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…Is Getting Burned

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Track One is called “Schizophrenia.” But it’s adorable and perfectly composed, so I don’t dial up the head shrink when Jukebox the Ghost skitters through the Yes I can, No I can’t, Yes I can lyrics like they are performing warm-up scales at a frenetic pace.

…yes I can
I swear to it,
that’s just how my brain works.

It might be one of the best opening tracks ever to grace an album. It just might be. Jukebox the Ghost has been touring nonstop since 2006 and their second LP is called Everything Under The Sun.

They got guns, they got knives,
they got guns, they got knives,
they got guns, they got knives and spies,
I am no informant.

They’re a three-piece. You know how much we love three-pieces who sound like half an orchestra around here. And I love a lyricist who can make me smile.





They knew my name,
they screamed and screamed,
they knew everything.

You could say that I’m well liked
but I’ll never be friendless…

You could say that I’m alright
or you could say schizophrenic…

And now, The Little One is hooked, because you’ve got upbeat tunes, excellent song composition, a mixture of instruments, and lyrics that help me explain myself to you.

They’ve played with Ben Folds, Tally Hall, and showed up on David Letterman in September of this year! Woot, boys!

Probably more notable to mention than the tour they literally JUST kicked off with Barenaked Ladies is their appearance at both SXSW and Lollapalooza this year. Yes, that means it’s time for you to know about them, since you obviously missed them on NPR’s World Cafe Wednesday. Tell your friends. It’s like, everything you love about The Mountain Shin Lips in a Death Cab. Isn’t it? ISN’T IT.

Check out Track 6, “The Sun”.

Click to Play Jukebox The Ghost – The Sun

Quick, buy the album NOW and pretend you’ve owned it since it was released in September. Buy Let Live & Let Ghosts, too, because that one is a dandy-dandy.

Mmmm…..Royksopp

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Back in 2003, I had the chance to see Royksopp here in Boston. It was one of the better shows I’ve seen, to be quite honest. If I could find the pictures I took, I would share those with you in a heartbeat. That same night, I then went from the Paradise over to the Phoenix Landing to check out Fish Go Deep. Fitting that it was the day before St. Patrick’s Day. Just one of many amazing days I’ve experienced in my life where music was involved. I think we can all agree that music inhabits a certain place in all of our lives. It’s honestly a big reason why George started this blog, in my opinion. We get to share not just music with you all, but who we are, as shaped by the music we’ve grown up around. Well, I have shared just that. And hope to keep doing so for all of you. Do you guys have any good stories from shows? Shows or nights out that helped define the person you are? If so, let ’em rip.

With that said, it’s time to bring it back to the original topic, which is Royksopp. They’ve released a new album, entitled Senior. Fitting since their last one was Junior. The mood of this one is decidedly more mellow, and shows the scope of who Royksopp are. In fact, check out the video for the tune “The Drug”. Mildly disturbing, at points, but the music is pretty grand. Definitely a keeper of a track.

Now, this post? I’m actually going to dig back in time with these guys. You’re going to be treated to a couple of remixes off of their seminal album Melody AM. Those in charge of the remixes here? None other than Tom Middleton and Derrick Carter. Those of you that have been reading for a while may remember my interview with DLC, the Chicago house music legend. If you don’t? Hell, go read it now! And Middleton is a familiar name to those of us that have followed electronic music for a while. He was half of both Global Communication and Jedi Knights. Pretty good resume of music, in itself.

Anyhow, Derrick lent his boompty remix skills to the first track of Melody AM – “So Easy”. Middleton’s crafts are on display with his remix of the track most people would be familiar with – “Remind Me”. Enjoy these tunes, guys!

