this was a great overall package. Just a bit of the bite that the band had in store and they delivered on the promise quite nicely. I'll be more than eager to see how the future shapes up for them.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Snakeflower 2 - Talk About It
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Oneida - Head's Ain't Ready 7"
  Who knew that deep down inside Oneida beat the heart of a super-fantastic bar cover band. Well it does... the boys in 'neida revive the legacy of The Dead for yet another generation, revisiting two songs from their debut album. Due to the fact that I happen to really like that album, and Oneida this couldn't be a more perfect pairing, way to put some Balls on The Dead. Well played gentleman.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Oneida - Cream Puff War
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Cold Cave - The Trees Grew Emotions and Died 12"
  Once they ditched the noise and embraced their inner 80's yearnings, the band seemed to click right into place. The whole 12" is killer from start to finish and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see if they could pull this off on a full album. The band's laid the promises pretty thick and already expectations are mounting so keep your ears to the turntable for what could be a very interesting album indeed.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Cold Cave - Our Tears Help the Flowers Grow
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Zola Jesus - Souer Sewer 7"
  Though she's not the only entrant from the Sacred Bones stable to pop up on this list, Zola's the one that has my hopes set highest. Her warbled soul offers some of the most surprising results laid to wax this year. Chalk up one for the girls in a melted pop sea of male voiced chiller tracks this year. I'm hoping that ZJ's got what it takes to keep the momentum going.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Zola Jesus - Souer Sewer
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  Dead Luke - Record One 7"
  Both of Luke's 7"s had my turntable melting this year but its the Troggs cover on this one that kills like no other. Luke has rendered himself the master of deep fried covers but given the hit or miss nature of his output I'm both leery and interested to see what's next. There's a non-Sacred 7" that's just floated into view so I'll have to see how that stacks up. For now though I'll just keep blasting "I Want You".
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Dead Luke - I Want You
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  XYX - Sistema de Terminacion Sexual 7"
  Given the pants shitting that's surrounded their neighbors Los Llamarada I was almost a bit let down by the rough cuts from that Monterrey combo. Granted it grew on me and now I'm feeling some of the love but my real money for Monterrey is on this crew. From the brief window they let in on this 7", I'm very ready for a full album that pits the pent up sexuality with those terse grooves. Post-punk definitely taken a sabbatical and moved down south, rearing its head nicely in the form of XYX.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] XYX - Nunca, Nunca
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  
  
  
  His Electro Blue Voice - Duuug 7"
  Both sides of this single bring out the Italian fangs and dig in deep. Not what I was expecting given it's label of origin but once it got into my bloodstream I was more than enamored with it for quite some time. Again the question remains can they pull this off for the long haul? I'm certainly hoping so.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] His Electro Blue Voice - Fury Eyes
  
  Support the artist. Buy it HERE
  
  

• SIS The Best of 2008: Top 10 Songs

  Stranded In Stereo - 2008-12-15 12:25:28

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  Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Stranded in Stereo's Best of 2008! All week long here on the blog, we'll be celebrating the best in music and movies that 2008 has had to offer. While I'll be chiming in with my lists of albums, movies and songs, I've also got a few special guests presenting their lists in their own special posts along with you fine readers who have sent in their Top 10 lists for me to share with the world as well. I'm really excited to share all of this with you like you have no idea.
  
  That being said, shall we get down to the first unveiling of the week?
  
  Stranded in Stereo: Top 10 Songs of 2008
  
  This year, there were a lot of songs that made an impression on me. I remember writing back in the summer how it seemed a theme in 2008 between the albums and songs that were really making the biggest impression on me were all about being on the side of brief and concise. Albums clocking in at around 30 or so minutes with songs sometimes barely clocking in at a minute were so catchy and hook-ladened that I just could not ignore them.
  
  That is not the case with our pick for the coveted Song of the Year. Clocking in at nearly six minutes, "Welcome to the Third World" is not just the cornerstone of a rather amazing album, but also in the career of Portland, Oregon's own The Dandy Warhols. Taking a riff that's practically lifted from Blondie's Auto American competing with the slap bass of Nile Rodgers and Chic, Courtney Taylor-Taylor tells a precautionary tale of boys and girls the likes that Damon Albarn couldn't have ever written back in 1994. Congratulations to them and the rest of our winners:
  
  01 "Welcome to the Third World" by The Dandy Warhols / ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols...
  02 "Apple+Option+Fire" by Hot Lava / Lavaology
  03 "Group Transport Hall" by Women / Women
  04 "Two Ways Out" by Darker My Love / 2
  05 "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit / Chunk of Change
  06 "White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes / Fleet Foxes
  07 "Crystal Stilts" by Crystal Stilts / Crystal Stilts
  08 "Teenagers" by Department of Eagles / In Ear Park
  09 "Skeleton" by Abe Vigoda / Skeleton
  10 "Are You Lightning?" by Nada Surf / Lucky
  
  Like with last year, I give you the gift of Top 10 in a convenient zip file which you can download for a limited time only! Make sure you play this at least once at your New Year's parties, please.
  
  Download: Stranded in Stereo's Top 10 Songs of 2008 [zip]
  

• Krimus Karuls

  Music For Maniacs - 2008-12-14 22:43:54

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  Krimus Karuls is a free Christmas-themed download album featuring 7 short tracks by 12-year old Nichole, who seems to be making up the songs as she goes along. Despite the usual juvenile predilections for atonal singing and utterly inhibited performances, Nichole still seems to posses a strong, confident voice - she might become an excellent "real" singer one day. I think my fave of hers might be "What a Day for a Dog of Gold", but it's only 23 seconds. Heck, this bit unhinged zaniness is the longest and it's only 1:50.
  
  Nichole & The Dreamcatchers: "It's Time To Rejoice"
  
  A couple of '70s-era home-recordings of kids singing Christmas songs are also included. The remainder of the tracks on the album are low-fi rockers by grown-ups in the Beat Happening/Guided By Voices vein. Some of it's pretty good, e.g. the Chrome-esque "Ode to Gandolf and Ye Ole Christmas Spirit," and the peppy organ grinder "It's Jesus' Birthday So He Should Get the Toys." The closer "Red & Green" brings kids back for a lovely lullaby.

• God Hates Mondays

  inkiostro - 2008-12-14 22:09:45

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  ovvero: Come arrivare quasi illesi al weekend dandosi al consumismo ideologico   LUNEDI 15 - Colpevoli di linguaggio Tre undicenni "tetri e ideologici" nella Palermo del 1978 decidono di fondare una cellula terroristica. I morti del terrorismo. I mondi introflessi dell'adolescenza. La lotta armata e la radura dei giornaletti porno. Il contagio e l'infezione. Il tempo materiale di Giorgio Vasta è un romanzo magmatico, densissimo e sorprendente. Una lingua complessa e stratificata, ostica, barocca - una narrazione carnale che ribolle di desiderio, di voglia di cose, di parole che vorrebbero essere mondo. Un oggetto singolare e ricchissimo, uno dei libri più interessanti del 2008. Approfittate degli sconti minimumfax di oggi e compratelo: è cosa buona e giusta. Il tempo materiale, romanzo, 13 euro MARTEDI 16 - Elegie industriali I sessanta secondi del pezzo d'apertura e il ritornello appena accennato di Upstairs (che si dilata in ghirigori metallici) valgono già il prezzo del disco. Che è sicuramente tra i migliori dell'anno. Il primo LP dei canadesi Women (quattro maschietti, in realtà, già segnalati su questo blog da Mahtte) è breve e ispirato. Jam sessions metalliche attraversate da poche ma affilate malinconie. C'è il post-punk più rumoroso, ma c'è anche tutto un caleidoscopio di vibrazioni dove, se siete dell'umore giusto, potete ritrovarvi a immaginare The Piper at the Gates of Dawn reinventato da Thurston Moore. Women, s/t, compact disc e vinile, 14 dollari circa; mp3, 10 dollari   MERCOLEDI 17 - L'ecologia irrita E' uscito in Italia il dvd di uno dei film più sottovalutati del 2008: E venne il giorno (The Happening) di M. Night Shyamalan. Non so come sia quest'edizione, ma il film merita senz'altro di essere recuperato dai diffidenti e rivisto e ripensato dai dubbiosi. The Happening, b-movie coraggioso e irritante, è l'opera più radicale del buon Shyamalan: aggredisce non solo la credulità e la comodità estetica del pubblico, ma anche - ambiguamente - le rappresentazioni più comuni dell'habitat familiare e naturale. Pentitevi e (ri)vedetevelo! E venne il giorno, dvd, 17 euro circa   GIOVEDI 18 - Natale su Marte L'antidoto più strambo al cinepanettone nostrano ha un titolo che potrebbe essere uscito dalla catena di montaggio natalizia di De Laurentiis (dopo un guasto meccanico). Dopo sei anni di faticosa gestazione, i Flaming Lips  hanno partorito il loro famigerato film. A guardarne i frammenti che girano, sembra proprio la follia serie z che ci si aspettava. Se me lo regalate, a me non dispiace. Christmas on Mars, dvd + cd, 25 dollari circa VENERDI 19 - Cofanetti Gay Negli USA è uscito MILK, ultimo film di Gus Van Sant, biografia del militante gay assassinato dopo la vittoria contro un referendum (la Proposition 6, nel 1978) che voleva introdurre il licenziamento dei dipendenti pubblici omosessuali. Ironia della Storia, Milk esce all'indomani di una sonora sconfitta del movimento per i diritti dei gay (la Proposition 8, nel 2008), caricandosi così di un inatteso bruciante significato. In Italia non sembra ci sia ancora una data di uscita; nel frattempo ci resta il bel trailer, coinvolgente e drammatico e contrappuntato da un brano che non appartiene alla colonna sonora del film di Van Sant, ma a quella di Angels in America. Miniserie HBO superpremiata (5 Golden Globe e un mucchio di Emmy, tra le altre cose) e adorata dalla critica, Angels in America è, come recita il sottotitolo della piece teatrale da cui è tratta, a gay fantasia on national themes. Ci sono mormoni, gay che rifiutano di accettarsi, Dio che è scappato via, lo scoppio dell'epidemia di AIDS, angeli pasticcioni, miracoli soprannaturali, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep ed Emma Thompson. Sei ore sfrontate, brillanti e anche un po' troppo retoriche in certi passaggi. Il discorso di Roy Cohn / Al Pacino al medico rimane memorabile. Dirige Mike Nichols. 351 minuti al prezzo di 120. Angels in America, dvd, 24 euro circa   Spesa totale della settimana: 84 euro circa.

