The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations

I had been ignoring The Hold Steady after hearing Your Little Hoodrat Friend. They just sounded like any other bar band. Stuck Between Stations confirmed that they are still just a bar band but they just happen to be the best bar band ever.

The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations (mp3)

Catch Phrase of the Year?

Now is the time for the onslaught of 'Best of the Year' lists. Large Hearted Boy has even provide a guide to the 'best of' lists. I think the list is over 500 links long. If you have been listening since we started this here blog you have already heard everything on other's lists. That is just how f'in hip we are.

The often mentioned Marathonpacks has posted 4 mixes of the years best bands that can be streamed through itunes or downloaded. If you are looking for a passive listen to what was hot in '06 there is no better place to start.

Marathonpacks Year End Mixes

(one hightlight is the Lil’ Wayne & Robin Thicke track on Mix 2)

Kronos Quartet - America - Before the War

The short lived public television show, Sessions at West 54th, had some of the best live performances I have ever seen. Tricky, The Tindersticks, Kronos Quartet and David Bryne were some that played in a small studio at Sony's West 54th Street office for about 50 of us. The sound for each show was amazing. Tricky smoked huge joints during his taping and they had to stop taping because the audience was going mad dancing. (Some of the videos are on youtube but have been edited).

Kronos Quartet played this Steve Reich composition at their taping.

America - Before the War

Lampchop - Up with People (Live)

Dudes, I am a huge Lampchop fan. Can't help it.

This is from the Merge 10 year anniversary compilation. The live version is heavier on the feedback and lighter on the gospel choir that signs the chorus but with 15 people alreadyt in the band you can't expect a full choir.

Lampchop - Up with People (Live)

Antville Music Video Awards 2006

Lots of great stuff here:

Antville MVA 2006

(... including Deichkind's "Ich betäube mich")

Whatever you do, don't miss Muse: "Knights of Cydonia"

Muse - Knights of Cydonia

This video shames and humiliates Kill Bill Vol. 2

Deichkind - Ich betäube mich

This video will pump you up and cure your hangover.

Deichkind - Ich betäube mich

1000% YES!!!

I feel so motivated right now

Adventures in Stereo

I was listening to The Go! Team yesterday and for some reason thought of Adventures in Stereo. It is definatley not as rockin', not even by a long shot.

I know nothing of this band and only bought their album after hearing a few songs in Other Music many years ago. At that time their Motown/Wall of Sound loops were fresh to my ears.

Flipside
There Was A Time
When We Go Back

Sebadoh - The Freed Weed

I am surpirsed I have lasted this long without posting some Sebadoh.

Here is a five shot from one of the greatest albums OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!



Gate To Hell
I Believe In Fate
Mr. Genius Eyes
Temporary Dream
Whitey Peach

In related news, I have already filled my google pages quota so I am going to take down some mp3s that are hosted there after a while.

Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92

I had a roommate that was a huge classic rock fan. Zeppelin. Hendricks. All those guys. When I bought this album and played it for him he listened to it for 3 days straight.

Aphex Twin - Pulsewidth

Aphex Twin - We are the Music Makers

H Low its your birthday

And according to Yasko, nothing says birthdays like Megadeth.

Megadeth - Gears of War

Also nothing says Christmas like Megabeth.

VU - Norman Dolph Acetate

For the Velvet Underground fans out there, I saw this on Moistworks .

The link to the ebay auction to buy Norman's VU Acetate expands on exactly what this mysterious recording is all about.

I can always handle another version of Venus in Furs.

VU - Norman Dolph Acetate

Charlie Dold - Copy Shop Dude

I was looking through some of the MP3s that I had transferred over from cassettes and stumbled across this track by Charlie Dold. He used to be in the band Milo in which my wife played drums (this is her on vocals and drums). In 1992, 7 years before I met her, I was wearing the grooves off this 7 inch. The quality is crummy so unfortuntely the amazing guitar solo at the 1 minute mark is buried in the muck.

Charlie Dold - Copy Shop Dude

SANTA IS INVADING YOUR TOWN

For those of you lucky enough to participate, Santacon is just around the corner.

New York's is on Dec 16th and lasts "all fucking day long".

Will Oldham - Joya

I have mentioned before how much I like Will Oldham's Joya. Here are some tracks for you to decide.

Will Oldham - I Am Still What I Meant to Be.mp3

Will Oldham - Be Still and Know God (Dont Be Shy).mp3

Will Oldham - Bolden Boke Boy.mp3

File hosting

Just an FYI, if you have a Google account you also have access to Google Pages.

You can host files on your personal page and link to them from here.

Soul Sides and Bushwick is Beautiful

I was just going to posting these songs but thought it would be better to highlight the sites that actually provided them.

The sites are as excellent as the songs.

Soul Sides with the Jackson Five and Promise

Bushwick is Beautiful with two from Stereolab

The Shins - Phantom Limbs, Red Rabbits

A couple early favorites from the new Shins album, "Wincing the Night Away".

Phantom Limbs

Red Rabbits

The album sounds comfortably Shinsy, you'll like it.

Buy it when it comes out January 23.

Christoper Willits - Yellow Spring

I don't really know anything about Mr. Willits but this was calming. I was not too impressed with some of his other works so don't jump out and buy his new album, Surf Boundaries, based on this one tune. If you are into that CD-skipping-as-part-of-the-song thing you might like some of his other works.

Yellow Spring
(from Music for Robots)

Bob Ross - Why I Don't Paint People

I saw this video probably 6 years ago on some NYC public access channel. The subject matter has got to have the best sample material ratio ever.

I wonder if the Williamsburg Wig Project guy saw this and was inspired.
The repetition of his tickle wave at the end is perfect.

Why I Don't Paint People

Swan Lake/Field Music/Segue #4

I haven't been able to get Swan Lake's All Fires out of my head for the past few days. H Low is this a Bejar song? So good.