Click to Play Royksopp – So Easy (Derrick Carter Remix)

Click to Play Royksopp – Remind Me (Tom Middleton Cosmos Mix)

Now go buy something. NOW!

it’s not trash, it’s garage

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I hate that you can spend so much time listening to music and still miss so many great bands that are out there. The flip side of that is great, though: there’s always a new opportunity to find something you love. A group or artist from any era or genre can catch your ear and you’re a new fan. And that’s nothing to be sad about.
I was recently introduced to The Ettes. They’ve been around since 2006 and, while I was completely oblivious, released three great albums. I’m going back through their catalog now and loving the garage-y vibe. Here’s a sample:


Download The Ettes – I Get Mine

And another, complete with cutesy video:

They were even cool enough to have a song on the Whip It movie soundtrack. Or Drew Barrymore was cool enough to put them on there. Maybe she’s out there looking for brilliantly talented folks – like blog contributors – with panache and intelligence so she can support them and take them out to dinner in a romantic interlude kinda way. Please, please, say it’s so.

Anyway, if you’re down with the garage rock thing you should check them out.
On a related (and more timely) note, the band’s singer, Coco, works with a side project named The Parting Gifts. This group is pretty exciting because it also features members of Reigning Sound and The Raconteurs, and there’s at least a little involvement from The Black Keys. It’s a veritable who’s who of the current garage rock scene, in a way. I don’t have the fancy connections to give you a preview mp3 in this case so we’ll have to lean on youtube again:

The Parting Gifts have an album coming out in a couple weeks so keep your eyes peeled.
What discussion about garage rock would be complete without posting some MC5? None, so here you go:


Download MC5 – Ramblin’ Rose (Live)

Fallout: New Vegas – The Music!

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Yes. I am one of those nerds. I loved the music from Fallout 3. I loved the music used in both Bioshock games. The classic songs that bring you back to a gentler, nicer time. Except, well, those games aren’t gentle or nice. They’re brutal, in fact. And that may be why I love them. Well, now with Fallout: New Vegas? We get more of the classic sounds. Hell, I was so psyched for this game when I saw the initial trailer. It features one of the songs we’re posting today. Check it out.

While the game can slog on for points, the pros heavily outweigh the cons, in my opinion. There are a few bugs and glitches, but nothing that really ruins the game experience for me. Hell, just do what people tell you you should be doing – SAVE OFTEN! This game is massive. There is so much to do, and even though I’ve been playing a lot since the game came out last Tuesday, I still haven’t made it onto the strip. Part of the reason for that is I’m more enamored with the Mojave Wasteland. I’ll get into the strip soon. I promise.

The music, however, is what I love the most. The trailer above features the track “Jingle, Jangle, Jingle” by Kay Kyser. His big band sounds are featured in this number. Those certainly were the days, eh?


Download Kay Kyser – Jingle, Jangle, Jingle

Now the next track is one people probably know. It’s hard to make a game about Vegas and not include some mention musically of the Rat Pack. Dean Martin is featured in the game’s soundtrack with one of his better known hits – “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head”. And it fits in the sense that when you start the game? You’re not kicked, but shot, in the head. How’s that for a shitty day?


Download Dean Martin – Ain’t That A Kick In The Head

Now this last one, I had heard before. Living in the South for a while, I guess I couldn’t help that. It’s not a bad thing. Being exposed to a lot of the old crooners growing up as a kid was a great thing. It helped get me into singers like Louis Prima, for example. Hell, getting to see Sam Butera perform twice (for free!!) while living in Las Vegas years ago was one of the biggest thrills for me. I only wish I still had the picture I took with him. :sadpanda: indeed. Anyhow, this song is one that’s featured prominently if you’re out in the wasteland. It’s by Marty Robbins, and the song is “Big Iron”. This is a guy that had the crossover appeal before the alt-country tag was there, I guess you could say. A lot of his songs were played on pop radio, but to be honest, pop radio then mixed genres moreso than it did now. Anyhow, this is a great tune, and it’s perfect for the times you’re trekking out in the middle of nowhere.


Download Marty Robbins – Big Iron

And speaking of Bioshock, have you guys seen the gameplay video for the upcoming Bioshock Infinite? I don’t know about you, but I am excited for this one, also. Also, go buy some music. Don’t be cheap!

do you know the grinder man?