  Pubblicato da trino | Commenti
  
  Tags: god hates mondays
  
                                     
  
  

• Viva No. 12

  33/45 - 2008-12-13 01:23:32

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  Sweet soul, fractured funk, global rock n roll freaks.
  
  Deadheat No. 12 [12/13/08]
  Joe Bataan - Call My Name
  McNeal & Niles - Hypertension
  Stark Reality - Dreams
  Flavio Kurt - Walderez Walderia
  Florante - Ibon
  Dungen - Ett Skal Att Trivas
  D. Lissvik - Track 4
  Friendsound - Joyride
  Sic Alps - Gelly Roll Gum Drop
  Shawn Phillips - Screamer for Phlyses
  Dewey Martin & Medicine Ball - Indian Child
  John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - I'm Your Witchdoctor
  Bubble Puppy - Hot Smoke & Sassafras
  
  Coming up next week: Excellent guest playlist from Robots in Heat, don't miss it ...

• New solo album from Raveonettes dude

  I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS - 2008-12-10 08:40:11

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  Sune Rose Wagner is the masculine half of Danish duo The Raveonettes, alongside his platinum counterfoil Sharin Foo. After seven years of working in tandem (including on this year's marvelously cool Lust, Lust, Lust) Wagner is striking out on his own for an album of solo material, released this week.
  
  That same echoey blend of surf sounds and scuzzy garage rock from the Raveonettes output is at play on this collection. To my non-Nordic eyes, these song titles look like Sigur Ros, but sound like Phil Specter -- except completely in Danish. It works!
  
  Beruset Og Forhadt - Sune Rose Wagner
  
  Wagner's self-titled solo album is out now on Juvenile Records.
  

  
  

• And We're Back With New Music From The Marked Men, Friendly Foes, and The Howlies

  I Rock Cleveland - 2008-12-08 15:12:09

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  Without getting into the nasty green, yellow, and brown details, let's just say I'm well enough to be writing and well enough to be working, but still operating at less than peak performance due to that nasty upper respiratory infection that won't go away. In the coming days you should see the year's last installment of The Rockometer -- there's six or seven reviews in various states of completion dying to get published, a Holiday Gift Guide, and 2008's Year End Extravaganza Bonanza. As in the past we'll count down the year's top albums, top tunes, top local releases, and we'll also be giving away some very special "awards." In the meantime, enjoy these three mp3s. In between all my napping and staring blankly at the walls, I did manage to get my ears around some new sounds...
  
  From the album "Ghost," due out this coming February on Dirtnap Records, comes "Ditch," by Austin's Marked Men. Fans of Gentleman Jesse and His Men, and The Exploding Hearts before them, will get a kick from their honest, untrendy approach to punk and power pop.
  
  MP3: The Marked Men - Ditch
  
  There's a Cleveland connection to the '90s power pop/indie rock sound of Friendly Foes, a new band led by Thunderbirds Are Now! vocalist/guitarist Ryan Allen: Liz Wittman, who plays bass and lends a vocal or two, also plays in the Detroit/Cleveland pop band, Kiddo.
  
  MP3: Friendly Foes - Get Yr Sh*t Together
  
  Also coming out this February, is Trippin' with The Howlies, the aptly named debut full length from the Atlanta based garage rock band, The Howlies. With the rising popularity of Atlanta's kings of juvenile, garage rock, The Black Lips, it would be easy, no natural, to start making comparisons between these two bands, but the breakdown that hits "Chimera" around the two minute mark, suggests they've been listening to another one of the South's Pitchfork approved artists: Deerhunter.
  
  MP3: The Howlies - Chimera

  

  

• This is not requiem. This is pizzorante

  Sciampagnino Tonight - 2008-12-05 09:26:20

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  Il blog è stanco. Stanco. Un post così neanche volevo scriverlo, ma è giusto dare un po’ di giustificazioni. Le classiche due parole che si dicono a un amico che non si vede da un pezzo, guarda un periodaccio, lascia stare. Comunque, il blog non è morto anche se iniziava a puzzare di cadavere. Noi siamo in salute, certo alle prese con i guai del postfordismo e dello scoglionamento giovanile, ma ancora sani e vitali.   Mi piacerebbe scrivere tutti i post che mi segno sulle pagine grigie della mia testa la mattina in macchina mentre vado al lavoro, e alla sera in macchina quando torno dal lavoro. Ma neanche li ricordo più. Ho pensato a nuove rubriche. Ho pensato anche di annotare i miei pensieri, o i pensieri della gente che riesco a rubare in ascensore. Questo credo che lo farò, ve ne accorgerete quando vedrete qualche riga di delirio, o di profonda umanità.   E la musica, si poi ci sarebbe la musica. Che io ascolto solo più Giusi Ferreri, e ho iniziato a odiare le radio che una volta per compagnia ogni tanto apprezzavo. Odio l’heavy rotation, odio quello che canta ahi messalina (o qualcosa di simile), odio anche Giuliano Palma e i suoi cazzo di Bluebeathers. Ma vi siete mai chiesti come Giulano Palma scriva i pezzi? Nasce tutto la domenica. Si sveglia e va a pranzo dai genitori. Li il padre nostalgico tira fuori qualche vecchio vinile, quasi tutti successi, i singoloni dell’epoca. Giulano ascolta, forse apprezza. Finisce di mangiare, saluta. Si incammina. Raduna i suoi al bar con la scusa dell’amaro. Chiama la chitarra, e l’imperativo e fare tutto in levare. La batteria, metti la pelle che sai tu e fai uscire quel solito suono li. I fiati, voi state tranquilli un attimo, voi entrate solo nei ritornelli. Il testo ce l’abbiamo già. L’interpretazione è sempre la stessa. Il pezzo è pronto, ricordiamoci solo che quando lo facciamo dal vivo sul finale acceleriamo. A quanti dischi uguali siamo già arrivati?   E comunque è tutta colpa delle radio e soprattutto di quello di ahi Messalina.   Ma voi, voi come state? Siete andati a leggere cose più interessanti ovviamente. Dai cercate di tornare, di dire in giro che è tornato lo sciampagn del web. Di fare anche solo un cenno. Chiedete. Sputtanate. Vogliamoci ancora bene.   E intanto mi sono reso conto che avevo ancora voglia di scrivere. Che ho trasformato questo post in uno di quei locali per mangiare che sull’insegna hanno scritto di tutto e i menù di otto pagine scritti in wordart o in Comic Sans passano dalla pizza alla griglieria attraverso l’immancabile antipasto misto di pesce e il profitterol industriale.   Ma in qualche modo bisognava pur tornare. E questo è quanto. State bene

  Pubblicato da blago | Commenti
  
  Tags: reflex shot
  
                                     
  
  

• Hlátrasköll í vikulok

  B-Town Hit Parade - 2008-11-28 11:01:00

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  Um daginn keypti ég mér tölvuhljóðkerfi í Kreppuverslun Halldórs og með í kaupunum fylgdu tveir diskar með hinum eina sanna Tvíhöfða. Þetta voru Konungleg Skemmtun og Sleikir Hamstur. Mín unglingavinnuár í hnotskurn. Ég lifði fyrir Suðu Sigfús, Kennedy Sjónvarpsstöðina, Litla Lagið Okkar, Tvíhleypuna, Grafræningjana og auðvitað grunnskólakennarann sem var að deita nemanda sinn. Jú og Fangann í Malaga og Snjalla Mongólítann og Björgunarafrekið í Látrabjargi og... og... og...
  
  Hvurslags samfélag er það annars, sem útvarpar Reykjavík Síðdegis en ekki Tvíhöfða? Pff. En plöturnar þeirra fjórar lifa og kynda nostalgíubálið. Ég væri samt til í 80falda DVD box-settið með komplít þáttunum.
  