I have also been loving the new Field Music single. Not as hard at the Futureheads but in the same vein. Their self titled release was one of last years best underrated finds (see here and here).

Field Music - Give It Lose It Take It
(from i guess i'm floating)

So, segue #4 is Swan Lake's The Freedom into Field Music's You Can Decide

Segue #3

OK, Dallas based, electronic duo into London based, grime master.

Tree Wave - Sleep into Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp

(You can then roll that into this)

Care Bears on Fire

And to think, I knew him when he was 6.

This is a shameless plug for Care Bears on Fire who were profiled in this weekend's Style section of the NY Times. Back when BR was first born we lived the garden level apartment of Brownstone in Park Slope owned by their bassist's parents. From above and below we would hear Lucio's dad playing classic rock both on the stereo and on one of the many vintage guitars he collected. Lucio plinked on the piano for a few months but it looks like he dropped that for some more in the chord of rawk.

Anyway, we will see if they can hold it together long enough to release their sophomore album without succumbing to the pressures of fame.

Ten Pole Tudor - Who Killed Bambi

We have been watching a lot of Bambi at home recently. So much so that BR wanted to be the owl for Halloween. In trying to find this one song from the movie, I located this gem. This is heard during the closing credits of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. It can get stuck in your head.

Ten Pole Tudor - Who Killed Bambi
(press the play button on the little sliver that says 'Hideout XSPF....". If you know how to download it, let me know)

Vice Mag's Dos and Don'ts

I will be the first to admit that I am becoming less and less PC as I get older and Vice Magazine's Dos and Don'ts section is one of the least PC things around. The photos are nasty, the captions nastier and the comments the nastiest. However, they always nail it and put into words exactly what I am thinking. Life is too short. Enjoy.

Vice Mag's Dos and Don'ts
(some of these are NOT safe for work)

Segue #2

Donny Hathaway - Jealous Guy into The Velvet Underground - Oh, Sweet Nuthin'

The Donny Hathaway is from the excellent Funky 16 Corners.

Interested in hearing some of the ones you may have heard.

Segue #1

I used to have a mix tape that was nothing but songs by Prince and Jonathan Richman. One Prince song, one Richman song, one Prince song, one Richman song. Over and over. You would be amazed at how great the segues can be.

I have been creating playlist of songs that seque nicely into each other. Call it 'great songs that taste great together'.

Girl Talk - Bounce That into Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake
(If it makes any difference I have my itune cross fade playback set to 6 second.)

Palace Brothers - Riding

I had mentioned this song in a previous Will Oldham post and finally found the CD.

Palace Brothers - Riding

The Kingsbury Manx

Here are two from Chapel Hill's The Kingsbury Manx off their self titles debut. They opened for Destroyer and Will Oldham during their '04 tour. They have moved from the mellow strum/drone to a more country sound. (If I knew more about the Flying Burrito Brothers I might make a comparison. Maybe more like Beachwood Sparks) The older sound is posted here. The newer can be heard on their myspace page.

These two songs sound pretty good back to back.

The Kingsbury Manx - Fields
The Kingsbury Manx - New Old Friend Blues

these are all on yousendit so they will not be up there long

Dirty Three

I was just reading something about the Dirty Three touring in Indonesia. Authorities in Kuala Lumpur asked that they change their name to the 'Dirt Three' because they thought they were a pornographic act. Once they assured them that they were an instrumental rock group everything seemed to go OK until the fans started rioting.

I saw them several years ago at NYU when they were the backup band for Cat Power. This was back when she would have a total meltdown on stage. The Cat Power part of the show last about 10 minutes before she walked off. Fortunately they took over and played their own set.

Dirty Three - Indian Love Song

Dirty Three with Chan Marshall - Great Waves

Dirty Three - Doris
(from Music for Kids That Can't Read Good)

(anyone know if ezarchive went out of business? The site seems busted)

The Knife - We Share Our Mothers' Health

I am feeling spent and have been for the past week (obviously).

I hope there have been posts about The Knife before on this here site. If not, shame on me.

A Blues For Detour (1995 - 2006)

New York's best live jazz bar for townies closed last night.

Detour * was not just a intimate venue with a strong rotation of talent, it was proudly local and for neighbors. I could count on seeing people from my building and around the neighborhood there that I would otherwise not see for months, if ever (it's just across the street from my apartment - a mixed blessing).

Considering the massive NYU-ification of the East Village - they are building another dorm on 13th between First and A! - I guess the fall of Detour could be viewed as unfortunate but inevitable. I've heard that the new owner plans to open a restaurant, and there is a rumor that there are plans to have giant wide screen plasmas on the wall. College kids love those giant plasmas!

I had the privilege of playing there a couple times just recently before it closed. Here's what it looks like from the stage - the snap was taken October 4.

(Some notes. Foreground couple are Naomi and Donnie, my next door neighbors. A klatch of kids behind them, my co-workers - including the captain of Volleyball Club. All the way to the right, glasses and goatee, standing: Paul Armstrong, the amazing pianist who I played with that night. Seated, stroking chin thoughtfully: Bill of Stuy Town. Behind him, at the bar: Kelly and Jim. Kelly has her back to the camera ... )

* P.S. One funny memory of Detour was constantly hearing the bartender on duty try to give the web address over the phone. If you check out the link you'll see what I mean. Let me know if you need help with this one

Hot Chip vs Mack

I have never spent much time listening to Superchunk which is surprising since I have lived in Chapel Hill for several years in the late 80's and early 90's.

I saw Portastatic play their first show and they covered Porno for Pyros We Make Great Pets which was excellent. Later on they gave us Eno's Kings Made Hat and Superchunk released a 7" with a cover of the The Magnetics Fields 100,000 Fireflies. Each made me want to jab a pencil in my ear.

