Pains of Being Pure at Heart Music Video - "Young Adult Friction"
"Young Adult Friction" is Painful to Pure HeartsDespite the fact that their sound has been compared to Belle and Sebastian and the Smiths, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart are not for everyone. It's not that their music is particularly abrasive or showy, or that they are offensive in any way. Its more that to some their brand of simplistic pop songs will sound like the "new hipster thing" or just simply sound boring. With a name like they have its almost a guarantee that the masses will inevitably be split, one half finding it pretentious, the other endearing. I for one (obviously), am in the second camp.
The video itself continues TPoBPAH's habit of playfully romping around while visually implying nostalgia via old film. The song is "Young Adult Friction" which for me currently has the second most iTunes plays of any track on this album. Check it:
If you dig, just wait until July cause the Brooklyn band will be playing at the Capitol Hill Block Party which recently announced their lineup (oooh Deerhunter!).
Listen to the band's myspace here.
Buy The Pains of Being Pure at Heart [Slumberland; 2009]
Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Young Adult Friction"
Early Bird Block Party Special
The Capitol Hill Block Party announced a partial line up this week that includes Sonic Youth, Past Lives, The Termals, The Gossip, and many more. Even if the line up doesn't look amazing to you, buying tickets now isn't a bad idea. As I recall, The Saturday Knights and Devotchka (?) were both later additions last year, so it can only get better from here. Another reason to buy early is that the price will go up after May 31st according to ticketswest (it's already a tad more than last year).
Tickets officially go on sale Friday. It won't sell out any time soon, but if you want to feel special, go to ticketswest.com, and enter blockparty as the promotional code to get the pre-sale... Honestly, you may just want to buy them at the gates and avoid service fees.
View all the bands that are set to play so far here:
New (old) Sufjan Stevens Song
Sufjan has posted an entry on Asthmatic Kitty's sidebar called "What's in a Name?: Sufjan Steven's on Songs Names and Singing Out of Tune." The best part is that Sufjan not only writes about all of these things, but at the end of the article he posts a song that he wrote in college about Sofia Coppola called "Sofia's song." It a banjorific diddy. At this point though, really any music from him is something to talk about. Where are those other 48 state albums? Huh? Quitter! (read the post and listen to "Sofia's Song" here).
Of Montreal Covers The Beatles "Im So Tired"
An interesting take on the song. Since both bands have rather distinct and recognizable vocal styles, the cover hardly sounds like the original. Also, the only thing cooler than this cover is Kevin Barnes sunglasses.
via YANP
Phoenix: Lisztomania Video
This video (via P4K) has the danceable frenchsters, Phoenix, romping about Germany to the tune of their album's opener "Lisztomania" with some concert footage mixed in. All the gothic architecture gives their music a slightly nostalgic figure, no? And be sure to catch the recurring blimp sightings.
My proposed Sasquatch! tour
After much deliberation, this is they way I think I am going to navigate through the magnificence that is Sasquatch!. Anybody think I am missing anything or that I should change something?
Show Me Something - May
Show Me SomethingEvery month Bohemian Cuddle Box updates you on the shows in Seattle from the bands that you love.