  
  
  Hér eru nokkrir demantamolar.
  
  "Ég er í silkinærbuxum"
  "Haa nei, ertu ekki bara í bómullarbrók?"
  Tvíhöfði - 'Í Hverju Ertu?' mp3
  
  Jón tjannellar sinn innri Einar Örn.
  Tvíhöfði - 'Ég Fíla Nýbylgjurokk' mp3
  
  "Þú ert skakkur mar!"
  -"Já, ég er með mislanga fætur"
  Tvíhöfði - 'Slangur 2' mp3
  
  Alveg geðveikt lag sem ég var búinn að steingleyma. Sveitaballabandið Sigur Rós!
  Tvíhöfði - 'Stuðlagið um Sigur Rós' mp3
  
  Táningafræðarinn kenndi manni lexíur lífsins.
  Tvíhöfði - 'Táningafræðarinn - Er Sjálfsfróun Eðlileg?' mp3
  
  Og hérna er hann!
  Tvíhöfði - 'Suðu Sigfús' mp3
  Algjört hnossgæti. "Hvað ertað suða mamma mín?" - Og hey, hvað hét hann sem grillaði bara Medister pylsur?
  
  
  Í guðs bænum pillið ykkur svo á tonlist.is til að Tvíhöfða ykkur almennilega upp.

• Young Hearts run free

  inkiostro - 2008-11-26 15:15:18

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  Se saltando da un blog all’altro si entra nel giro dei giovani illustratori americani il rischio è quello di non uscirne più. Tanta è la ricchezza espressiva che l’effetto è simile a quello che può capitarvi quando entrate per la prima volta in un negozio di fumetti a Parigi, per intendersi. Non si sa davvero dove guardare. Sono artisti diversissimi sia per tecnica che per stile. Una cosa è certa questi ragazzi non hanno timore di osare. La cosa più sorprendente è che ognuno di loro abbia già uno stile così personale, definito e inconfondibile. Joshua Middleton Joshua Middleton è un fumettista che ha lavorato sia per la DC Comics che per la Marvel. E’ diventato celebre soprattutto per le sue copertine. I supereroi che lui disegna non sono più le proiezioni utopistiche di adolescenti imbranati e insicuri, personaggi tormentati e a volte insicuri. Con la fluidità dei movimenti, la brillantezza del colore, Middleton esprime la sfrontatezza e l’arroganza di una generazione (quella dei giovani americani di classe medio-alta)  che può permettersi davvero tutto senza preoccuparsi di quello che capita nel resto del mondo. Owen Freeman Chinatown, illustration proposal based on unsolved crimes in Los Angeles. Owen Freeman è un artista che trae la sua ispirazione dagli articoli di cronaca di cui deve realizzare le illustrazioni. Questa necessaria aderenza con la realtà, rende le sue opere ancora più interessanti perché non si limitano ad una semplice trasposizione grafica di quello che è successo, ma riescono a darne una precisa interpretazione. La cupezza degli scenari disegnati da Freeman mi ricordano il fumettista italiano Corrado Roi che negli anni novanta ha disegnato alcuni indimenticabili numeri di Dylan Dog. Mi colpivano soprattutto la violenza che riusciva ad evocare con il suo tratto spezzato. La stessa atmosfera sospesa e il senso di minaccia imminente potrete ritrovarle nelle vignette di Freeman. Clapped, interpretation based on a collection of articles on killings in self-defense. Celia Calle Celia Calle è una illustratrice che ha iniziato realizzando poster per Jean-Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein Collection, Tommy Hilfiger. I suoi interessi sono dunque orientati verso un mondo assolutamente femminile: la moda. Il suo stile ricorda infatti la tipica attività dei grandi stilisti di disegnare modellini con donne dalle proporzioni innaturalmente allungate. Per fortuna però non si ferma a questo e l’ironia che mette in ogni illustrazione fa sorridere e riflettere sulle dinamiche nei rapporti uomo-donna negli anni 2000, soprattutto per quanto riguarda i suoi disegni per la miniserie della DC Comics “American Virgin”.

  Pubblicato da PeggyG | Commenti
  
  Tags: peggyg
  
                                     
  
  

• The Contrast Podcast and I Embrace Our Senile Genius

  lost in your inbox - 2008-11-26 01:10:00

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       Oh, I kid the contrast podcast. It's not old, I'm the old one. That's the theme this week, "old," and I had no trouble finding an appropriate song! If you want to listen or download the episode, go right here.

       "Embrace your senile genius" is one of the first lines in the Pavement song "Old to Begin," which is my choice this week. As I say in my intro, I am old, older than most of you, and yet I had no knowledge of Pavement whatsoever when they were popular ten or so years ago. It's an old song and the band no longer exists but it's all new to me!

       To tell you the truth, old as I am, I feel a hell of a lot better than I did ten years ago. I'm in much better shape, have a lot more energy, and am much more in touch with what's going on in the world of new music than I was back then. So even though I'm older, I feel younger. I don't think you can beat that. (I'll save the philosophical discussion about the disproportionate value our culture places on youth for another time. For now, I'm just going with it!)

  Pavement--"Old to Begin" mp3 off Brighten the Corners (buy--They're reissuing this and calling it the "Nicene Creed" edition and it's got lots of previously unreleased goodies on it. I believe I just might ask for this for Christmas.)

       Next week's theme will be "marvelous mash-ups," which is pretty self-explanatory, unless of course you think it means mashed potatoes or some such thing. If you do, then I'll explain it to you.

  toothpaste for dinner cartoon from here

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• New? You Call This New?

  Under The Rotunda - 2008-11-24 06:00:07

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  Pushing 50 with wrinkled varacose hands grasping at the straws of his youth, Axl Rose and his cohorts (a term used with a grimace, since the driving force is singular) released Chinese Democracy yesterday. This album has been the butt of jokes, the basis for lawsuits, and mastabatory fare for legions of heavy metal hangers-on for the last 15 years. If you were lucky, yesterday you signed up for free Dr. Pepper. If you were unlucky, you bought Chinese Democracy.
  

  This album marks the end of an era for rock music. In all of its self-aggrandizing stupor and bloated production, Guns 'N Roses made a fatal mistake. They neglected to take into account the market, or lack there of, for this kind of record. Music is a reflection of the times, and the times in which we currently live are lean. 14 studios, 15 years, and x-millions of dollars are not reflective of the modern human situation. Rose, instead of being rock's savior, sage, or even backward looking elder, is instead its dinosaur -- starving, having not been killed by catastrophe, yet doomed to die in the fallout, bloated from from cannibalization and impaction.

  Does the music sound good? Sure, with a production budget like they had and no restrictions or limitations and nothing but time to burn, any band in your neighborhood garage can make a record that sounds as sonically interesting as Chinese Democracy. As Axl proves, the money can make you sound polished, but it can't save the songs which seem unfit and juvenile for a man his age.

  A real Zzzzz fest.

• The Book of Margot

  linesthroughlines - 2008-11-20 17:03:01

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  As mentioned here before, releasing a double album is more often than not a bad idea. It either takes some serious stones or inflated ego to want to put so much of yourself out there for criticism when it could easily float awry. Well another linesthroughlines fave (Margot & the Nuclear So-and-So's) has slid their chips to the center of the table and are awaiting the flop with bated breath...
  
  Animal!/Not Animal began as a mildly humorous, urban-myth-strewn idea with potential for greatness. Margot had significant buzz following 2006's long-playing The Dust of Retreat which got them signed to Epic Records. Ringleader Richard Edwards' prolific pen created a bigger problem than you'd think: the label liked one set of 12 songs, Edwards liked another. As rumor has it, Edwards flew to the label's headquarters with an ultimatum. If the label didn't let him release the songs he wanted, he was going to intentionally leak the album to the internet (gasp!). While I'm sure that would have gotten him sued penniless, it apparently worked. The compromise was Animal! (the band's choice, released on vinyl) and Not Animal (Epic's, on CD), which originally were slated to be released as two separate entities a week apart. At some point someone realized the folly of that idea and the two released simultaneously, though the records have 5 songs common between them. At this point, there could be no other way...
  
  While Not Animal begins (and for the most part continues) on the right path with the moody "A Children's Crusade on Acid", Animal! begins with the 6-minute "At the Carnival", hinting at a more arduous journey ahead. Almost sadly, I think the "big-bad-record-label" got their half right. It flows and has legitimate commercial appeal (which I'm sure Epic is hoping for). Animal! is true to the band's desires and has similar moments of moxy (closing with "As Tall As Cliffs" was brilliant), but ends up being the snoozer of the two.
  
  Unfortunately, the double-album concept ends up distracting each from the other. I find myself having to choose between one or the other, a move that effectively cuts my ears off from worthy tracks exclusive to only one of the albums ("O' What a Nightmare", "My Baby (Shoots Her Mouth Off)", "Papers Written On a Wall", and "Holy Cow!"). "As Tall As Cliffs" is one of the year's best songs and thankfully appears on both, as do solid tracks like "Hello Vagina" and "A Children's Crusade on Acid." There are some nice mood songs that flow seamlessly in context and sound odd on their own (The Dust of Retreat was chock-full of them). There are some definite misses.
  