Here is another that should have been left along.

Portatstic - Boy From School (Hot Chip cover)

Hot Chip version (in video)



What covers can't you stand?

UPDATE: I am not to happy with what I wrote earlier and feel that I am not getting my point across. Basically, this is a lame cover and is disappointing considering the quality of his past work, but hey, he can release whatever he wants.

Yo La Tango - Mr. Tough

I was watching The Office last night and at the end of a commercial for Chili's, I noticed that they listed their myspace page. Is does this signal the beginning of the end for myspace?

Yo La Tango - Mr. Tough
(via Bushwick is Beautiful)

Beirut

The NYTimes had an article on Piero Scaruffi's website a few weeks back. This guy's site is nuts. 'Best of' lists in about everything, some back to the 50s, along with music, travel and poetry reviews galore. I know nothing about Piero but as a self described 'free thinker' he seems to dabble in about everything and is pretty proficient.

Beirut's Gulag Orkestar is on his 'Best of 2006' list and the more I listen the more I whole heartedly agree.

Beirut - After The Curtain
(via i guess i'm floating)

Beirut - Postcards From Italy

John Vanderslice - Trace Manual

I have never listened to John Vanderslice before. My only exposure has been seeing his name listed in the "Listening To.." section of most people's blogs or MySpace pages.

That being said, I have no idea if Trace Manual is a good entry point to his work. It works for me.

John Vanderslice - Trace Manual
(via Barusk Records)

TV on the Radio's 17-second series

A quick elaboration on the earlier comment about silent tracks 12-25 in "Return to Cookie Mountain".

Crazy busy on this side also, not unlike Yasko

TVOTR - Return to Cookie Mountain (stream)

Here is almost all the songs from TV On The Radio's new album, Return to Cookie Mountain.

It was was up on Pitchfork a while ago but has since been taken down. However, the links are still valid. I think you will need Microsoft Media Player to make this work.

You can copy the following into a text doc, name it 'something.wpl' and import it as a playlist. OR you can just open each of the links listed.

BTW, The album is awesome.

BUMMER ALERT: This is a total hack job. Blogger hates the tags I was using to preserve the playlist code. The links are in this below but you are on your own in figuring out how to get them to play. I will try to fix it later.

wolflikeme.asx
iwasalover.asx

hours.asx
province.asx
letthedevilin.asx
dirtywhirl.asx
bluesfromdownhere.asx
tonight.asx
washthedayaway.asx
snakesandmartyrs.asx

Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You

I have been getting killed lately so the posting have suffered (anyone help me out? Yasko? Yasko? Is this thing on?)

For some reason this is the most played track in my itunes. I am not even sure how it got into my library. More info and orther songs can be found at Aquarium Drunkard and her site.

Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You

The National - Cold Girl Fever/All the Wine

I can't decide what in the hell to write about these guys. I am sure that every post about The National has encluded a reference to the Tindersticks. However, since the Tindersticks haven't put out much in the past 5 years they fill the hole well.

The National - Cold Girl Fever
(From The National Webpage)

The National - All The Wine
(From Largehearted Boy's best of 2005)

Air - Alpha Beta Gaga (Mark Ronson, Rhymefest remix)

I have been trying to find this remix online so I could post it. Success!

Air, "Alpha Beta Gaga (Mark Ronson remix featuring Rhymefest)"

Peter Bjorn And John

You know how you sometimes listen to a song so many times you really, really like it yet that song really really sucks and you have just forgotten? That could be the case with Peter Bjorn and John but I am immune to the fact. I am having trouble deciding which song to post since I like them all. Maybe you can help me decide.

"Young Folks" has gotten a lot of blog buzz (blozz?) lately and been remixed.

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks
(from Pound for Pound)

Peter Bjorn and John - Up Against the Wall
Peter Bjorn and John - Amsterdam
(From Central Village)

Peter Bjorn and John - Object of My Affection
(From My Old Kentucky Blog)

New Yorker Festival: James Surowiecki vs. The New Pornographers, Oct 7

From memory, some notes from the interview / performance Saturday evening. James Surowiecki (author of "The Wisdom of Crowds") was the interviewer.

--

Dan Bejar ("Destroyer") was not present.

--

First question. JS: "Why are you called 'The New Pornographers'?"
Carl Newman: "What an awful question!"

--

There have been a number of explanations given regarding the origin of the name. For this particular evening, Newman offered up one of his common ones: someone told them that Jerry Falwell had written a book called "Music: the New Pornography". Whether this is true, or if the book actually exists, is unknown to the band.

--

Kathryn Calder is Carl Newman's long lost niece (I was not aware of this).

--

On Kathryn Calder's YAMAHA keyboard, the letters "M" and "H" are scratched off (or taped over) so that it reads "YA A A".

--

You can probably find a setlist elsewhere on the internets. What do I look like, a professional?

Fun with album covers

Fun with album covers

(from Motionographer via Stereogum)

Brian Eno

I was search through You Tube tonight and found some cool Brian Eno stuff.

First with Roxy Music. Not the best of songs but it goes freaky around the three minute mark when Phil Manzera starts shreading his guitar and Eno, wearing gold gloves and a leopard print shirt (dig the hair), starts playing the radio.

Then some video for Music for Airports with another of Eno describing the inspiration for the album.

And best of all, a tribute to Can by Eno.

Can - Oh Yeh

Cavemen, juggling umbrellas, MTV2, DAMO SUZUKI!!!!!!



There is so much great Can stuff like this and this and this

Wait Wait! One More with Jaki killing the skins.

Film School - Activate

I know nothing about Film School. H Low turned me on to them so maybe he knows something. I am not even sure this is the correct name of the song (Activate?, Activated?, Activation?)

Film School - Activate
(might require Windows media player)

Oops, that was a short clip. Here is a video for 1111

What tha?

One jab at Ben Folds and everyone runs away?