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If you look up “cool” in the dictionary I think there’s a picture of Nick Cave next to it.

Nick Cave

I’ve been a fan since Murder Ballads and I can’t think of anywhere he’s slipped since. Of course, I’m mostly referring to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds here, but that’s not the point of this post. If you’re not familiar with them, please check them out before continuing. You owe it to yourself. Zink said the same thing back in 2009, but it needs to be reiterated.
The point of this post is that Cave’s side project, Grinderman, recently released an album. Grinderman is really an offshoot of the Bad Seeds, comprised of Cave on guitar (which he generally didn’t play much before) and core members of the band. The writing style is different and the overall approach is more raw and less concerned with commercial success. The end result is just good, interesting rock music.
The first Grinderman album was released in 2007, and promptly knocked a lot of socks off. It was aggressive and ballsy. It was pretty damn good. Here’s a track from that album:


Download Grinderman – Depth Charge Ethel

The new album is more subtle. The songwriting seems to be more cohesive and, even though there are moments of experimental craziness, more accessible. Let’s keep it simple this week and just let you decide for yourself with a few tracks.


Download Grinderman – When My Baby Comes


Download Grinderman – Heathen Child

And here’s the video for “Heathen Child” that got a lot of buzz for being so bizarre. I recommend listening to the song on its own first (above), then jumping into this acid trip.

Pick it up and enjoy it. Nick Cave is still making some of the best rock music out there right now.


Goodbye, oh false paradise

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It was a tiny blurb; it was a compelling blurb. It lead me to recognize the CD on the New Release Wall on a record store visit a few weeks later. “On their debut single, a cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Big River’, this Muscle Shoals sister act sings like angels while Jack White shreds like a man who met the devil at the crossroads and punched him in the nuts.”

Who wouldn’t want to buy something like that?

So I pointed the CD out, Mookie bought it for me, and I was tasked to write about the album. I played it in my car on the way back from the record store. Mookie got to listen to the new Less Than Jake in his car. I had only one word to offer for my review of the Secret Sisters’ eponymous debut album: “BORING.”

When Mookie asked about Jack White’s involvement, I was totally confused. I no longer had any idea what had moved me to want this album.

There are covers on this album. But not Johnny Cash covers. Hank Williams, George Jones, lots of covers on this album. And they’re covers of good songs, so of course… Who doesn’t have a soft spot for “Why Baby Why”? But you’re going to go all apeshit over this debut album full of covers? Come on.

And I get folk music. I get old-time country. I would love to be reborn as June Carter Cash. But this is too much ado over what? Elvis Costello is performing with them. Jakob Dylan. Gregg Allman. John Mellencamp. Elton John! Just what is happening? What do I not understand? Their voices are good. Sure. Nothing wrong with it. Is it about their innocence? Come on. Is it because we’ve decided to return to innocence? Is that what this is about?

I don’t want to hate on these sweet girls, but I’m just left asking what no one else will.  I guess it’s always been my way.

Nellie McKay has been doing this same kind of music for several years. But Nellie McKay is not innocent. Nellie McKay also recently released an album.  Of original work.  This album is called Home Sweet Mobile Home.  How is that for your “music for people”?  ::wink::  She recorded her debut album with her mother, despite also having duets with kd lang and Cyndi Lauper on same.  So what’s going on here?

Maybe there’s room for both.  I just don’t want you to get caught up in the current hype without realizing who came first.

Please check out Nellie McKay.  You’re going to love it.


Download Nellie McKay – Adios

Here is Track One, presumably their original work, from The Secret Sisters.


Download Secret Sisters – Tennessee Me


It’s an Animal Collective sort of day

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I honestly am at a loss for what to post today. So why not post remixes of everybody’s favorite indie-rock darlings – Animal Collective? There was the ever popular remix that was done by Dave Wrangler of “My Girls”, which admittedly gets played quite often by myself, still. We also had the flip of that, where Animal Collective were on the remix tip. They did justice to French band Phoenix’s “Love Like a Sunset”.