  Despite (and because of) all of the above, I highly recommend both of these records. I recommend ripping both and making your own 12-song album, in tribute of Richard Edwards' idea. There's something for everyone inside, even if it takes a little time to dig up. With a band this beautifully weird, it's a risk well worth taking.
  
  **Check out the topical and fabulous video for "As Tall As Cliffs" here.
  
  Listen:
  As Tall As Cliffs
  [from Not Animal|buy]
  There's Talk of Mine Shafts
  [from Animal!|buy]

• Counting Crows Frontman Teams With Broken Lizard For 'Freeloaders'

  :: The Playlist :: - 2008-11-12 10:13:04

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  A lot of rock-related movie news today. Not all of it is good of course. Mop-topped Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz is teaming-up with the comedy troupe Broken Lizard ("Beerfest," "Super Troopers," "Club Dread") for a new comedy project called, "Freeloaders."
  
  Duritz is producing the film the centers on "around five guys and a girl who live in the lap of luxury in a rock star's mansion. But their sweet situation is threatened when the rock star decides to sell the home."
  
  Gee, what a story. They probably spent years fleshing that concept out, huh?
  
  While geeks will probably vehemently disagree, the Broken Lizard troupe and their films are generally incredibly juvenile and unfunny, with comedy that makes Judd Apatow films look like its written by guys with PHD's. Sure, there are some sophomoric-ally amusing moments in both, "Beerfest" and "Super Troopers" ("Club Dread," is fucking godawful), but generally these guys can't make movies for shit and think they're about 10,000 times funnier than they actually are (and god, some of the humor is so damn corny).
  
  Whatever, best of luck to them all.
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Ducktails

  raven sings the blues - 2008-11-12 10:05:27

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  New Jersey's Ducktails has hit the ground sprinting and doesn't show signs of letting up. Working both under the names Predator Vision and Ducktails Matt Mondanile's released a few cassettes and a recent 7" that bear some attention. Taking a laid-back beach guitar vibe and mixing in a healthy dose of dubby synth and dime-store drum machine, the rough early works have matured into a swirling stew of duct tape psychedelia. Perplexingly full of California sun for a Jersey native, the newest batch of tracks on the Beach Point Pleasant 7" are a tad late for summer beach parties but should you need to recreate the balmy feeling of July at home they're a perfect match. It seems that ample notice has been paid to Mondanile's prowess as he prepares a split with Wavves, a full length for Not Not Fun as well as a split under the Predator Vision name with Sun Araw (which couldn't be a more perfect pairing) also on Not Not Fun with many more on the horizon. Check out the full upcoming schedule here.
  
  Download:
  [MP3] Ducktails - Beach Point Pleasant Ducktails 7"
  [MP3] Ducktails - Tropical Heat From II Cassette
  
  Support the artist. Buy it: HERE

• Your Tour Guide - AC/DC in Concert

  The Giant Panther - 2008-11-10 17:20:35

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  OK, let's get the juvenile rock digs out of the way. I know many people, The Giant Panther included, who don't find Australian rockers AC/DC particularly compelling. They're too loud; they're too heavy; they're bad boy image is too juvenile; all of their music sounds the same. I've heard it all and I could care less. I LOVE AC/DC and I don't care if I am 48 years of age. They rock my world. Unfortunately for the masses, most people MIGHT be able to name one song after Back in Black, Shoot To Thrill, You Shook Me (All Night Long), Hells Bells, TNT, It's a Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock & Roll...Thank you School of Rock), Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Highway To Hell or For Those About To Rock (We Salute You). For me and 20,000 other hard core AC/DC fans at the TD BankNorth Garden last night that is a crying shame. I'm a huge fan of legendary guitarists such as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, The Edge and anyone else you'd probably care to name. None of them get me going like Angus Young. I can't explain it and I won't even try. I'm not much of a dancer, but I cannot sit still when this guy is playing his guitar. I'm so glad a camera wasn't on me during last night's rendering of Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be. It was the second song of the night and I swear I was hollering like some school girl at Paul McCartney. It's quite embarrassing to see a grown man enjoying himself so much. You're going to have to trust me on this. I have to laugh just thinking about it. I must have close to a thousand rock shows under my belt and I swear my level of enjoyment at AC/DC shows borders on the absurd. What a rush. This was my sixth AC/DC concert. For the record I'm noting the dates below for fun...
  
  May 7, 1988 - Worcester Centrum in Worcester, MA
  November 15, 1990 -Providence Civic Center in Providence, RI
  March 19, 1996 - Fleetcenter in Boston, MA
  August 8,2000 - Fleetcenter in Boston, MA
  May 4, 2001 - Fleetcenter in Boston, MA
  November 9, 2008 - TD BankNorth Garden in Boston, MA
  
  I'm sure I missed a few over the years, but it doesn't seem like they come around here much anymore. I know the seven year gulf between the last time they played here and last night felt like decades. I went with a couple of long time friends of mine and one of them donned a kilt for the show. I'm not sure exactly why, but two separate TNT chants broke out (Oiy! Oiy!) as we made our way towards our seats and people caught wind of his get up. It was hilarious. Before the show we usually gather at a local establishment owned by a friend of mine called The CharlesMark Hotel on Boylston Street in Back Bay Boston. The place usually caters to the traveling salesman or the families visiting college kids so the music is toned way down to snoozeville most of the time. Every now and then, for special occasions like this concert, my friend Mark will go against the grain and crank out some good old fashioned rock and roll. I love this side of Mark. It's in remission most of the time, but he does have his moments and lends his bar to our cause. Coupled with our friend Dave the limo driver we do it right for every concert we attend in Boston. So a tip of the hat for Mark from me here...
  
  Like The Rolling Stones, AC/DC is unfortunately bound to play certain songs. The nine I mentioned above are usually wedged into every set to the dismay of folks like me who don't really care if they play them at all anymore. I'm clearly not your average concert goer anymore, but I could subsist exclusively on AC/DC "B" cuts like Rock & Roll Singer, Girl's Got Rhythm, Shot Down in Flames, Down Payment Blues, What's Next To The Moon, Rock & Roll Damnation, Have a Drink On Me, Can't Stand Still, Sink The Pink, Touch Too Much, Rock & Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, What Do You Do For Money, Money Talks, Hard as a Rock, Stiff Upper Lip, Problem Child, Dog Eat Dog, Let's Get It Up, Sin City, Who Made Who, Hold Me Back, This House is On Fire, Burnin' Alive, Whiskey On The Rocks and Jailbreak. In fact, though the concert would reach Springsteenian proportion in length, if they only played these songs I would consider it to be the perfect AC/DC concert. It would be under the radar nirvana for me.
  
  I don't want to start any Blasphemous Rumors, but I'd dump Back in Black, You Shook Me, The Jack, Whole Lotta Rosie, Let There Be Rock, Highway To Hell, and Thuderstruck and For Those About To Rock immediately if I were running the ship. I would keep TNT, Hells Bells, Dirty Deeds, and would get It's a Long Way back into the set as well. If they all sound the same then what's the harm right? You still have to promote the present record, but (and I'm stealing this from an online article I read this morning) AC/DC songs need ten years to mature and become staples of their set according to one fan. It's beer run time for most when the new stuff is played. I go during some of the war horse staples. I realize it's futile to complain about the hits, but I love bands that shuffle the deck and play something different every night. I think that's what made The Grateful Dead so popular. You never knew what you were going to get. People rarely follow bands more than two or three nearby cities in this day and age the way The Dead's following traipsed across the country to see them anymore, but more bands should promote that. It's a great sales gimmick and they wouldn't get bored in the meantime. Yeah it's harder to rehearse and recall, but what a draw. It's so fan friendly it seems like a no brainer to me. I don't know why more bands don't do it to be honest, but what do I know?
  
  I'm probably preaching to the converted if anyone is still reading, but AC/DC definitely gets your adrenaline rushing in concert. Go see them if you never have. From Rock 'N Roll Train to the cannons firing in For Those About To Rock it was a spectacle and loads of fun. I don't care how old you are. They rule in my book.
  
  Setlist: 1. Rock 'N Roll Train 2. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be 3. Back In Black 4. Big Jack 5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 6. Thunderstruck 7. Black Ice 8. The Jack 9. Hells Bells 10. War Machine 11. Shoot to Thrill 12. Anything Goes 13. You Shook Me All Night Long 14. TNT 15. Whole Lotta Rosie 16. Let There Be Rock Encore: 17. Highway To Hell 18. For Those About To Rock
  
  AC/DC - Sin City.mp3
  
  AC/DC - Sin City.mp3 YSI

• FCM #14 - Halloween

  CIGIT 2.0 - 2008-10-31 09:58:13

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  FCM #14 - HALLOWEEN We're BACK baby, and we're killing it. Click here to download the whole FCM #14 - HALOWEEN or hunt and peck below. If you like something or hate something or whatever, please make a comment! Some of these files are m4a format, so you should download them all with the link above or right click and save them to your machine.
  
  Next week's Theme - Cover Songs #2!
  
