Author Archives: admin

Mellow…..That’s My Style

Posted on by
Reply

So anyone my age would probably know the song that the title of this entry is from. It’s one fucking badass song! The image of a Charlie Brown shirt on the DJ for Urban Dance Squad with skaters abound in an empty swimming pool is one of the things I remember clearly. So for those of you who may not know it? Check out the video for “Deeper Shade of Soul”.

With that said – and you all are no doubt recovering from dancing in your seats – I have this week’s music additions to enrich your lives. Because I know you don’t want to hear any more bullshit about the election or how crazy Sarah Palin is (because she is, btw). And if you’re depressed about the stock market? Well, this music probably won’t help you. As a tip, I think Alaska still has the highest suicide rate in the US. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that if we elect McCain and Palin, that the effect she has will make that number go up nationwide. Just sayin’. So listen to our music. If it makes you happy and you know it, clap your hands. And do it at the store. I’m sure that would make their employees smile. Or look at you funny. Don’t judge me!

Okay, so first up is more music to make you understand I’m getting older. What’s sad is I’m only in my early 30’s, but no one really knows this band. Siouxsie and the Banshees weren’t a band I really discovered until this song came out, but many people know their early ’80’s hit “Peek-A-Boo”. This is the 1990 cut “Kiss Them For Me” and is actually from my own collection. It’s a really well done remix of it, and very mellow and also about eight minutes long! Awesome remix, though.

Now, just as a little added extra, here’s the video for the original. Believe it or not, I think I have this one on wax somewhere, now that I think of it!

Next up is a remix of Radiohead’s “Reckoner” off of their latest album, In Rainbows. It’s a remix done by Flying Lotus and is EXTREMELY mellow! There are tons of remixes of this cut out there, as the band has had a bit of a contest – yet again – to remix their tracks. One? It’s free stuff they ain’t gotta pay for. Smart. Two? Why the hell not? They’re also on the lookout for talent, so this is a great idea. With that, below is the Flying Lotus remix!

As always, buy this stuff! Do it! Do it now! Now, just imagine a really shitty Arnie impression while reading that. ‘Cause I am. And it’s funny. To me.

Is this a joke song?

Posted on by
1

Listen folks, I hate to break it to you, but Kings of Leon writes some terrible, terrible lyrics.

Soft lips are open
Them nuckles is pale
Feels like you’re dying
You’re dying

You
Your sex is on fire
And so
Were the words to transpire

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! (note: maybe the last lines are “consoled by the words to transpire”. I don’t know. One way or another, it’s pure crap.)

The first time I heard this song on the radio I kept waiting for the punch line. I was sure it was a ridiculous parody of a love song, like Adam Sandler’s “At A Medium Pace.” A song which, by the way, at least keeps the tempo.

When I realized this “Sex on Fire” track was a real song and had been recorded by Kings of Leon, I went to check my iPod and found that I do have their third album. So I gave it a listen.

Singer Caleb Followill even told the BBC that he thought this “your sex is on fire” hook was “ridiculous” when the band came up with it. “I was like, ‘Come on, man, I gotta be singing about someone’s fiery sex for a year and a half.'” That album comes out in September 2008.

After listening to “Because of the Times”, released last year, I beg to know, then… What happened in the jam session where someone came up with this little ditty?

either way you caught me whlist-a-lyin
you caught me whilst-a-lyin
you caught me with my pants down

Or…

so cool in her new camaro
black as coal and it go don’t it go

(And repeat.
And repeat again? Dear God make it stop!)

They are a family band… I suppose they all think alike then. Who is driving this crazy bus?

I gave “Because of the Times” an honest listen. I was attracted at first because I heard that southern influence. Track 4, “McFearless”, had potential until someone mistimed the vocal track. It honestly sounds like he is the drunk karaoke singer unaware that he should be trying to keep up with the music. But when used properly, his voice is a beautiful blend of Adam Durwitz and Dave Matthews. They use some sick guitar riffs and properly placed tambourines. It then becomes so convoluted, detached, and confusing. Is this a soulful southern rocker or Iggy Pop? Am I supposed to chill and enjoy or shake my head and scream? And just what the hell are they singing about anyway? Do fans actually sing along to these lyrics?

Rock to the rhythm
And bop to the beat of the radio

I must know who these fans are.

I am more scared to hear what is on this next album, “Only by the Night”, than I am to accidentally catch another 5 seconds of A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila. I would rather go to the Blue Martini in a jewel-toned minidress than hear any more of this band. Rolling Stone wondered, “how much better can Kings of Leon get?” Yes, it is clear: I have entered an alternate universe. At least that review added “They’ve already gone further than anyone could have guessed.” /cough

I will keep repeating: “Rock and Roll really was saved. Rock and Roll was saved. Rock and Roll was saved.” At least they don’t sound like anyone else, and I can’t snarkily quip that I already heard that album when it was called fillintheblank.