Yasko, I hear you are ready to show us what you got.

Can - Tago Mago

Much not to report since I spent Monday's post on Friday.

Here is some Can from Pound for Pound.

Can - Tago Mago

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Cursed Sleep

I was going to wait till Monday before posting this but I have now listened to the song about 10 times and thought I should put it out there now. The opening strings are so good.

Also, this is the 99th post on this here blog. I am amazed and will open it up to someone else to hit us with the 100th. As always, if you are reading and would like to post just let me know.

**************

I have always enjoyed Will Oldham, Palace, Palace Brothers. At this time I have trouble remembering why There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You was so new and refreshing back in '93. I remember Lou Barlow described the song "Riding" as sounding as if it had been discovered buried under a tree stump deep in the forest. And Joya was an amazing mix of Neil Young and Dead influences.

His other alter-ego, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy has just released a new album, The Letting Go, recorded in Iceland. While I have generally found the BPB stuff difficult this song is more like his other work.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Cursed Sleep

As expected the video makes little sense but is nice to look at.

Sonic Youth - Incinerate

All that posting about "he who shall not be named" tired me out.

Here is the real deal.

Sonic Youth - Incinerate
(from Exitfare)

The Funny Pages

The funny pages are dead. Long live the funny pages

Bettie Serveet - Palomine

Palomine came out on Matador in 1993. Most of my friends thought the music I was listening to at the time was f'ed up so this was the first album that I felt like I could actually recommend and expect some positive feedback. The played the Cradle a few months later and blew the place up.

Bettie Serveert - Palomine
(if someone can find Kid's Allright please post it.)

I haven't listend to them in years but they have a new album out.

Bettie Serveert - Hell Is Other People
(both from I Rock Cleveland)

(and, yes, the fanny did inspire the post)

The Cardigans - I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer

The Life album by the Cartigans is one of my top fave albums. The production and instrumentation was so perfect that it still amazes me. Unfortunately, they blew it on subsequent releases. Once Rolling Stone and others started reporting how cool it was that they played Black Sabbath covers at their shows, they canned they gooey pop influences (and Life's producer) and got raw. Big mistake. This song isn't perfect but her commanding you to 'sit!' certainly is.

The Cardigans - I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer

Radio Dept.- Why won't you talk about it

Not really new, but I listened to this on the way to work today and remembered how good a fuzzy, noisy little pop song can make you feel.

The Radio Dept. - Why won't you talk about it

The Blow - Parentheses

Here is some sticky bubble gum pop. Is it me or are all new bands composed of one male and one female?

The Blow - Parentheses

Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be

I just could not let that injustice stand! Here is a digitally superior (well, relatively speaking) youtube post of the Michel Gondry video. Of course, you will do better studying it off the DVD.

And I hereby arrogantly and tyrannically decree that it is the Official #1 Greatest Video of All Time.

Stylus Magazine: Top 100 Music Videos of All Time

First, isn't youtube a wonderful thing? (Yes. Yes, it is)

Top 100 Music Videos of All Time (Stylus Magazine)

Second, I like the boldness of the pronouncement: Top videos "of All Time" (!), but then I am let down by the backpedaling in their preface by qualifying the list as "democratically selected" and "humble and largely unofficial".

Third, Michel Gondry's video for Chemical Brothers' "Let Forever Be" ought to be much, much higher on the list, easily in the top 20. Perhaps Stylus can't be held responsible for the poor, mosaic-pixellated quality of this particular video, but this really does undermine Gondry's clever sampling and distortion of familiar video techniques, which is a key element to this particular work.

Fourth: I can't agree with all the choices here, but it's a pretty good list. A nice piece of work. I guess it would have been possible to mine it for leads to repost over time to this blog, but that would have just been intellectually dishonest.

Finally: What, no Hurra Torpedo cover of "Total Eclipse of the Heart"?!

Now go watch.

---

UPDATE 9/23: In comments, Allen recommends Pitchfork's 100 Awesome Videos.

I spent most of the morning poking at it. There is some genuinely awesome stuff in there, and they make it hard for themselves by excluding videos from Director's Label (this eliminates, for example, the Greatest Video of All Time, "Let Forever Be").

Although a good number of the links to youtube posts have expired, it is still a really strong list, even if it fails to acknowledge certain hallmarks of the medium that Stylus does.

At any rate, both worth a look.

Bob Pollard - Supernatural Car Lover

The prolific genius behind more Guided By Voices albums than I could get around to buying isn't done rocking the short form even though GBV has retired. He's got plenty of writing to go and it sounds great.

Here's his upcoming album, check it out yourself:

Robert Pollard - Normal Happiness (streaming)

And something for you to take home, how nice:

Robert Pollard - Supernatural Car Lover

"Normal Happiness" releases in October.

Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Well, that didn't take to long. When you are hungover it really is best to just start drinking again.

It is a beautiful day and it feels like fall.

Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Urgggg

I am still trying to get over this Aquavit hangover from my NYC weekend. Hopefully I will be able to have something for you later. Any of the others got something to put up? Anyone want to guest DJ for a while?

Beirut - Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)

I just couldn't resist this post after yesterday's.

Beirut - Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)

Tel Aviv

Don't know much about these guys except they are from Arkansas. I would image they could put on a pretty good live show.

Tel Aviv - Black Marketeering
Tel Aviv - About Hysteria
(both from crackerbox)

Simply Saucer - No Zi

When listening to Matt's Gris Gris posting the other day I couldn't help but think of all the other bands that they seemed influenced by. Before Canada was cool, Simply Saucer was making insane outerspace punk rock. Besides the nod to Pink Floyd with the name, who knows what other influences these guys had in Ontario in the mid 70s.

Simply Saucer - No Zi

Trivia: Their only album Cyborgs Revisited was produced by Daniel Lanois who went on to produce U2, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and host of other artists. Mr Lanois doesn't list Simply Saucer on his discography. Wimp.

