Monthly Archives: August 2009

Form in an orderly queue outside your house

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We just found out that Tenacious D has replaced The Beastie Boys at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival.

A lot of attendees are pissed.

Does Tenacious D belong at a music festival?

WHY THE HELL NOT? Can you imagine another way you could have THAT MUCH FUN? I caught a video of their live performance at Reading, and areyoukiddingmerightnow it’s super very awesome.

Not that they are to be compared in any way to Tenacious D, but I think of this example because as I heard Track 9 of We Were Promised Jetpacks’ These Four Walls this morning at 4 AM, I thought,

This is the type of song you want performed when you’re at a music festival.

Take a listen to “Short Bursts” and see:

[Download We Were Promised Jetpacks – Short Bursts]

Glasgow. Yes, that’s right. You’re hearing a Scottish brogue. In fact, the Scottish Arts Council helped them with funding to get themselves over to SXSW this year. It seems there are no other festivals on the lineup at this time, but they will be coming back to the States for a tour this fall.

I’m loving them. These Four Walls is actually their debut album despite having formed a good six years ago. Each song is well thought-out, with all elements contributing from their proper place in the foreground or background of the track. And this is what makes up the energy that this whole album puts out.

Speaking of that energy, how about a love song that isn’t slow and melancholy, but throws all those heartsick feelings into a power ballad of the indie persuasion?

That’s right. Press play and enjoy “Roll Up Your Sleeves”:

[Download We Were Promised Jetpacks – Roll Up Your Sleeves]

Roll Up Your Sleeves is one of two singles put out from this record. Don’t wait and wonder if it’s going to hit the frequencies here. Just buy the album, share this post with your friends, and spread the love. You have a new favorite band.

Two Brand New Songs!

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Well, some of the indie snobs out there will go, “I heard these six months ago.” Well, good for you. How are the drapes in your parents’ basement? Still tacky? Most likely. This isn’t about being the first to post stuff, anyways. Some readers may not know of these new gems, let alone about the artists I’m featuring. Yay innerwebs!!!

Anyways, the first is by Atlas Sound, which is a solo project by Deerhunter‘s Bradford James Cox. This tune features Noah Lennox, which some may know as Panda Bear from Animal Collective. Lots of names there. Names are fun! Anyhow, this is the track “Walkabout”, which right now is a cut I am deeply in love with. Happy vibes spreading around!

[Download Atlas Sound feat. Noah Lennox – Walkabout]

Next up is the first track off of Modest Mouse‘s newest EP, entitled No One’s First, and You’re Next. This is supposedly cuts that didn’t quite cut it for the band’s last two albums. The track “Satellite Skin”, I am hunkering a guess that this didn’t make their last album, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. The guitars sort of give that vibe, and to be honest? I like this track more than anything off of that album. Hey, diff’rent strokes and such. Enjoy the track!

[Download Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin]

ALSO! Below is the video for Modest Mouse’s “King Rat”, which was conceived by the late Heath Ledger. I don’t know how long this will last online, so watch it while you can!

If you don’t buy this stuff, Isaac Brock is going to come to your house. That scares me. So it should terrify you. BUY! BUY! BUY!

I got a hole inside and it’s ten miles wide…

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I was at the House of Blues in Las Vegas to see
Thrice perform. My brother had the hook-up and I was following him around as he held court. He has a sweet gig at a local radio station and he knew a ton of people at this particular event.

One particular person he knew had just walked by. Maybe he felt the need to tell me who it was because of the look on my face. The kind of look you might have if you smell something bad.


It wasn’t the smell…it was just the over-the-top rocker/douchebag persona that gave me the stink face.

He was loud and annoying and he seemed smashed before Thrice even came on stage. I ended up standing in the roped off VIP area next to this dude, and it was tough to take my eyes of him and his entourage. Shenanigans abound.

It was Ronnie Radke the lead singer of Escape the Fate.

Well…he was the lead singer. He’s in jail now.

Ronnie Radke was asked to leave the band after he was sentenced to prison for multiple run-ins with the law involving narcotics and battery for a fight that led up to the death of Michael Cook. It sounds like a bunch of drama, and you can look up the whole story here, but Ronnie Radke is not what I really want to spend a lot of time on.

What I want to talk about is how great Escape the Fate is without him!

It might be a shitty thing to say, and it has nothing to do with him acting privileged at a concert where I happened to see him. I just think that the new front man, Craig Mabbitt, does a much better as the songwriter and lead vocalist. Craig has experience as a frontman since he held the duties in the band Blessthefall.

I probably will get a bunch of heat from thinking the band is better off, but maybe if you listen to a before and after from the band you can make the decision for yourself.

Here is Ronnie on the song My Apocalypse:

[Download Escape The Fate – My Apocalypse]

My Apocalypse is good, but check out Craig on the track 10 Miles Wide:

[Download Escape The Fate – 10 Miles Wide]

Yeah…you know I am right. The band even sounds better on this album, but that’s to be expected with all the touring they had done prior to them entering the studio. Either way, both albums are required listening, but I think we both know which album I will be playing more.