I would normally insert a video here, but do you want to know what else? Kings of Leon are douches.

“It’s difficult when you make a new record and you wanna play all the new songs live, but with technology these days, there’ll be someone out there with a recorder and it kinda spoils it for us. You don’t wanna play too many new songs because otherwise they’ll be on YouTube or something, so we have to pick and choose. If it was up to us we’d play all the new songs because they’re so fun to play.”

So no mp3, no video – embedding of videos is disabled on their YouTube page. So, no thanks, I am not all that interested in posting the others floating around the internet. They can just go on being cool and inaccessible. Douches. Write one decent lyric, just one. I challenge you.

Bicycles make such sweet music!

Posted on by
Reply


This is a little short and sweet post. This is a song I first bought on music download site Stompy, and felt the need to share it with the world. Well, the world that views our site. Which I know is huge!

So this group is called Rubicks. They’re an odd group, mostly making pretty kitschy rock cuts. This cut, however, is a very uplifting sort of downtempo track called “Bicycle Boy”. It was featured on the weird-house label U-Freqs. If you really wonder why I call it weird house? Well, check out Stompy and just take a listen to some of their stuff. Here’s a small sample of Big Hair on the U-Freqs label.

But I digress. So back to the superfantasticalawesomeness of this track. Seriously? One sick track I think everyone here should go grab.

Flesh is heretic

Posted on by
Reply

I really wanted to like anathallo. It was long ago when they were on “the list” for a scouting trip to Zia Records. Anathallo, Vedera, Paramore, The Format, Ben Kweller (I still have it in written form. It’s saved as a memento.) In the years to follow, I would find that many musical artists whom I respected were big fans of anathallo, yet, I still couldn’t get into them.

I’ve found another ensemble-slash-collaboration band, however, that I can get into. It’s called The Sound of Animals Fighting. Since 2004, more than a dozen artists from various other established acts have come together – whether physically or by the power of studio engineering – to create music that really paints a beautiful aesthetic.

Each band member takes on the identity of an animal. Although each artist gets proper credit for their position in the ensemble, it’s prominent and understood that the band is really made up of the animals. At present, The Sound of Animals Fighting is Nightingale, Walrus, Lynx, and Skunk.

And the intent is to focus on the music. I can’t say there is anything catchy about it, but it’s good and pure and focused. Their fans are certainly obsessed ardent. Lyrics from the song The Heretic have been tattooed on ribcages, forearms, and feet!

I can enjoy each of the tracks on the third album, The Ocean and The Sun, for different reasons. I’m not going to become an obsessed fan, and teaser videos like the one below that helped to promote this last release are not ever going to cause me to bate my breath, but it’s good stuff that I’d like to hear more of.

You can hear elements of those who have contributed to the band over the years: Members of Circa Survive, Chiodos, Atreyu, Rx Bandits, and more. But I think The Swan showcases the most talent and represents the type of music you hear on the rest of the album the best:

I love this idea of taking members from multiple bands and forming “side projects” and collaborations. Everywhere you look, it’s being done. It’s such an enrichment to our current music climate. What seemed great a couple of years ago just keeps getting better and better, exponentially, in ways never before imagined.

If you’re into long tracks, songs that take you on a journey, or just need some really soulful ::ahem:: background music, you’re going to want to check out one of these albums.

"Sometimes", the fans of James swear they can see your soul!

Posted on by
1

This is going to be a very short and sweet post. I saw quite possibly the best show out of the probably one hundred or so I’ve seen in my short lifetime this Monday. Now, you folks probably will go, “Who’s James?” I’ve heard that a lot. They’re the guys who sang the song “Laid”. You know it. Trust me. The lyrics start off with the following:

“This bed is on fire with passionate love/
The neighbors complain about the noises above/
but she only cums when she’s on top.”


So that song aside, they have an astounding body of work that most people just don’t really realize. The album Laid is a Brian Eno masterpiece. The album starts off with two of my favorite James songs – “Out To Get You” and “Sometimes (Lester Piggott)”. Below is the latter.

So, the band finished off their setlist with this song before coming back for their encore. Let me tell you, it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been a part of! I recorded the video of the song being performed, but the crowd there stole the show. You’ll need to watch the video to understand what I mean.