Well, now I feel like bringing you a little more of the awesomeness. These aren’t necessarily new remixes I’m bringing you. However, this is what I’ve been listening to as of late.

The first two are remixes of “My Girls”. It is off of their almost two year old album Merriweather Post Pavilion, which became an unexpected landmark of an album for these guys. With that sort of success in hand, it should be expected that people would start wanting to remix your work. Well, with the success of “My Girls” came just that. As I mentioned, Dave Wrangler took a stab at it and did a great job, in my opinion. Well, now we have a couple more remixes. These were done by Mexicans With Guns and HATCHMATIK. I have to be quite honest. The name Mexicans With Guns might be, right now, one of the most unfortunate names in music. Considering everything going on in Mexico, and all. But I have to admit that I love the name. So here are the remixes done by HATCHMATIK and Mexicans With Guns.


Download Animal Collective – My Girls (Mexicans With Guns remix)


Download Animal Collective – My Girls (HATCHMATIK remix)

The last of the remixes is a chilled out one of Animal Collective’s “Daily Routine” by St. Louis’ Phaseone, also off of the same album. This one is a bit of a re-working, as it adds more fullness to the original, with an electro feel to it. It’s also well over two minutes shorter than the original, which is odd for a remix, too. So enjoy this one!


Download Animal Collective – Daily Routine (Phaseone remix)

Go buy stuff.

The Brits are playing at my house….fer realz.

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So last week, I bashed the crap out of what is essentially a rip-off of an old Boney M tune. Gotta be honest that I won’t back off that review. I have a ton of DJ buddies and producers here in Boston that I talked to about that track, and they were all in agreement. Not good. Well, I got a polite but contentious e-mail forwarded to me about the somewhat negative review about the “remix” of the tune. I won’t go into detail, but this week’s track is sort of a way to show how to be genuine about how you portray a song.

A remix? Is a unique interpretation of a song that you have. It’s not using the majority of the original – with minor tweaks that anyone with access to Logic, Ableton, etc. has – and slapping an acapella over it. I was just listening to a Derrick Carter set where he played a remix of an old Bjork tune, and thought to myself, “Now this is what a remix is.” I’m not bashing those tunes. There is a talent in making them. But what separates a proper remix from a bootleg or mash-up is pretty cut and dry, in my opinion.

The track today sort of exemplifies this. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and it’s presented as a mash-up. Now, I have to be clear that not all mash-ups are good. This one, however, is one I liked. A lot. The fact that there is a video accompaniment? Makes it that much more clear how seriously the kid took this project. So fans of The Beatles, The Kinks, and/or LCD Soundsystem? You should check this one out. It was done a couple of years back by a guy that goes by the name FAROFF. And hey, if you’re in the San Fran area? Go check him out Saturday, October 23rd. I bet you’d hear lots of goodies like this one.


Download FAROFF – The Brits Are Playing At My House

And you really need to check the video. It’s damned cool. A video mashup, of sorts.

I Won’t Always Live In My Regrets

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There’s a quiet dream 
I’m not supposed to think
Eating away at my mind

I’ve been trying to get some other posts written for you.  One is an open letter to an admired artist.  Another is a sweet tribute to a sweeter little indie piece.  But they don’t make it to the keyboard.  They roam through my head while I listen to the music and these thoughts, these posts, refuse to come out.



There’s always some baggage you gotta check
I’m trying
Hope that you’d understand
I’m sorry boy, I’m not cut for this no more


Instead, I am writing about a band you all already know, and their highly-anticipated new album.  That’s right, Jimmy Eat World released Invented on September 28, after working on it for what – two years or something?  I’ve never been the biggest JEW fan but I have many close friends who are.  I admit they have a big sound; one that’s layered and sometimes enrapturing. I just never got heavily into them.