May 1st
Heavy Hearts @sunset tavern
David Sedaris @ benaroya hall
red elvises @ tractor tavern
Ghost w/ Six Organs of Admittance @ Crocodile Cafe $12 8pm 21+
May 2nd
Unearth @ el corazon
Ladytron w/ The Faint @ Showbox SoDo 8pm Doors $22.50 21+
Thao the Get Down w/ Sister Suvi @ Chop Suey 21+
believers @ tractor tavern
testament @ knitting factory spokane
May 3rd
Grouch and Eligh @ Neumo's 8pm doors $15 adv 21+
May 4th
Iron & Wine w/ Yogoman Burning Band @ Vera Project 7pm
Shins @ showbox market
bob log w/ Willem Maker@ crocodile cafe $13 adv
May 5th
Iron & Wine w/ Alela Diane @ Triple Door
Ghost @ tractor tavern
Shins @ showbox market
May 6th
toxic holocaust @ studio seven
murder city devils @ tractor tavern
Destroyer w/ Azita @ Crocodile $12 adv 8pm 21+
May 7th
Strung out w/ Death by Stereo @ Neumo’s 7PM Doors $13 adv
May 8th
indigo girls @ edmonds center for the arts
jagjit singh @ benaroya hall
Damien Jurado w/ Laura Gibson @ crocodile café $12 adv 21+ 8pm
May 9th
The Moondoggies w/ Widower @ Crocodile $10 adv
Dimes @ high dive
indigo girls @edmonds center for the arts
bret Michaels @ emerald queen casino
aceyalone @ nectar lounge
May 10th
blue turtle seduction @ tractor tavern
May 11th
Flight of the Conchords w/ Arj Barker @ Paramount 730PM
May 12th
Vaselines @ Neumos 8PM Doors $20 adv
Dance Gavin Dance @ el corazon
Flight of the Conchords w/ Arj Barker @ Paramount 730PM
patrick Watson @ crocodile café $11 adv
May 13th
Flight of the Conchords w/ Arj Barker @ Paramount 730PM
Mae w/ Barcelona, Person L, Tokyo @ neumos 730PM Doors $15 ADV
Loney Dear w/ Headlights @ crocodile café $10 adv 8pm 21+
May 14th
Ben Folds @ Paramount
Margot & the Nuclear So-So w/ Everything Now @ Crocodile $12 adv
Youth Group @ high dive
lissy trullie @ chop suey
virgins @ chop suey
winston audio @ el Corazon
May 15th
Kills w/ The Horrors, Magic Wands @ neumos 8pm $15.50 adv 21+
taylor swift @ keyarena
Jeremy Enigk @ Neumos 8pm $15 adv
sweet water @ hells kitchen
Stephen Lynch @ The Moore 8:00pm $27.50
May 16th
Stranger @ el corazon
no use for a name @ chop suey
farmers @ sunset tavern
Obits w/ The Lights @ Neumos 8pm $15 adv 21+
May 17th
celtic woman @ paramount theatre
whipsaws @ central saloon
Saigon @ chop suey
The Detroit Cobras w/ Dex Romweber Duo @ Neumos 8pm $12 ADV 21+believers @ tractor tavern
testament @ knitting factory spokane
May 3rd
Grouch and Eligh @ Neumo's 8pm doors $15 adv 21+
May 4th
Iron & Wine w/ Yogoman Burning Band @ Vera Project 7pm
Shins @ showbox market
bob log w/ Willem Maker@ crocodile cafe $13 adv
May 5th
Iron & Wine w/ Alela Diane @ Triple Door
Ghost @ tractor tavern
Shins @ showbox market
May 6th
toxic holocaust @ studio seven
murder city devils @ tractor tavern
Destroyer w/ Azita @ Crocodile $12 adv 8pm 21+
May 7th
Strung out w/ Death by Stereo @ Neumo’s 7PM Doors $13 adv
May 8th
indigo girls @ edmonds center for the arts
jagjit singh @ benaroya hall
Damien Jurado w/ Laura Gibson @ crocodile café $12 adv 21+ 8pm
May 9th
The Moondoggies w/ Widower @ Crocodile $10 adv
Dimes @ high dive
indigo girls @edmonds center for the arts
bret Michaels @ emerald queen casino
aceyalone @ nectar lounge
May 10th
blue turtle seduction @ tractor tavern
May 11th
Flight of the Conchords w/ Arj Barker @ Paramount 730PM
May 12th
Vaselines @ Neumos 8PM Doors $20 adv
Dance Gavin Dance @ el corazon
Flight of the Conchords w/ Arj Barker @ Paramount 730PM
patrick Watson @ crocodile café $11 adv
May 13th
Flight of the Conchords w/ Arj Barker @ Paramount 730PM
Mae w/ Barcelona, Person L, Tokyo @ neumos 730PM Doors $15 ADV
Loney Dear w/ Headlights @ crocodile café $10 adv 8pm 21+
May 14th
Ben Folds @ Paramount
Margot & the Nuclear So-So w/ Everything Now @ Crocodile $12 adv
Youth Group @ high dive
lissy trullie @ chop suey
virgins @ chop suey
winston audio @ el Corazon
May 15th
Kills w/ The Horrors, Magic Wands @ neumos 8pm $15.50 adv 21+
taylor swift @ keyarena
Jeremy Enigk @ Neumos 8pm $15 adv
sweet water @ hells kitchen
Stephen Lynch @ The Moore 8:00pm $27.50
May 16th
Stranger @ el corazon
no use for a name @ chop suey
farmers @ sunset tavern
Obits w/ The Lights @ Neumos 8pm $15 adv 21+
May 17th
celtic woman @ paramount theatre