  "Halloween - Main Theme" Gareth Williams - 1978
  Walt writes: The original Halloween remains one of my all-time favorite horror movies. I like John Carpenter movies and while several of them are cheesy, this one hit all the right notes. Carpenter wrote the theme and there's nothing like hearing those piano keys twinkling to get the blood rushing.
  
  "Dream Warriors" Dokken - 1987
  Felix writes: I have a sneaking suspicion that Brian L may also be submitting this track, Nightmare on Elm Street fan that he is. While I was never one for scary movies, I really got into these films when I was in middle school. When the third Nightmare film came out, I got to see two things I loved combined into something even more fantastic. Like a raisin covered in chocolate, or a monkey in a cowboy suit... I present to you a horror movie backed with heavy metal, in the form of Freddy Krueger and Dokken.
  
  "Dr. Stein" Helloween - 1996
  Jane writes: So, a year ago, when New Music Fridays was very young and we were trading entire albums, I made a HELLOWEEN comp on Halloween... but since it's now a year later (which means we should have had a birthday theme sometime recently), I feel like enough time has passed for a band repeat. And there really is, in my mind, no substitute for the rousing Germanic vibrato and militaristic drumming this time of year as we celebrate all that is dark.
  
  "Dr. Stein grows funny creatures
  let's them run into the night
  they become great rock musicians
  and their time is right"
  
  "Zombie Graveyard Party" Be You Own Pet - 2008
  Christine writes: "life is lame so let me eat your brain." Words that are sure to convince your mortal lover to let your zombie-self enjoy their innards as a little snacky. Then you both may enjoy the unded life together - until the comedic yet loveable zombie killer comes after you and shoots you both in the head.
  
  "Smack Jack" Nina Hagen - 1982
  Justin Step writes: This is a nicely operatic and dubbed-out selection to drop at your next death disco party. I like the tension between disco glamour and back-alley depravity in this song. Nina Hagen has a very powerful, dynamic voice, and reallly kicks up the gravelly alto notes here for a freaky, spooky effect. She sounds a bit like an undead, half-decomposed junkie zombie that's stepped from of the shadows of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
  
  "Zombie Prescription" Snapcase - 1997
  Justin Sid writes: This was my favorite song off of this particular album, Progression Through Unlearning from Snapcase. I was handed this album when I was in high school from a friend. Snapcase was the beginning of my Victory Records obsession where I found a bunch of hardcore rock outfits I grew to love.
  
  While the title of this track is a bit more of a metaphor than an actual song about the undead. I felt that it has merit for our Halloween themed mix.
  
  "This Is Halloween" Marilyn Manson - 2008
  Jennifer writes: This song is from the "Nightmare Before Christmas - Revisited" soundtrack. I am not sure what the thought process was to reissue this CD with different artists covering the songs but I felt this was the best song on the CD. Marilyn is one of the best at cartoon-y goth covers.
  
  "Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare-All)" Type O Negative - 1993
  Brian writes: Certain seasons call for certain bands. Every time Autumn rolls around, I get in the mood for Type O Negative. Everything they've done on their 8 releases captures the essence of the season. Narrowing it down to Halloween only, I could single out at least an album's worth of Type O songs. And while I will almost always go directly to the album "World Coming Down" when Fall creeps in, no song is more fitting for this mix than "Black No. 1" from the 1993 album "Bloody Kisses". By the way, the story behind the song is that most girls coming to Type O shows had their dyed black hair. When asked what type of hair dye they used, the most common answer was Black No. 1. Or so the legend goes...
  
  "John Wayne Gacy, Jr" Sufjan Stevens - 2005
  Margaret writes: If there was ever a song that could be described as both haunting and beautiful, this would be it. The last line of the song is one of my favorite lyrics of all time:
  
  "And in my best behavior I am really just like him. Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid"
  
  "Skeleton Key" Margot & The Nuclear So And So's - 2006
  TJ writes: I'm going to be "that guy" that puts the song on the Halloween mix only because Skeleton is in the title and that relates to Halloween. I really like the strings in this mix and have been wearing this CD out lately so I wanted to share.
  
  "Season Of The Witch" Luna - 2006
  Allison writes: Allison is silent on this one.
  
  "Nah Und Fern" Wolfgang Voigt - 2008
  Nick writes: This is Wolfgang Voigt's "Nah und Fern," a way old unreleased track. I know I've used his work before, but if this song doesn't creep you out then I don't know what I can do for you.
  
  "Experiment In Terror" Henry Mancini - 1962
  Walt writes: I figured that we were going to have a Halloween-themed FCM so I planned in advance and had Henry Mancini's Experiment in Terror lined up but Brian beat me to the punch back in FCM #10 with the cover by FantÙmas. But that's okay, I'm a big fan of covers (hey, let's do another round of those). Anyway, here's the original by the great Henry Mancini (this is my second Mancini pick).
  
  When I was a kid back in the 1970s, WGN-TV used to run a Friday night Horror-themed show called Creature Features and I loved it. It's where I first saw the Universal horror movies like Frankenstein, Dracula, The Creature form The Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man, and my all-time favorite ... The Wolfman. The movies had commercial breaks, of course, and when they came back from break, WGN would play a little bit of Experiment in Terror and show a drawing of Lon Chaney Sr. from London After Midnight. In my room, with the lights out on on my old B/W TV, it all looked very spooky. It's one of my favorite memories.
  
  "DaDa" Alice Cooper - 1981
  James writes: Camp has always ruled Alice's take on horror in rock, but I've always found this particular track chilling as fuck.
  
  Don't buy the album; it's awful. Instead, enjoy this track and seek out "Love it to Death," "Billion Dollar Babies," and "Welcome to My Nightmare."
  
  "Sinister Exaggerator" The Residents - 1986
  Justin Step writes: I discovered this song, and this band, thanks to a cover version on Primus' Miscellaneous Debris, and became a huge fan all through college. It was music was like nothing I'd ever heard, like the soundtrack to a nightmare. A perfect blend of the dark and the childish, it was nervous-making music, and elicited emotions that most other music seeks to avoid. I got hooked, but consistently failed to convince my friends to share my appreciation. They formed in the late 60s, and are still together, and have gone to great lenths to never reveal the identities of individual members, like performing in tuxedoes and eyeball masks, backlit behind screens.
  
  "I'm Evil, Jack" The Frogs - 1996
  Ben writes: This song is a terrible bad song. A song to never play around your mother or your kids. Felix, Justin, Matt, and I realized it was also a song never to play loud at work sometime around 2003 when Rey kindly asked us to never play it aloud again. He's Evil, Jack. You will feel a bit evil too, laughing along to this one, unless you quickly delete it and vow to never listen to The Frogs again.
  
  "Tubular Bells" Mike Oldfield - 1973
  Walt writes: This piece of music always brings me back to the early 80s. I was a seminary student of the Archdiocese of Chicago living in the Niles College dorms on Harlem and Touhy. Almost every Friday or Saturday night, a bunch of us priests in training would drive downtown, hide some beers in our coats and take in a movie (I remember one of us knocking over a bottle of beer at a showing of Bo Derek's signature film,10, and listening to it roll all the way to the front of the theatre). On one such trip, we decided to see The Exorcist (we figured it was job training). One of my fellow seminarians decided that the movie wouldn't be bloodcurdling enough on its own so he bought a tab of acid from an enterprising gentleman in the bathroom. Luckily he made it though the movie in one piece. I, on the other hand, discovered a great film that mixed spirituality, psychology, science, and horror al in one neat little package.
  
  We seminarians used to have retreats to the Sait Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL. It was rumored that the technical advisor Fr. John Nicola had done much of his research on exorcism while a seminary student there. It was also rumored that his former room was under lock and key due to some strange phenomenon that happened in it while he was doing his research. While I never found his room, I gave it several good tries on my trips there.
  
  

• Sirk, Rosellini & 'El Norte' Come To Criterion In January

  :: The Playlist :: - 2008-10-30 08:24:41

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  It is that time once again, when as high-brow cinephiles we can put down our brandy sifters, button up our smoking jackets, and rejoice that Criterion is bestowing us with even more classic films come January. Criterion announced their January releases recently and they include the PBS funded white-guilt inducing film "El Norte," the fromage covered "Magnificent Obsession," Roberto Rossellini's portrait of France's most destructive monarch, "The Taking of Power by Louis XIV" and Rossellini's history lesson in a box-set "Eclipse Series 14: Rossellini's History Films-Renaissance and Enlightenment."
  
  El Norte
  This 1983 film, other than being a staple of every university South American cinema class, was one of the first truly independent films to be nominated for Best Picture. It deals with the trials and tribulations of a pair of Guatemalan youths who flee their home country attempting to avoid ethic persecution. The two immigrants find themselves traveling through Mexico on their journey to America, where they are forced to crawl through a sewer pipe laden with rats. They soon find that American life isn't everything they had imagined and are forced to become day-laborers living in southern California. The film was financed completely off the grid, and a large chunk came from PBS. It has since become been wildly successful in sending the vast majority of pupils forced to view it into a deep depression.
  