Now, if that wasn’t the best thing ever, they did something else later on that I’ve never seen a band do. Especially one that’s as well-known as James. The finished with their song “Come Home”, and invited a young man by the name of Jonah on stage to play guitar with them. I found Jonah had posted on the fan page of James’ on facebook, so I messaged him to ask how that came about. Here’s what he wrote (he’s in the middle of the photo posted below!):

At Sunday’s show, I held up a sign asking Tim if I could come up and play “Come Home” with them. I figured the chances of it happening were pretty much nil, but I also figured there was no harm in asking. Tim read the sign and told me, “Sorry, it isn’t on the set list tonight. Will you be here tomorrow? Maybe we can do it then.” I figured he was kidding, but then I ran into him on the street after the show and asked him if he was seriously considering letting me come on stage with them. He asked if I could actually play, if I am any good. I told him that yes, I can play. He said, “Okay, I’ll talk to the band about it.” I still figured the chances of it actually happening were about 1%, and I figured that if I did end up on stage that they would give me an acoustic and maybe not even put a mic on it, just to minimize the chances of me ruining the song if it turned out that I was some imposter who really did not know how to play or I got stage fright. So, when Saul took off his own guitar, handed it to me, and told me to go to it, I was blown away!

So if you all don’t know about this band yet? Go buy their albums! They are not a band that disappoints!

I know you’re not ready to live

Posted on by
Reply

How many band requests do you get on MySpace? Do you pay attention? You should. In my never-to-be-humble opinion, it’s one of the most worthwhile reasons to have the social utility. Discovering new music, and keeping tabs on your favorite bands. Well, if you live and breathe music, like I do.

Scanners recently added me as a friend, and within a moment after checking out their page, speaking of breathing music, my lungs rejoiced. It was like hearing the voice that’s been inside me all my life. I love it. It’s Siouxsie or Aimee or Michelle… I definitely hear Chrissy and even the Pretenders in some of these tracks, and the influence of Tori and her piano makes an appearance as well. I can’t help but compare this gorgeous voice belonging to lead singer Sarah Daly to the soulful singers I grew up with.

I’m in love with my digital toy
My joy machine always there to enjoy

“Lowlife” is a song that should be played on the radio… Should be number one with a bullet… The opening chords make me so happy, the angry but clean voice that challenges the actions of a lover… It’s brilliance. I love it. Check it out:

When I listen to this album, I imagine I am back in time, I am Chrissy Hynde setting off for London to discover herself within the emerging punk scene. It’s a beautiful thing.

Remix EPs for some of these teriffic tracks are available, and they’ve now recorded a second album, so stay tuned!

Cover me!

Posted on by
Reply


Here’s something interesting I just heard over the weekend. It was a really cool cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark”. If you’ve somehow never heard the song, don’t worry, I’ll help fill you in. Most of you, however, probably have heard this song. At this point, most people born the year it came out would be approaching their mid-20’s. Which doesn’t really make me feel that much better. Hell, my girlfriend was born just two years before this came out. Yes, Father Time is a bastard. If I could pistol whip him, I would. And hard.

Well, that’s beside the point. What I found was a very cool cover done by an artist that goes by the name Paper Fist. You can view his MySpace page here. Here’s better when you check out the page. He also covers “Venus In Furs”! Don’t know that one, either? Then we need to work on this innerweb friendship, pally. I thought I knew you. All kidding aside, anyone that can pull off pretty good covers of both The Boss and the Velvet Underground is quite alright in my book.

So just for a ‘blast from the past’ sort of moment where we can be embarrassed how white people danced, I give you Springsteen’s original. Actually, white people still dance terribly. Myself included. Just endure the pain, though, because you have to admit the song is actually still really fucking good. And does anyone else wonder if the Carlton Banks dance from Fresh Prince of Bel Air was inspired by this video?

Go here for the video. Unfortunately, Bruce won’t allow us to embed these.

And below, you’ll find the cover of the song done by Paper Fist.

And as always, please support the artists!

I’m not scared, But this is happening

Posted on by
Reply


Aaron Gillespie is a pretty impressive individual. He has been drumming for the band Underoath since he was fourteen years old, and remains the only member of the band to be featured on every recording. In 2006, he recorded nearly all the instruments for “Southern Weather”, the debut album for his side project, The Almost. Many compare Aaron to Dave Grohl, because of the drummer-turned-frontman career path. But Gillespie’s achievements to date, nevermind what he will achieve in the future, are on a much different scale.

(Yes, that was a pun. Was it a bad one?)

As a member of Underoath, Gillespie began singing harmonic vocals on 2004’s “They’re Only Chasing Safety.” This was the first album I heard of theirs, and I remember saying they needed to take a lesson in Screamo. I couldn’t stand the way it seemed like every lyric was screamed, because I really prefer to hear the growling and screaming in bridges and choruses. Well, I need to get used to it because Underoath isn’t Screamo. They’ve been referred to most often as Deathcore, or Metalcore. And as abrasive and messy as deathcore can sound, Underoath has steadily and handily delivered a cleaner, more precise sound while staying true to their roots all these years.

“Safety”, the band’s fourth album, was written after the breakup of a very serious relationship for Gillespie, referring to it as if he had ruined someone’s life. He felt like he couldn’t move on and get married before releasing these feelings, so the album was a matter of great importance to him.