Once though, a long time ago, Jimmy Eat World did move me… On one extremely depressing December day in 2001, I had felt completely spent, useless, and lost.  I realize that being moved by a catchy pop song is just about the height of  pathetic clichè; but it happened, and in all the years since then it has continued to happen.  It just takes some time; little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride.  They wrote it during a dark and directionless time for the band as well.

So here I am, almost nine years later, reviewing their seventh album. Never seen them live. Never written about them before. Never thought I would either, but feeling like now is the time. Yes, I am moved again.  While I re-evaluate, and re-structure, and ask that little girl what ride exactly she was in the middle of, I’m open to find out:  What’s up.  What’s going on.  Kind of poignant that the track “23” happens to fall in my iTunes just on top of the new album.  So go back to ’04 for a minute with me:


Download Jimmy Eat World – 23

You’ll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I’m here I’m now I’m ready
Holding on tight
Don’t give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

So how far have they come and where are they going? What’s with the slight difference in sound between then and now?

They told Darryl Sterdan of the Toronto Sun:

Over the years, we’ve been building up an arsenal of recording equipment to the point where we’ve been working primarily out of our own space for the last two albums. I guess for a while there we were big on getting the absolute best sound we could and getting things perfect. But going into Invented, we kind of threw a lot of that out the window. It’s like learning everything you can about an instrument and then forgetting it all and just playing.

There are a lot of things we just let slide. A lot of the main vocals were recorded the very first time I tried singing them, right after I had written the lyrics. And I think I used one guitar for this whole record. We tried incorporating more restraint on this. There are mistakes. There’s sloppy stuff. On the song Invented, you can hear the chair I was sitting on creaking. But I think it works for the tune.

Learn everything you can.

Then forget it all… And just play.

If you’re really as tough as your defenses let them fall.

I am having a really hard time choosing a track from Invented to share with you. One track is desperate and pleading, another strong and challenging, that one just plain epic.

You already know what Jimmy Eat World sounds like. So I won’t feel guilty posting the last track from the album. It fits best with the tone of this post.

So… what were you protecting yourself from?


Download Jimmy Eat World – Mixtape

Why Barbra Streisand?

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Why her? Why her of all people? In the latest in a series of sample heavy electronic tracks coming out, we present the duo Duck Sauce – comprised of Armand Van Helden and A-Trak – and their track “Barbra Streisand”. Now, for those who haven’t somehow seen the video that’s been released for it? I’m gonna show it to you.

First of all, that woman is beyond annoying. More annoying than Barbra Streisand, herself. And Armand, you’ve got Boston roots, and do everything in your power to ignore that, now. What a fucking joke, man. The showing off of who’s who in this video is incredibly irritating, also. I don’t care who you guys know. Seriously. I know some cool and talented people, also, but I would never feel the need to boost my ego by showing it off. Some may say, “Well, they’re showing what’s what in New York City.” Fine. New York is one of the largest cities in the world. I would hope that they had some talent. Again, don’t shove it down my throat.

Now, how about we tell you where these guys snagged the sample from? Boney M‘s “Gotta Go Home” is the winner in this department. Check the video below, also. Seriously. Have producers gotten this lazy? Can’t you people use samples in a creative way that’s still catchy? No? Okay, I hear the message loud and clear. Armand’s foray into samples isn’t new, either. He’s done this for the better part of a decade, now. While it was cute to start off, it’s getting tiresome. A-Trak isn’t helping matters, any, by throwing his hand into this. Is this track catchy? Yes. But so is the Boney M tune it ripped off. And now we see a plethora of “remixers” doing nothing more than using programs like Ableton to lay down an acapella over it and viola! A remix! One of those “remixes” is here. While it still takes some talent to do this stuff, and a little ingenuity, doesn’t it smack of cheap when you do this to a tune that blatantly rips off another one?


Download Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand


Download Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand (Just Banks How Low remix)


Download Boney M – Gotta Go Home

And you may want to grab these quick. God knows how long before we get a nasty email wanting these off the site.