  Magnificent Obsession
  Douglas Sirk's take on the Lloyd C. Douglas novel, which follows a young, spoiled playboy who crashes his boat while driving recklessly, occupying the towns only resuscitator. While he is being waited on by the townsfolk, the beloved physician suffers a heart attack and dies. Due to the fact that his careless ass was at fault for the death, the the hospital staff and townsfolk turn on him. Don't let the awesome sounding premise fool you, the film quickly falls into a shamelesss fromage covered love story.
  
  The Taking of Power by Louis XIV
  Neo-realist giant Roberto Rossellini's costume drama concerning France's "sun king." Rossellini's penchant for realism brings the figures made infamous through the prism of time appear to be the mere mortals they were. The film follows Louis grapple for absolute power after the death of the chief minister Cardinal Mazarin, his construction of the palace of the Versailles, extravagant meals and other acts that permanently damaged the country. It was penned by Francois Truffaut's trusted scribe, Jean Gruault and is a must see for any 17th century monarch enthusiast.
  
  Eclipse Series 14: Rossellini's History Films-Renaissance and Enlightenment
  In his senile twilight years Roberto Rossellini began making films about important historical figures. Criterion is offering the three films in a single box set. It includes "Blaise Pascal," which outlines the life of the influential philosopher who argued for science and intellect amid an atmosphere of superstition and ignorance. "The Age of the Medici" his three part series is a portrait of 15th century Florence political dynasty turned patron of the arts. His third film in the set is "Cartesius," about the mathematician, scientist and writer Rene Descartes. He is considered to be the father of modern philosophy and we hear he was pretty important. If you are ever stuck in a dull humanities class do yourself a favor and view these instead of browsing aimlessly through your text book.

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Viðkunnalegasta lag allra tíma

  B-Town Hit Parade - 2008-10-29 20:34:15

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  Þetta er sennilega næsaðasta lag allra tíma. Ef ykkur vantar smá næs í lífið, leitið ekki lengra.
  
  Enda ekki við öðru að búast af þessu fólki. Horfið bara á myndina hér að ofan. Hversu næs er þetta lið? Það er súúúper næs.
  
  Næs.
  
  The Five Stairsteps - 'Ooh Child' mp3

• Stýrivaxtamúzík

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2008-10-28 21:51:58

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  Og ekkert boffs um neitt kjaftæði. Heldur beint í múzík. Hef verið að láta nýju The Walkmen plötuna marenerast gegnum blóð og merg. Plata sem þarfnast tíma. Þeirra metnaðarfyllsta til þessa og tíminn mun e.t.v. leiða það í ljós að þetta verði jafnvel sú besta frá þeim. Að mínum dómi frekar heilsteyptur gripur fullur af sálarfullum lögum og skemmtilegum pælingum. Eitt af lögum ársins má finna á henni.
  
  The Walkmen - In The New Year
  
  Af íslensku finnst mér FM Belfast vera að bera af, svona allavega nákvæmlega núna. Frumraun þessarar sveitar, How To Make Friends er sérdeilis frábær. Hæfilega kærulaus, tekur sig ekki of alvarlega, tilgerðarlítil, einföld og hress. Er eiginlega hálf miður mín að hafa misst af þeim á Airveivs. Par Avion er holdgervingur plötunnar; nostalgíumengað, sniðugt og danshvetjandi.
  
  FM Belfast - Par Avion
  
  Eitt gamalt og hresst, og einnig danshvetjandi, svona allavega fyrir spastískan dansara eins og mig, eða þannig. The Buggles áttu náttúrulega slagara sem allir þekkja, Video Killed The Radio Star, en höfðu lítið annað segja í poppsögunni. Plata þeirra The Age Of Plastic hafði einnig fátt annað markvert nema Elstree, lag sem alveg magnaður andskoti. Fékk þetta gjörsamlega á minn litla heila þegar Justice skelltu þessu inn í magnað monstermix sitt fyrir BBC Radio síðasta sumar. Frakkin' mega fortíðarschnilld.
  
  The Buggles - Elstree
  
  Ætla nú svo að fara lox að hlusta almennilega á Deerhoof plötuna. Kem með úrskurð síðar. Amen.
  
  P.S. allir linkar dauðir á MP3 lög eldri en 5-6 daga gamalt, þ.e. þegar þetta er ritað. Sorry.

• Comics in My Pants.

  PCL LinkDump - 2008-10-27 23:21:21

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  Say, kids! Do you like to read the funny papers? Sure, we all do, even though sometimes the gags can be... well, a little tired and stale. Especially with all those legacy strips continuing to lumber across the comics landscape long after their original creators have died.
  
  Good thing we've got juvenile, pre-pubescent humor to help us out!
  
  I'm sure you remember the days when you were young and stupid, and there wasn't any joke that couldn't be improved by adding "in my pants!" to the end of the punchline. Well, Jack Nutting over at Comics in My Pants certainly hasn't forgotten. He's dedicated his life to making the world a better place by doctoring lame comic strips with "in my pants" gags.
  
  
  
  He updates on an almost daily basis, so head on over there to see what he's got cooking... in my pants!

• McCoy Tyner - December 1972 - Tokyo - Sahara 'live'

  Burning Dervish - 2008-10-27 21:59:20

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  The next few days' worth of posts are going to be live "bootleg" recordings from various McCoy Tyner dates throughout the 70s...If you have any live McCoy shows, from any era, and are willing to share, please leave a comment (and preferably a download link). Thanks.
  
  This show was an FM broadcast from Tokyo and featured the line-up and material from McCoy's auspicious debut for Milestone, Sahara, which I posted about several months ago here.
  
  The line-up for this show featured McCoy on piano and koto, Sonny Fortune on flute, soprano and alto saxes, Alphonse Mouzon on drums and percussion and Calvin Hill on bass and percussion.
  
  The download below is a ZIP file containing two unedited MP3s as well as CD cover and tray art.
  
  MP3 One:
  Intro
  Valley Of Life > Ebony Queen
  Rebirth
  
  MP3 Two:
  Message From The Nile > Naima
  Sahara
  
  Enjoy.
  
  Download:
  McCoy Tyner Quartet - December 1972 - Tokyo - Sahara live
  

  

  

• ShortCuts: 'W' FactFile, Internecine Old-School 'Star Trek' Beef; The Meta-Art Of 'Synechdoche, New York'; More...

  :: The Playlist :: - 2008-10-23 15:11:14

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  Is it a little too late? Lionsgate have set up an impressive-looking "W" 'FactFile' to prove the elements they're satirizing in Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic are based in truth. The film has already been met with mixed-results, so it might not even matter anymore.[Lionsgate/via Spout]
  
  Todd Field will direct the dark comedy, "Buried."The "In The Bedroom" filmmaker revealed his masterful touches of pitch-black satire in the suburban drama "Little Children," which was so subtle in its comedic touches (a Sahara desert-dry narrator just dripping with slow I.V.-like sarcasm), that the jokes in the film went over many people's head (still to this day, people claim the voice-over is terrible. Duh, that's the point! It's actually genius). [Collider]
  
  (Further evidence that Shatner is going senile) Internecine "Star Trek" beef! William Shatner is so upset that George Takei did not invite him to his gay wedding, Shatner has taken to his website to bitch about it a blog. So heavy was the traffic on Shatner's site yesterday that the webpage went down. We're pretty sure the senile blog entry went something like this. "Great Scott, no invite? Sulu served under me for over 25-years on the U.S.S Enterprise. Is this how I am to be repaid?" Someone get this old coot a hobby or a lawn to mow. [AP]
  
  Catherine Keener's Adele Lack in "Synecdoche, New York," is a miniaturist artist, who paints almost-infinitesimally small micro-paintings on tiny canvases. Her "work" is collected is now getting its own art opening. Of course to preserve the meta-ness of it all, they're not saying who the real artist is and the art exhibit goes under the ruse that Lack is an actual real person. High-brow meta-marketing we guess...[BoingBoing]
  
  Sam Raimi has chosen the "Spider Man" franchise over Tom Clancy's CIA Agent 'Jack Ryan' franchise. I.e. he won't have time to direct the latter. Oh well, we never cared for those things at all and find it odd that anyone has nostalgia for these pictures. [MTV]
  
  Is Dustin Hoffman going to get 'Drunk' with infamous director Tony Kaye for a new project? [Cinematical]
  
  Will. I.Am sinks even lower with his ear-splitting cover of "I Like To Move It (Move It)" by Reel 2 Reel for "Madagascar 2." [ComingSoon]
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• I'm not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance with you

  Reel Around The Fountain - 2008-10-22 15:39:05

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  So yeah, my computer is still dead. Not me though, if you were concerned.
  
  But here's a video from last Friday I think, Black Kids on Leno performing I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You.
  
  Maybe I'm getting senile, but the blonde girl really annoys me.
  
  The music is good though.
  
  
  
  The real video is a little trippy, but enjoyable. I'd post it for you, but some retard has changed YouTube on this uni computer into Chinese without changing it back. Here's the link as a peace offering. To those who want the video, not the Chinese. I'll continue my war with them.

• David Gordon Green Adds Project #375 To His Slate: Horror Film, 'Freaks Of The Heartland'

  :: The Playlist :: - 2008-10-21 10:46:10

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  Indie auteur, David Gordon Green has added project #5,321 to his ongoing and growing list of films he is supposed to direct. This one, titled, "Freaks of the Heartland," is supposed to be a horror thriller he's making for Overture Films.
  