Stop saying that we’re invincible
You’re uninviting, unrewarding
And I’m misinforming you

From the followup album, “Define the Great Line”, the video for “You’re Ever So Inviting” won one of MTV’s Battle of the Videos in 2007.

“Define” was written from the band’s core, was a favorite of all members, and was going to be a very hard act to follow.

On September 2, 2008, Underoath released “Lost in the Sound of Separation”. They used two producers, three tracking rooms, four drumkits, and five amps over forty-two days of recording. Technically, it’s a masterpiece. And individually, each member contributes an amazing amount of talent to the sound. But I still go back to Aaron and the drums. It’s a thing to behold. And I’m curious to know whether he will go back to using the deep kickdrums (“They look cool live, but they don’t sound awesome”), rather than the 14- and 16-inch drums he was convinced to use for much of the record (“Cuz that’s how they sound good!”) , when the band goes on tour this fall with Saosin.

One of my favorite tracks from “Lost” is a bit of a departure from most of their songs, and does remind me of a The Almost product. Regardless, please enjoy “Too Bright To See Too Loud To Hear”:

I find it necessary to properly represent the band and the album, however, so for you: Track 3: A Fault Line, A Fault of Mine. (Should have been Track 4. I think it’s the best on the disc.)

Are you ready to give some Deathcore a try?

Give Me Every Juan Maclean!

Posted on by
Reply


Yes, it’s a bit late this Wednesday, but I had to wait for YouTube to upload a video I took at the Juan Maclean show this past Monday. Since I have a PC, and PCs blow more than the winds in Chicago, I lost the video for “Happy House”. Thing is, my new camera stops recording at 10 minutes, and it wouldn’t fit on one video! A wonderful thing, however. All wasn’t lost, though. I got the following video. It’s of their track “Give Me Every Little Thing”. After the video, I have a little more in the way of goodness to give to you all from this very underrated and underappreciated DFA band.

I absolutely love that song, but I have to admit something. Cajmere – aka Green Velvet – made an absolutely ridiculous remix of this. DJs all over just beat that tune to death, and rightfully so. So here you go, boys and girls.

[Download The Juan Maclean – Give Me Every Little Thing (Cajmere Mix)]


Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, I think so, also. They have a lot of cool stuff floating around, so I’d be lame to not tell you folks to go out and check them out. They have a rather recent single out that kicks just as much ass. It’s the aforementioned “Happy House”, and as a former DJ, I have to say I could squeeze this into a set and drop Full Intention’s “(I Love) America” pretty easily right behind that. It’s very reminiscent of the days of house when it was coming back up here in the US. You can judge for yourself!

And just to whet your appetite for some more music? Here’s that Full Intention cut I just mentioned. An unbelievable and timeless track!

As always, if you enjoy what you hear, please buy it to support the artists!

Tired of Being Sexy

Posted on by
Reply

They’re not new to the scene… And they’re not new to music bloggers… But chances are, they’re new to you. Don’t punish yourself for not running to look up the artist whose song played in that cool iPod Touch commercial. Here’s your chance to discover CSS.


This video was actually made for fun by a British kid, not unlike any other youtube video, but found by Apple’s ad agency and launched in their campaign, with barely any tweaking done at all. Amazing, huh!

CSS is a crazy, fun-loving, post-riot-grrrrl band (plus one dude) from Brazil. The name is short for Cansei de Ser Sexy, which is Portuguese for Tired of Being Sexy. I love the gung-ho manner in which this group embraces, worships, and sometimes caricaturizes American pop culture in their music, lyrics, stage presence, and not least of all in the selection of the band name (a Beyonce quote.)


The music is very electro, very synth, very 80’s. Yet, watch them live and you get to enjoy the hard-rocking guitar-strumming L7 style female hair band fun that everyone seems to have forgotten about. They are crazy. They are nuts. So are their fans. And they are having the time of their lives. In fact, while forming the band, they really just asked themselves who they wanted to hang out with and who they had the most fun drinking with. Playing music you love and getting away with singing some of the most “naughty” lyrics in a foreign tongue, living up to that “just have fun playing crappy [good] music” ideal that Sonic Youth embodied… What could be better than that?

This track, by the way, is not an example of those impish-sounding naughty lyrics, but rather has been pointed out by lead singer Lovefoxxx as one of her favorite songs to perform live. Enjoy Air Painter:

[Download CSS – Air Painter]

CSS is not going to put out a concept album any time soon. In fact, they never intended to be touring the nation and giving interviews. They set out to play, rock, sing, drink, and have fun. And now we all get to experience it. So lighten the heart and put on a stupid outfit and buy one of the CSS albums. And catch them if they hit a festival near you!