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Out to Dry

I saw this linked on MOKB and something about it hit home. Maybe it was that the kids all lined up in the hall under the "Cold War Kids" sheet look just like my little cousins (who look like the kids that would have been in junior high in the 70's). More than likely its because it appeals to my inner fantasy of returning to junior high and tearing it up rawk and roll style.

BlogMusik.net

I just spent the last 92 minutes playing with the virtual internet iPod at

BlogMusik.net

As can be expected, there are some gaps, but an unscientific battery of test searches I just conducted suggests that for starters, '90s hip hop seems to be pretty well represented here. A quick tip: you may have to reload the page from time to time, the flash seems a bit wonky. But, there's a wide expanse of tracks in its catalog ...

It's so easy and fun that you should stop reading right now and check it out!! (but come back later). It may be only a matter of time before it's the site is taken down (for legal reasons that I'll leave to El Bowen to explain). Go go go!!

BowerBirds

Raleigh duo plus guests puts together some friendly (not freaky) folky numbers. Nylon string fingerpicking and accordian hold things together, while the vox do (but don't over do) the folky thing, finding neat catchy melodies. Seen 'em a couple three times and they are just as cozy live.
You can stream the whole ep. All the songs are nice, but "bur oak" has the best chorus.

bowerbirds ep stream
bowerbirds on myspace

Animal Collective - The Purple Bottle

My fave track off the new animal collective record. All around animal collective kookiness with a tenderness that really makes it memorable. The chorus sends chills up my spine every time i hear it.

Animal Collective - the purple bottle

Gris Gris - Year Zero

Churning organs and a big, high-water-mark Sonic Youth cymbals/feedback jam are the key elements of this contemporary psychedelic rocker.

Gris Gris - Year Zero

ps- long time reader, first time contributor. thx to allen for the invite!

Virtual Cassette Generator

Hi, something fun for you to play with:

Cassette Generator

I leave it to you to test the possibilities. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility ... * cough *

J Dilla featuring Pharoahe Monch - Love

As mentioned earlier, I didn't find out about J. Dilla until I read his obit. I am still finding nuggets of his work around.

J Dilla featuring Pharoahe Monch - Love

Chrome - Slip it to The Andoid and TV as Eyes

I have been unpacking our CDs and tapes and came acoss my copy of Chrome's Half Machine Lip Moves. I had forgotten just how awesome these guys were. I mean this album was released in 1979. So many industrial/metal bands are influenced by these guys and don't even know who they are. I had a chance to see Helios Creed play live about 12 years ago. He looked like a real life Ignatius J. Reilly who had been on a serious bender for decades. The amazing thing was that he could still pull these songs off live, by himself (I think his wife, who looked like Morticia Addams, played bass) using analog samples.

Who knows, maybe I am the only one who is going to like this.

Chrome - Slip it to The Andoid and TV as Eyes

Ratatat - Lex

I am in a rut with my comments.

Ratatat - Lex

You can also check out Obscure Sound and stream a few other songs.

I am Robot and Proud - Learn from Mistakes

More crazy Canadians. I know nothing about them but they have plenty of other downloads on their site if you like this.

I am Robot and Proud - Learn from Mistakes

Roberta Flack - Compared to What

Big thanks to H Low and all his hard work. As much as I want to delete the Weird Al post, I will leave it, but only because he actually thought about what to say concerning each song much more than I ever have.

Make it real.

Roberta Flack - Compared to What

Dandy Livingstone - Rudy a Message to You

So, some guy asked for some "Jamican (sp) Soul" and Moistworks happened to deliver something in that vein.

After the stunt he pulled this weekend, he should take the lyrics to heart.

Dandy Livingstone - RUDY A MESSAGE TO YOU

Don't Download This Song - "Weird Al" Yankovic

Last post. Yes, I can hear the cheering.

Don't Download This Song - "Weird Al" Yankovic

(Page includes video and mp3)

I like the idea that the lifespan of a novelty album artist extends this far. This should be encouraging news to Andy Milonakis and Bryan Yasko.

Well thanks for reading my guest run. I hereby apologize to each and every reader. Yes, all five of you. All huge fans of Weird Al, too.

Bye!

Breaking News

Aaaieeeee!!!

iPodDisk

Something for MacOS iPod users:

iPodDisk

It works! I was going to extract a couple things off my iPod to post tonight but left my iPod transfer cord thing at the office.

They Took A Vote And Said No - Sunset Rubdown

A little elaboration on Spencer Krug's Sunset Rubdown, mentioned in previous post:

They Took A Vote And Said No - Sunset Rubdown

From the album, "Shut Up I Am Dreaming". Sounds not unlike his other band, Wolf Parade, doesn't it?

The album's sound is not as tightly focused as Wolf Parade's "Apologies to the Queen Mary" - off the top of my head there are maybe three tracks that could have been omitted - but it's worth a listen for Montreal completists.

All Fires - Swan Lake

Dan Bejar (Destroyer),

Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown)

and Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes)

join forces to form the Axis of Swan Lake:

All Fires - Swan Lake

From "Beast Moans", releasing November 21.

Un-Deux - Serena Maneesh

More from the land of Vikings and mighty-smashers-of-kitchen-appliances:

Un-Deux - Serena Maneesh

From the self-titled album.

Ba Ba Ba

Everything sounds a bit more appealing with a little Ba Ba Ba:

The ghost Mary and her friends - Pet Politics

Rent a Wreck - Suburban Kids With Biblical Names

(My roommate hates "Rent a Wreck")

I think there's a few Apples in Stereo songs that work the Ba Ba Ba, but specific song titles escape me at the moment.

Bonus! the Rent a Wreck video.

I really, really like this video, but you know that Beavis and Butthead would have had a field day with these dorks, huh-huh, huh-huh.