  The story is based off a graphic novel by Steve Niles, who will executive produce. Niles wrote the graphic novel, "30 Days Of Night."
  
  According to the Hollywood Reporter, the comic centers on the "horrible secret of a rural Middle American town involves Trevor Owen's attempts to protect his 'monster' of a 6-year-old younger brother and Gristlewood Valley's other 'freaks' from their parents' worst instincts." Basically, it's kind of a horror "Deliverance" with inbred kids written in a 'Beverly Hillbillies' patois.
  
  Green's always been a fan of "Deliverance," rustic settings and Farmland, Terrence Malick-like visuals, so this might not be far off the look of his 2004 film, "Undertow," which mined similar territory with mixed results (maybe this is the do-over to get it right).
  
  Overture is the same company that recently acquired the rights to the remake of the Swedish vampire film, "Let The Right One In,' which will be directed by "Cloverfield" filmmaker Matt Reeves, who will also write it.
  
  Green has 10,000 other projects on his plate, but we know by history, he signs on for a lot of projects, and only half of them ever come to fruition (though by no fault of his own). So is Green doing horror twice? He had signed on for a remake of "Suspiria." Maybe that's not happening? Either that or he wrote his script, is awaiting the money people and had moved on like usual.
  

  The Playlist - The sweet spot where movies and music meet.

• Baldimur Round Robin: Eyes Night, Mocad, Detroit, October 8

  The Post-Rockist - 2008-10-09 06:35:01

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  Ever been out somewhere, at some place or something, watching stuff going on, and people doing stuff, and people playing instruments and stuff, and doing weird stuff and fun stuff and unusual stuff, and realize to yourself, “Wow, I’ll probably never see something like this ever again.”?

  Well, I had this feeling about 20 minutes into the first night of the Baltimore Round Robin at the Mocad last night. And if you weren’t there, I’m guessing that you didn’t have this feeling at all last night, huh?.

  The show kicked off with a group hug. With all of the equipment set up on the perimeter of the large room and the audience in the middle, Dan Deacon asked all of the performers to surround the crowd and join hands. Dan then asked us all to sing a very low note and gradually raise it till we hit falsetto and then back down, and we all did that, for almost 2 minutes, some people feeling pretty uncomfortable at first, but all of the performers were doing it too and they had us surrounded, so I’m guessing nobody felt too stupid belting it out. Not a bad way to start.

  I suppose the Round Robin could have been subtitled “Dan Deacon’s Friendly Freak-in Variety Show” because that’s pretty much what it was: a freaky variety show. You had Lexie Mountain Boys opening the event, a group of four women singing a cappella like you’ve never heard before, who were at first a bit off-putting, to be honest, but got more and more interesting and accessible throughout the night (or perhaps my weirdness tolerance grew) to the point where I’d go see an entire show of theirs if they ever came back to town. Blue Leader dressed like a poorly-wrought 1960s DC comics hero and recited his poetry about computer code (”It’s all code”) and how “those goddamned aliens are going to pay” over buzzing electronic music. Santa Dads was a three-piece band featuring ukulele (fashioned like a Fender Telecaster, and therefore, a “telukulele” or “ukelecaster”), a beat-boxing tiger-suited guy, and a girl thrashing about with a leopard-print stuffed-animal octopus covering her head. Creepers was one of my faves, playing very awkward, ingeniously juvenile songs, one love song including the amazing lyric “They enjoyed the taste of each other’s teeth.” Ed Schraeder is a kind-of comic guy, according to a few write-ups I read, and if “a comic” means “he’s entertaining,” then yes, he is a comic. A nice surprise was Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, whose beautifully sung warbles and agile guitar playing remind me a lot of early Devendra Banhart. Not to forget, of course, the amazing, amazing Beach House. I can’t believe how good they sounded and the only disappointment of the night was that they didn’t play “Gila” (or 12 more songs). There were other great acts too. Too many to mention. And with one more night to go.

  In addition, there were some funny one-off acts, including a “shampoo-ing competition” (you had to be there), and bizarre (and hilarious) faux-Muppets short movie, and one “Funny Clown” whose first words to the audience, I believe, were “Death, death, death.”

  In conclusion, this was one of the coolest things that’s happened all year long, and I can’t believe there’s going to be another night of it tomorrow.

  
  <sup>Lexi Mountain Boys
  
  Teeth Mountain
  
  Jana Hunter
  
  Nautical Almanac
  
  Ed Schraeder
  
  Blue Leader
  
  Creepers
  
  
  Santa Dads
  
  
  
  Beach House
  
  Lexi Mountain Boys
  
  Comedy!</sup>
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  More Eyes Night blogins:

  Webvomit
  Five-Three Dialtone

  PS. To those who were there: Toilet Paper, Pussy Time, Oreos, and Milk

• news for 09.22.08

  Confessions of a Music Addict - 2008-09-22 11:26:49

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  it's officially the first day of my favorite season. and there might be a couple of things going on outside of drinking on saturdays in pubs while watching football and shopping for new hats.
  
  >i hate the whole dance club dj culture thing, and i also hate punk-ish bands like blink 182, but this is a sad story.
  
  >ohhhh, george michael. i used to have faith that one day you'd be a good father figure. and a good teacher. but now, i'm not so sure.
  
  >so, i did some shopping yesterday for my every-other-yearly splurge on overpriced jeans that make your ass look amazing, and i stopped in to barnes and noble to pick up the new issue of spin magazine. they have a little online video extra here that's kind of cute to watch of the cover boys, kings of leon. (ps - is it just me, or are their pants uncomfortable to look at due to the tightness factor?)
  
  >i should start a new segment called 'things leah keeps seeing/hearing about and finds highly overrated and completely unjustified.' i'll just name a few...
  
  >>duffy. katy perry. any female singer/songwriter who has no problem singing about sex and drinking while wearing colorful clothes so that every jaded twenty-something decides that this chick is the best artist ever, thus adopting all songs by aforementioned girl musicians as their dating bible. please, there are enough of them. stop promoting this already!
  
  >>teens (and pre-teens) who completely worship bands like metro station, simply because it is a small spinoff from their previous, but now juvenile, obsession with miley cyrus. come on, guys. your ears should know better. think of all the old execs at the monster record labels that are rolling around in your hard-earned minimum wages. it's so sad. :( (if you happen to not know what this means, miley's brother has this electro-pop band that is just so horrible. they try so hard to be 'cool' that in the end, they just look like dumbasses. it makes me nauseated.)
  
  >>former pop singers who have decided to 'go country' in order to make more money and accumulate more fans, since the only way musicians are making money is by targeting the country lovers. i have many theories as to why country is a good money-making genre that i will not put here, because i'm exhausted. hi, jessica simpson, yes, i'm talking to you. (and i still refuse to buy anything with your name on it.) i feel bad that johnny cash and jessica simpson are now in the same section at the music store. oh, the shame.
  
  >>the hills. seriously. these people are famous for being rich, and generally low on morals...and it's still a hot commodity. this is ridiculous. the fact that anyone would even allow that heidi girl to make an entire album is scary business. being blonde, thin, and big breasted does not mean you're talented enough to be a musician (see above rant re: jessica simpson). i have never seen an episode of it, yet i have to be subjected to it anyway anytime i visit a news stand.
  
  i think i feel better now for getting that off my chest. maybe my next post will consist of something worth reading and checking out...just haven't received any mind-blowing music tips lately...

• Nú þegar ég er lox kominn HEIM!

  ZYRDUR RJOMI - explore & enjoy - 2008-09-15 08:14:24

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  Fór aðeins yfir geisladiskasafnið mitt og þá sérstaklega alla þá promo diska sem ég hef verið að sanka að mér í gegnum tíðina þegar ég var í útvarpinu. Um er að ræða árin 1994-2003 og vel flestir promo diskarnir mínum voru einfaldlega með tracklist og settir í þunnt bréf- eða plastumslag, án kápu. Enn og aftur var það hljómsveitin Home sem varð mér á vegi.
  
  Sú sveit var stofnuð í Tampa á Flórída einhverntímann snemma á síðasta áratug. Og hefur hún að mínum dómi verið sérlega vanmetin. Ég skyggðist í backcataloginn hennar og hefur efniviður sveitarinnar ekki lent í því vandamáli og hjá mörgum frá þessu tímabili, að eldast illa. Þvert á móti þá hefur hún einungis gerst betri og betri með hverju árinu. Home er kvartett sem hefur gefið út ógrynni af plötum. Eftir mínum áreiðanlegustu heimildum þá er sveitin en starfandi en þó ekki eins kröftuglega og áður. Á árunum 1991-1994 var sveitin duglega að semja og gefa út en þó einunigs á kassettu formi. Árið 2001 gaf Cooking Vinyl útgáfan út safn af upptökum frá þessum æskuárum sveitarinnar á plötunni Issues: Excerpts from Home's I-VIII's 1991-1994. Eins og undirtitillinn ber með sér þá eru þetta brot af því sem þeir gáfu út á þessum árum en þeir hafa hingað til nefnt plöturnar sínar eftir rómversku númerunum. Þessi safn plata sýnir kannski best hversu efnilegir þeir voru á sínum yngri árum. Frábær plata sem geymir gruggug og hrá lög tekin upp við vafasamar aðstæður. Gerist varla meira lo-fi. Lagið I'm On Fire er á plötunni VIII og hefur ekki fengist á plötu formatti, en finnst á myspeissíður sveitarinnar.
  