whipsaws @ central saloon
Saigon @ chop suey
May 18th
Gojira @ el corazon
theresa andersson @ tractor tavern
May 19th
happy apple @ tractor tavern
lesbian @ chop suey
Nomo @ crocodile café $10 adv
ghost town @ high dive
Modeselektor w/ Apparat, Truckasaurus, Nordic Soul @ Crocodile 8pm $18 adv 21+
May 21st
fred eaglesmith @ tractor tavern
kevin devine @ chop suey
lady sovereign w/ Chester French, Hollywood Holt @ crocodile café $16 adv 8pm 21+
my life with the thrill kill kult @ el corazon
May 22nd
mike watt @ crocodile café $13 adv
black joe lewis @ tractor tavern
May 23rd
Sasquatch! @ The Gorge
Valley @ tractor tavern
May 24
Sasquatch! @ The Gorge
sex mob @ tractor tavern
May 26th
Sasquatch! @ The Gorge
Skerik @ tractor tavern
Fischerspooner @ showbox market 8pm 21+ $20adv $23dos
Meiko w/ Cory Chisel @ crocodile café $12 adv
May 27th
new york dolls @ el corazon
Dears w/ Great Northern, Eulogies @ crocodile café $12 adv 8pm 21+
May 28th
Grayskul @ high dive
arthur yu @ tractor tavern
The Devil Makes Three @ The Crocodile $15 adv 8pm 21+
May 29th
ian svenonius @ the vera project
taking back Sunday w/ Anberlin and Envy on the Coast @ showbox sodo 7pm $25adv
led zepagain @ showbox at the market
May 30th
aggrolites @ crocodile cafe
her space holiday @ chop suey 21+
scott h biram @ tractor tavern
May 31st
jenny lewis w/ The Sadies @ showbox at the market $20 adv 8 pm
May 27th
new york dolls @ el corazon
Dears w/ Great Northern, Eulogies @ crocodile café $12 adv 8pm 21+
May 28th
Grayskul @ high dive
arthur yu @ tractor tavern
The Devil Makes Three @ The Crocodile $15 adv 8pm 21+
May 29th
ian svenonius @ the vera project
taking back Sunday w/ Anberlin and Envy on the Coast @ showbox sodo 7pm $25adv
led zepagain @ showbox at the market
May 30th
aggrolites @ crocodile cafe
her space holiday @ chop suey 21+
scott h biram @ tractor tavern
May 31st
jenny lewis w/ The Sadies @ showbox at the market $20 adv 8 pm
Review: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band [Dead Oceans - 2009]
7.6/10
The Seattle quintet Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band have been getting a lot of coverage for three reasons. The first is their undeniably endearing back story. Via Poptartssucktoasted:
"The band started with me (Benjamin) teaching my adopted little brother how to play drums. I promised Marshall we would play a show when he progressed. His rate of his progression was faster than expected. I encouraged my friends Jared and Matt to join the band and lastly, my wife, Traci agreed to be a part of MSHVB." When Matthew took up the drums as an 11-year-old, Benjamin promised him that when he got good enough, they'd start a band togetherThe second reason is for these Public Service Announcement videos that they created for the band's myspace to generate interest before they even had any music up. The third and most warranted is, obviously, their music. MSHVB is a rock band and their songs are as dynamic and frenetic as the Tower of Terror. In fact, they sound as coffee infused as our beloved city itself.The Good: Much of their music is imbued with the incessant energy of Wolf Parade and the playful dynamics of fellow northwesters Modest Mouse. Because MSHVB's structural shifts are more shifts in tempo or volume rather than the more sudden and abrasive key changes of band's like Of Montreal, their sound is remarkably at once accessible and shocking. Each of their songs is a layered, multi-segmented journey through energy. Saturated with playful melodies and endearing hooks galore, I get the sense that they are just out to have fun and they would love it if you would join them. On the album's second track "Masquerade" a Guitar Here worthy riff start out the song, giving way to an upbeat verse that nearly demands dancing. The best moment comes shortly after this however, when the persistent beat drops into the anti-chorus waltz, backed by multipart harmonies wailed in such a way to make Akron/family proud (particularly half way through "Going on a Hunt"). The album was recorded by Scott Colburn who has graced the likes of Animal Collective, Arcade Fire. So yeah, they got that going for them.