George Romero - Sprites

"Attention all shoppers, attention all shoppers": my nomination for Catchiest Song About Zombies 2006.

George Romero - Sprites

From upcoming album "Modern Gameplay", releasing in September.

You have to love a song that rhymes "George Romero" with "Dario Argento". It's just one of those rules.

Tighten Up - Yo La Tengo

Ha ha, I lied. Here's an animation of Yo La Tengo's "Tighten Up".

Ok, I'm posting something new and non-YLT tomorrow: a solemn promise.

Teenager in Love & Everyday - Yo La Tengo

Hey hey another Yo La Tengo post. YLT circa 1988.

I found this the other night when I was trying to find information about Emily Hubley's short film "Enough" which was shown as a preview at IFC Center (before Wordplay).

Ok, I feel like I've satisfied my quota for Yo La Tengo posts for a while ... that's all, ok? Not that I hear anybody complaining ...

Speeding Motorcycle - Daniel Johnston + Yo La Tengo

More Yo La Tengo (I guess I'll just have to get this out of my system for the week), this one with howling folk genius Daniel Johnston.

The kids in the medical group - the art girls and the publisher who I used to talk about crime fiction with - used to go nuts for this song:

Speeding Motorcycle - Daniel Johnston + Yo La Tengo

They no longer work here.

(Part 2 in a continuing series which I will call, "No Longer Works Here". Part 1 here)

A great account of this recording can be read on the WFMU blog.

And, as mentioned earlier, don't miss the Daniel Johnston documentary.

Beanbag Chair - Yo La Tengo

If it's Tuesday, then Yo La Tengo is the greatest band of all time.

From their upcoming album, "I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass":

Beanbag Chair - Yo La Tengo

Releasing September 12.

Bounce That - Girl Talk (Gregg Gillis)

This stuff really has to be heard to be believed. Hurry up and get these before some RIAA killjoy forces it off:

Bounce That - Girl Talk

Hold Up - Girl Talk

Spoiler content (and an incomplete warning) below:

Wikipedia entry for Night Ripper

If you like to blast music at the office, you should be aware that the "Laffy Taffy" song breaks into the middle of one of those tracks ... but which one???

Further, (spoiler!!) I have to say, the Steve Winwood cut on Bounce That made me laugh for the first few seconds and then I was stunned by how perfect and bizarrely exhilarating it sounded in this context.

I do hope that this work adds leverage to the side of fair use in the intellectual property wars. Well, this should be interesting.

Heartbeats - The Knife

The song recently covered by José Gonzales. WOW.

(The '70s skate footage is also nice here)

Many Lives -> 49 MP - Final Fantasy

First, I like the idea that a lot of obsessed videogaming fanboys will do a search on the term "Final Fantasy" and turn up results for the musician-also-known-as-Owen-Pallet: Final Fantasy.

Many Lives -> 49 MP - Final Fantasy (Owen Pallet)

Second, a fun and true amazon.com story I've told a couple times recently.

I had my first shipping mishap with amazon.com. My order of 3 cds was lost in the mail but was tracking as "delivered". So I called the amazon.com number and got an operator with a heavy Indian accent: "... and the second CD you ordered, Final Fantasy, 'He Poos Clouds,' is that correct sir?"

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!! He Poos Clouds!! Thank you Owen Pallet, great album title.

Finally, a bonus! Found that link, dude. Final Fantasy covers Joanna Newsom's "Peach Plum Pear":

Peach, Plum, Pear - Final Fantasy

Enjoy, kupo!

Shirtiest Mixtape Boombox Blast

Something extra for the weekend. I may not be able to post tomorrow, as I'm trapped in Jersey mowin' the folks lawn and other fun suburban activities.

Look, it made me laugh, ok?

(Incidentally, Allen: what's the blog's policy on strong language?)

Let's Go Home Soon - Gelatine

I nearly blogged something else today, but this suits my mood better at the moment. Yes, working too late too often lately ...

Anyway, some years ago Billinger and I tagged along with his brother-in-law John to see a bunch of Japanese bands play at the Knitting Factory. Among the bands performing was the brilliant "Gelatine":

Let's Go Home Soon - Gelatine

It was an all-out manic assault of music and style. The guitarists were styled out somewhere in between psychedelic 70s (one of them had a way-oversized clown afro) and GWAR. The keyboardist "Aya" (I can't believe I remember this) was a bouncy, sugar-rush blur, and the lead singer was a howling punk tornado. The final bars of "Let's Go Home Soon" is as urgent and soul-wrenching as the pleading sounds of R&B ecstasy circa '72.

Enjoy. LET'S GO HOME SOON

Wrong Time Capsule - Deerhoof

My cubicle neighbor, let's call her ... "Lorraine" (that sounds phony enough), used to work with her headphones on most of the day. Meanwhile, I play whatever I feel like into the open office soundscape.

We were shooting the breeze a few months ago and I was playing Deerhoof's "The Runners Four" again. She told me frankly, but not in a mean-spirited way, that it sounded like torture.

Wrong Time Capsule - Deerhoof

She doesn't work here any more.

----

(It might be fun to allow you to draw the wrong conclusion by ending the post with that sentence, but really, her departure had nothing to do with music and plenty to do with a high-paying position elsewhere. I miss you "Lorraine"! You are hopefully working in an environment free from squeaky vocals and heavy guitars)

The Mistress Witch From McClure ( Or, The Mind That Knows Itself ) - Sufjan Stevens

Obviously: Sufjan Stevens' recently released album of outtakes and extras, "The Avalanche", will not be as completely satisfying as the final cut that was "Come On Feel the Illinoise". But it does have a surprising number of musical gems that make it an essential purchase for fans of Sufjan and Illinois.