  
  Home - The Fall
  Home - I'm On Fire (af Home VIII)
  
  Home stigu síðan skrefið úr kassettunum yfir í vinyl/CD árið 1995 með tilkomu plötunnar IX. Á henni mán glögglega heyra í leikgleði meðlima og frumkraft. Sérdeilis ekki ógölluð en þó með augnablik sem sjaldan gleymast né verða leiðingjörn. Mér er t.d. í fersku minni þegar ég heyrði lagið Reprint í fyrsta sinn.
  
  
  Home - Reprint
  
  Það má segja að árin 1995-6 hafi verið frjósömustu ár sveitarinnar. Eins og flóðgáttir hafi opnast við það að koma tónlistinni á CD format í stað segulbands. Árið 1996 kom út stuttplatan X og sama ár kom svo út að mínum dómi líklega besta plata þeirra XI:Elf:GulfBoreWaltz. Klárlega vanmetin þegar hún kom út og með tíð og tíma hefur henni enn ekki verið tekið eins og hún á fullkomnlega skilið. Á þessari plötu gerast Home aðgengilegri en áður þrátt fyrir að heyra má greinilega í tilraunastarfsemi. Ómur hennar er hreinn og fagmannlega framreiddur, hæfilega bónaður án þess að missa kúlið.
  
  
  
  Home - Gallup
  Home - Summertime
  Home - Out
  
  Ekki er almennilega vitað hvar XII endaði en næsta plata þeirra var 13: Netherregions. Margir telja að þarna hafi sveitin toppað og fengu þeir mikið lof fyrir þá plötu af reyndar frekar takmörkuðum hópi fagmanna. Að mínum dómi ekki beint mest hressandi plata í heimi en eins og á öllum plötum sveitarinnar eru að finna schnillldar gullmola. Líklega er það séreinkenni sveita eins og Home, sem leika sér að poppformattinu og tilraunast án þess að skammast sín fyrir það. Work er t.d. alveg hresst.
  
  
  
  Home - Work
  
  Árið 1999 kom svo út XIV sem var tekin upp af Dave Fridmann (úr Mercury Rev). Frægðarsól Home skein kannski hæst á þessum tíma. Ástæðurnar eru tvær: a) XIV er lang aðgengilegasta plata sveitarinnar. b) Dave Fridmann fékk þá til þess að hita upp fyrir Mercury Rev og The Flaming Lips á tónleikatúr þessara tveggja sveita það árið. Platan er kannski ekki hreinræktuð Home-plata, heldur er hún tilraun þeirra að gerast gríðarlega áheyrilegir, með hjálp Dave Fridmann sem lét hana hljómar víðóma, stóra og safaríka. Engum blöðum um það að flétta að á þessari plötu leyndist líklega epískasta popplag sveitarinnar fyrr og síðar, Chicago. Frekar skotheld poppplata.
  
  
  Home - Chicago
  Home - So Much Love
  
  Eftir þessa plötu hefur Home einhverra hluta ákveðið að leggjast í dvala og kom ekkert út með sveitinni í 6 ár. Árið 2005 leit síðan daxins ljós platan No.15 hjá Cooking Vinyl útgáfunni. Þar komust þeir ekki beint í massívt form, áttu eitt og eitt lag, gerðust frekar fyrirsjáanlegir í sköpun sinni. Ári síðar kom svo platan Sexteen sem var byggð á þema, nefnilega kynlífi. Öll lögin voru um kynlíf og kynhvöt á einn eða annan hátt. Sú þema plata var frekar þunnur þrettándi, hvorki fugl né fiskur, og þrátt fyrir aðlaðandi umfjöllunarefni náði þessi tilraun ekki upp á pallborðið. Öllu sorglegra var það að hún fékk slæmar viðtökur hjá gagnrýnendum einnig. Síðan þá hefur sveitin átt aðsetur á myspeis, gert lítið í að taka upp nýtt efni, en hefur þó troðið upp í NYC endrum og sinnum, þar sem sveitin hefur aðsetur í dag.
  
  
  Home - I Don't Wanna No
  
  Home - Juicy Ass

• sono solo canzonette

  Manifatturiere Broz - 2008-09-02 09:18:03

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  la casella di posta spesso è piena, il tempo è quello che é, l'attenzione a volte scarseggia. capita però di ascoltare un disco tra i tanti e trovare delle meravigliose canzoni pop, di quelle che vorresti ascoltare almeno una volta al giorno, quando proprio non ce la fai più.
  mange tout è un duo italo francese al femminile, due sono anche le voci che si rincorrono nelle canzoni mentre chitarra, ukulele, fisarmonica dipingono suoni di una semplicità disarmante. teatime with mr. who è il loro primo ep dopo una manciata di apparizioni in compilation varie ed ha un unico grande difetto: dura troppo poco.
  
  mange tout - mr. who

• The Lost Ones: Steve Niles & Gary Panter

  The Pop View - 2008-08-17 19:28:13

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  This is definitely catch-up weekend, with posts I meant to put up weeks and months ago.

  In July, Zune Arts ( a division of Microsoft) announced the release of The Lost Ones, “a graphic novel written by celebrated writer Steve Niles” and illustrated by “visual artists Dr. Revolt, Gary Panter, Kime Buzzelli and Morning Breath.”

  Niles is best known for writing the graphic novel 30 Days of Night, that was also turned into a motion picture. He chiefly specializes in the horror genre.

  My friend Larry owns a store in Burbank, CA that sells collectibles from comics books, movies and television. Earlier this year, on the occasion of the release of the 30 Days of Night DVD, Steve Niles was at this store Blast from the Past to do a signing. I happened to be in town, so I stopped by. Niles turned out to be very gracious and smart and well-versed in the horror genre.

  In July, I read that Niles was going to be doing a signing of The Lost Ones in Maryland — along with Gary Panter! Panter is best known for his comic Jimbo and his production design for the TV show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.

  So, I knew I had to go. There are some photos of the event at the Big Planet Comics website. Niles was again quite gracious when I met him for the second time. Panter was drawing pictures in copies of the book; he drew a surfer, inspired by the shirt I was wearing.

  I must mention that aside from Panter’s work, I was really impressed by the section in the book illustrated by Morning Breath, a design studio. And here’s an interview with Niles about The Lost Ones project.

  
  

  

  Tags: Steve Niles, Gary Panter, The Lost Ones

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39. Unknown Artist

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42. Unknown Artist

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48. The Milk & Honey Band

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50. Linus Loves

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51. Unknown Artist

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52. Magik Markers

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53. King Khan & The Shrines

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54. Gun Outfit

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55. Lewis & Clarke

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56. Papercuts - Ruby Suns Remix

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57. The Field

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58. Unknown Artist

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59. Unknown Artist

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61. Glasser

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62. Vagabond

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63. Unknown Artist

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64. Unknown Artist

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65. White Denim

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166. Unknown Artist

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183. Unknown Artist

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186. Unknown Artist

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187. Unknown Artist

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199. Unknown Artist

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200. Unknown Artist

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201. Unknown Artist

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202. Unknown Artist

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203. Unknown Artist

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204. Unknown Artist

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215. Unknown Artist

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216. Unknown Artist

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217. Unknown Artist

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219. Unknown Artist

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220. Unknown Artist

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231. Nodzzz

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240. Unknown Artist

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251. Unknown Artist

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252. Unknown Artist

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253. Unknown Artist

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254. Ducktails

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255. Unknown Artist

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256. Unknown Artist

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257. Unknown Artist

     03

258. Unknown Artist

     04

259. Unknown Artist

     05

260. Unknown Artist

     06

261. Unknown Artist

     09

262. Unknown Artist

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263. Unknown Artist

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264. Unknown Artist

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265. Unknown Artist

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266. Unknown Artist

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267. Unknown Artist

     15

268. Unknown Artist

     16

269. Unknown Artist

     17

270. Unknown Artist

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271. Unknown Artist

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272. Unknown Artist

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273. Unknown Artist

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274. Unknown Artist

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275. Unknown Artist

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276. Unknown Artist

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277. Unknown Artist

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278. Unknown Artist

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279. Unknown Artist

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280. Unknown Artist

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281. Unknown Artist

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282. Unknown Artist

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283. Unknown Artist

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284. Unknown Artist

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Artist Biography

There are multiple artists with this name: 1) Nile is a technical death metal band from USA. They formed in their hometown of Greenville, SC, in 1993. They combine extreme speed and brutality of modern death metal with the ancient styling of middle eastern music. With their self-proclaimed trademark of "Ithyphallic-metal", Karl Sanders (guitar/vocals), Chief Spires (bass/vocals), and Pete Hammoura (drums) debuted with their "Festivals of Atonement" album in 1995, leading Nile to a southwestern tour in support of other big metal acts such as Obituary, Deicide and Broken Hope.

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