The Bad: The songs can get a little too frenetic at times, occasionally crossing the line from dynamic to chaotic. Sometimes it feels like they just try to fit too many parts into one song. While this may just be an antidote for cultural ADD it also tends to make some of the songs difficult to recall. As soon as something begins, it is over. Live, this sort of thing can translate into awe as in "what just happened?!" But unfortunately on the record it can come off as a little impatient. Also, the ever persistent guitar riff-age borders on the more over indulgent side of bands like Fall of Troy and Mars Volta.
The Verdict: Despite the about 50 references to other bands I have made already, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band is almost certainly as creative as their moniker. The music is at once extremely confident and immediate yet still innocent and inviting. It took me a little while to decide if I liked this band. I wondered if their technical prowess and shifting structures were just a front, hiding shoddy songwriting. I have actually had this interview sitting in the draft box for about a month and a half. So far the record has not only held up, but only gotten better. Its as catchy and rewarding a listen as it was the first time.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs on SNL, Animal Collective Remix
Yeah Yeah Yeah's give SNL and Animal Collective a "Zero"Saturday Night Live housed the Yeah Yeah Yeah's last week, led by a constantly grinning Karen O (she is always having so much fun). They played that single from It's Blitz!, "Zero" and surprisingly followed it up with Fever to Tell hit "Maps" which was a nice treat. I can't help but feeling like the new material comes off a little sparse in the few live videos I have seen of it. For how big the album sounds, I hope that the epic-ness is just lost in translation or else I will just have to go to some other stage during Sasquatch (who has posted their schedule, btw). Both SNL tracks are available for download at Stereogum.
"Zero"
"Maps"
What's more, if you read about and/or listened to that très petit hord'oeuvre of Animal Collective's "Zero" remix last week and thought to yourself "hey, this is too short and that beeping thing is annoying" then you are in luck, my friend. Animal Collective right took that sparsy idear and done made it exter sparser. Karen O's vocals get tweaked resulting in a rather trippy rendition (see that one coming?) and it makes me really sleepy. Hear here.
Buy the It's Blitz! LP from Insound
Listen to Yeah Yeah Yeah's
Download Yeah Yeah Yeah's - "Zero" - It's Blitz!
Beatles Remastered Albums get Release Date
If you are the type to sit around waiting for long lost Beatles tracks to appear or painfully wishing to be able to pretend that you are an actual rock star from the 60's, you may be pleased to know that on September 9 (that is, 9/9/09) all of the fab four's studio albums will be available in a new and exciting digitally remastered version. I mean I know I was just sitting here thinking "these songs would be good, but they are just sooo analog." So yeah. Extra goodies include expanded booklets with rare photos and according to Rolling Stone "for a limited time, each of the Fab Four’s 12 proper albums will be “embedded” with a brief documentary about its making. The rereleases will include the Beatles’ 12 studio albums and Magical Mystery Tour as well as Past Masters Vol. I and II, which will be packaged as one collection. All 14 discs will be available with DVDs of the documentaries in a stereo box set, and a set titled The Beatles in Mono featuring 10 discs will also be released."
Apparently, engineers at Abbey Road Studios have spent the last four years remastering albums from the catchy insects using new technology and vintage equipment in an effort to preserve “the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings” and ensure the highest (ahem) "fidelity the catalog has seen since its original release.”
Apparently, engineers at Abbey Road Studios have spent the last four years remastering albums from the catchy insects using new technology and vintage equipment in an effort to preserve “the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings” and ensure the highest (ahem) "fidelity the catalog has seen since its original release.”
Black Box 4/10/09
Friday's Black BoxFriday is a day to crash. Crash meaning "to kick back and relax." And also, for me, meaning to violently burn to the ground in a heap of broken pieces because of all of the things that I have neglected to write about during the week. Since this happens pretty much every friday, I've resolved to go the way of the airplane and record everything in a tiny black box. Also, for your convenience I have decided to forgo the inevitable casualties usually associated with plane crashes. Cheers.