Here's a song for you, really wonderful (even if I don't know precisely what he's singing about ... it's strikes me as impressionistic the way "Casimir Pulaski Day" was in "Illinoise"):

The Mistress Witch from McClure (or, The Mind That Knows Itself)

(I do like the alternate title better ... "The Mind That Knows Itself". Yeah, that's deep man)

You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators (Roky Erickson)

I saw "You're Gonna Miss Me" (2006) at the Walter Reade last week. It's a documentary about rock prodigy Roky Erickson, who is widely credited as a founding father of psychedelic rock.

The comparison to "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" (2005) (I love that bobbing sidebar) is unavoidable: Austin rockers, mental sickness, asylums, the religious upbringing, etc. But in many ways the Roky Erickson story is weirder, sadder, and more disturbing in its ambiguity, especially in the way the movie ends.

"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" is an easier movie to recommend, and easily more fun to watch - but "You're Gonna Miss Me" is a very good companion piece, and is arguably a stronger documentary because it eschews the "fun" stylistic flourishes that are used in "Johnston": extra animations, frost-patterning overlaid on old family footage, etc.

Well, go watch them both if you get the opportunity. It's educational. And now, here is a song for you:

You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators

Let me know if that link is bad

Hurra Torpedo - Total Eclipse of the Heart

(Testing, testing)

Just in case I'm not the last person to have seen this (video)

Hurra Torpedo - Total Eclipse of the Heart

... famously sung by Bonnie Tyler in the 80s, repurposed by Norwegian "Hurra Torpedo" into what boingboing aptly describes as "a mournful, appliance-smashing dirge".

Ha ha, sorry Allen!

Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out

This song could be dissected in so many ways. No matter how you slice it, its all good.

Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out

In other news, we hope to have a guest DJ soon so be on the lookout.

The Burnside Project - And So It Goes

OK, who wants more of this stuff? Does someone want to DJ for a while?

The Burnside Project - And So It Goes.mp3

Tree Wave - Sleep

More of these two from Austin. Apparently everything is made with re-programmed old Commodore and Atari game consoles and dot-martix printers. Killin' me!

Tree Wave - Sleep

Pavement - Shoot the Singer

I was rocking Sebadoh III the other day. So So Good. Here is something from the same time. It was a new day when this stuff hit the air.

Pavement - Shoot the Singer

Herman Dune - Suburbs With You

Friday just rolls into Monday

Herman Dune - Suburbs With You

New Zealand

I busted out a Tall Dwarf's tape the other day and thought we needed a New Zealand set.

The Clean - Anything Could Happen
Chris Know - Not Given Lightly
The Chills - Pink Frost
The 3Ds - Hey Seuss

I don't know where these guys are from (probably Canada) but they seem to carry the torch.

The Hidden Cameras - Lollopop

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Where have all the Rude Boys Gone?

Sometimes I feel like this one was found in a recently opened 70's time capsule. Or an alternate universe where Billy Joel really did rock.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Where have all the Rude Boys Gone?

Darondo - Didn't I

I posted a home recording of this a while back but the studio version needs to be heard. This is
high on my list of favorite songs ever.

Darondo - Didn't I

Midlake - The Trails of Van Occupanther

Nothing today. Stream Midlake's new album The Trails of Van Occupanther

That link is messed up so try this or this.

Hot Chip - The Warning

Pretty ballsy to write a song about how your band is going to bury you. 'Specially when it is a song with plinking casio-like synthesizers.

Hot Chip - The Warning

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - For Kate I Wait

I first heard Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti driving from CH to the capital late at night. My car only has one working speaker so everything sounds mono. Perfect.

I think he is/was part of Animal Collective so H. Low you might not want to listen.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - For Kate I Wait

Here is the video for when the link expires.

Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)

Ok, this is not the real song but it is mildly entertaining.

Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)

Smog - Ex-Con

Jean jacket and a tie.

Smog Ex-con

Cat Power - Lived in Bars

It might take me a few days to get back in fighting shape. I won the "most weight gained" contest during my vacation.

I am lovin' Cat Power's 'new' direction.

GW Bush - Sunday Bloody Sunday

In high school and college I took several audio production courses where we had to use razor blades and tape to piece together the reel to reel tape in order to make cool sound collages. I don't think I could have every achieved this level of perfection with those dark age technologies. Nevermind adding the video aspect.

All politics aside.

All Over Vacation

I am heading to WI next week so no posts. Here is a mish-mash of stuff.

1. Songs about raising a family, life and trying to stay sober. Since I am getting ready to fly to the land of a thousand lakes with a two and half year old, it all seemed appropriate. And once again confirming that the older guys got it.

Cold War Kid - We Used To Vacation

2. I don't know much about this guy but someone recommended it as great summer song. I am starting to agree.

Jamie Radford - "You're So Warm"

3. I saw these guys open for the The Books at State and something about their stage presence annoyed me (though the drummer did kill it). Since then I have heard some studio songs and am giving them a second try.

Grizzly Bear - On a Neck, on a Spit (this is a link to their site where you can download the song)

Here is a video from some French blog.

Grizzly Bear - Shift

Billy Preston - Let the Music Play

This one needs some airtime. The chorus is sick.

Billy Preston - Let the Music Play

Laura Veirs - Secret Someones

You think this is milk toast but Laura Veirs can write some excellent songs. Her album Year of Meteors was pretty well received last year. Regardless, I am a sucker for organs.

Laura Veirs - Secret Someones (some still needs to let me know if you can listen to this file type)

Wrens - Hopeless

These guys reaffirm my belief that the best bands these days are the guys approaching middle age. Spending their twenties obsorbing as much as possible musically, they finally got it together enought to put together a band that had what it takes. Or, in the case of The Wrens, they were too busy persuing a career to be rockstars. They actually had real day jobs and families.

Wrens - Hopeless (m4a? Can you play this?)

Here is their bio.

Mazarin - The New American Apathy

I have been meaning to post this for a while. I haven't been diggin the other songs I have heard from these guys but this was on rotation for a while. It is about the steady repetition.

Mazarin - The New American Apathy

Band of Horses - Our Swords

These guys have been all over the blogsphere recently and could go head to head in the SOUND Team vs Tapes 'n Tapes smack down that H Low was placing bets on. Check out the song 'Funeral' if you like this.

Band of Horses - Our Swords

Jim Noir - Eanie Meanie

I know nothing of this guy but after watching World Cup all weekend it is suiting my mood quite nicely.

Jim Noir - Eanie Meanie

The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket

Not feeling it right now but this might put me in the mood.

The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket

Midlake - Young Bride

H. Low,

Since you are the only one that commented, I send this out to you.

Midlake's Young Bride



You can also watch the storyboard versions here.

SOUND Team and Tapes 'n Tapes

Hello? Jon?? You there? Anyone? Let me see some love in the comment section if you want me to continue this.

If you need enticing, here is a two'fer of SOUND Team and Tapes 'n Tapes. They are all over the bloggity-blog-blogisphere these days.

SOUND Team - Your Eyes Are Liars

Tapes 'n Tapes - Just Drums

J Dilla - Last Donut of the Night

Another one from the Obits. This is a few months old and I never knew much about J Dilla but this is on target.

J Dilla - Last Donut of the Night

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye

Who thought anything good came out of LA musically.

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye

José González - Crosses

Mellowing it out today. More rawk tomorrow.

José González - Crosses

I think it is worth mentioning that this where I first heard of Jose.

The Beatles - Get Back

One more from the obituaries.

Billy Preston kills the organ in this. In the 5 seconds he is in this clip, he shows that he has more soul in his pinky finger than Paul has in his whole body.

Billy Preston Obit



Here is some more funky goodness. And how come TV is not this or this good anymore?

Desmond Dekker - Pretty Africa

Request Day! H. Low suggested some Desmond Dekker, who passed away late last month.

Desmond Dekker - Pretty Africa

We aim to please.

Sugar Minott - Love and Understanding

Yasko, didn't you want some reggae?

Sugar Minott - Love and Understanding

AC/DC - Kicked in the Teeth

Viernes!!

AC/DC - Kicked in the Teeth

Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear

Harpsichord? Check
Nasally voice? Check
Insane chorus? Check

Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear

Ohmega Watts - The Find

Why this guy didn't blow up last year is beyond me.

Ohmega Watts - The Find

Talking Heads - Warning Signs

This is from a '75 CBS Demo session. You can read all about it on Marathon Packs. Unfortunately the rest of the songs have been taken down. A fresh take on some old material.

Talking Heads - Warning Signs (expires in 7 days so someone needs to give up the server space)

Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline)

More indie-rock!!! More Toronto!!!

This is for quitin' time and should be listened to loudly.

Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline) The girl, Feist, has one of the best, new voices.

If that doesn't work you have to watch the video.
Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline)

You can also watch and listen to Flamming Lips Wayne's rambling commencement speech. In part one he tells about how he never graduated from high school and sold pot out of his apartment. In part two he relates the store of a friend having to pour pee on his face after being stung by a jellyfish to life lessons. Total ramble but better than Brinkley's '02 UNC-CH speech.

Os Mutantes - Ave Genghis Khan

Mexican psychedelic? I guess weirder things have happened. Like last night, I unrolled a carpet in the living room, one that had been in the garage for a few weeks, and a baby opossum was sleeping inside.

I know very little about these guys but they are from the 70s (natch) and David Byrne's record label re-released it.

Os Mutantes - Ave Genghis Khan

Server Space

Who has some server space for me to post some songs? Many, not all, of the MP3s are no longer available online and I need somewhere to put them.

Anyone? Anyone? Don't you want to hear a 1975 CBS Demo of the Talking Heads playing Warning Sign? No? Trust me....you do.

Prince - When You Were Mine

This is more of a shout out to a series on MOKB. Great songs and all the covers of that song you can possible find. We have the Pixies, Joy Division, The Beach Boys, Elvis, BOC etc etc

Prince - When You Were Mine

To see the series, check out My Old Kentucky Blog

May Banners - Tree Wave

I didn't want to like this but........

May Banners - Tree Wave

Kiss Me Deadly - Dance 1

I wish I had seen these guys at Local 506 a few weeks back. Nice Sonic Youth elements. I first heard it on WKNC and the DJ mixed in some big beats at the end that helped it along nicely. I think they are part of the whole Toronto is the new Montreal is the new Williamsburg scene.

Kiss Me Deadly - Dance 1

Darondo - Make It Right and Didn't I live

JP, They say its your birthday so here are two for ya.

Home recordings of Daronda performing 'Didn't I' and some tune called 'Make Things Right'.

Heard on Soul Sides (RSS)

Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia

Since I first heard it, if I could only play one song on the guitar it would be this one.

Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia

First heard on the most excellent music blog Moistworks (RSS).

Animal Collective - Who Could Win A Rabbit

Been lovin' it for about a year now. You will not be able to get it out of your head.

I can't find the mp3 anywhere so you get to watch the video.

Animal Collective - Who Could Win A Rabbit

Zero 7 featuring José González - Futures

As Handel has learned, José González is amazing. Zero 7 has some hot songs as well. Put them together and you get this meehe song. I found it interested because they sounds like they are channeling CSNY's 'Guinnevere' and some other David Crosby songs.

Zero 7 ft. Jose Gonzalez - Futures

First Heard on My Old Kentucky Blog (RSS)

Lou Rawls - Season of the Witch

Not sure who wrote this first. The first version I ever heard was by Donovan. There is also a kickass version on the Still, Bloomfield, Kooper "Super Sessions" album.

Here is Lou Rawls take.

First heard on Fucky16Corners (RSS)