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New Michel Gondry Video Collection
Michel Gondry directorial repertoire has embraced, in reverse chronological order (because I copied from IMDB), an episode of "The Flight of the Conchords," The Science of Sleep, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl", Björk's "Bachelorette", and Daft Punk's "Around the World" making him a good human being. But believe it or not, he has made even more visual candy throughout his career, some of which will be compiled on "Michel Gondry 2: More Videos Before & After DVD 1," due April 14 via Gondry's website. The vidlist is divided into a "Music Videos" section and an "Other Work" section. Some of the ones that I am stoked about are listed below.
From "Music Videos"
Paul McCartney: "Dance Tonight"
Queen [ft. Wyclef Jean, Pras and Free]: "Another One Bites the Dust"
Radiohead: "Knives Out" *
The Rolling Stones: "Gimme Shelter"
From "Other Work"
"The Simpsons" White Stripes Parody
Booker T and The Michel Gondry’s
Michel Gondry Solves a Rubik's Cube With His Feet
Michel Gondry Solves a Rubik's Cube With His Nose
Jack Black Beats Michel Gondry With His Rubik's Cubes
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Sigur Rós' Jónsi has Side Project, Album
Ethereal Icelandic vocalist Jón Þór Birgisson aka Jonsi from Sigur Ros is planning to debut a side project entitled Riceboy Sleeps with his partner Alex Somers. You may have already encountered RS via the Philip Glass-y eight and a half minute Dark was the Night track "Happiness," which you may have noticed, was all instrumental. This is apparently true to form as July 20th will bring the debut release from the duo which is also completely instrumental.
According to a press release all of the songs are "played solely on acoustic instruments in Iceland (and featuring long-time string collaborators Amiina, as well as the Kopavogsdaetur choir) and then endlessly toyed with on solar-powered laptops in a raw food commune in some far corner of Hawaii." Awesome! Check the tracklist here, a video for "All the Big Trees" (which looks like a photo from Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud) and "Daníell in the Sea."
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Stream Part of Animal Collective's Remix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
While most 7"s are a chance for diehard fans to hear that b-side or alternate take that makes their collection complete, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs/ Animal Collective split 7" is generating a bit of buzz mostly due to AC's remix os YYYs "Zero." If you are that interested, you can listen to about 30 seconds of it here. There is an annoying little beep that interrupts the song so you dont steal it or something, but other than that it seems pretty interesting to me....................................................................................................................................
Stream Part of Animal Collective's Remix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
While most 7"s are a chance for diehard fans to hear that b-side or alternate take that makes their collection complete, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs/ Animal Collective split 7" is generating a bit of buzz mostly due to AC's remix os YYYs "Zero." If you are that interested, you can listen to about 30 seconds of it here. There is an annoying little beep that interrupts the song so you dont steal it or something, but other than that it seems pretty interesting to me.
Kanye West is a Gay Fish Says South Park
This sounds compellingly like "Heartless"
Bat for Lashes "Daniel (lo-fi version)" Live
If you've been checking out Natasha Khan's new Bat For Lashes album, Two Suns, via myspace (or otherwise...) than you will most likely want to see this live version of an alternate lo-fi take of the excellent song "Daniel." I definitely love to see all the instruments they use. What is that tinkly thing?
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Ryan Adams + Mandy Moore =
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Ryan Adams + Mandy Moore =
Idiot Box 4/9/09
Idiot box
n. Slang
A television.
Phoenix play three songs from their upcoming LP Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix on SNL. Thomas Mars lets out a few yelps like he's Vampire weekend. Also it looks like Jesus is working the synths in the background.
"Listzomania"
"1901"
"Too Young"
The second single from maestro Dylan's soon to be released 42nd album Together Through Life. I actually like this one a lot more than the first. Let me know your thoughts.
"Feel a change comin on"
Two bits of Joanna news(om) in two weeks? This is just getting gratuitous. Here, the beautiful music from Milk Eyed Mender's "Sprout and the Bean" lifts up (ahem) this Victoria's Secret commercial. Strange pairing, no?
"Sprout and the Bean"
In case you weren't satisfied with the silhouette + weird mouth combo of Animal Collective's official "My Girls" video, here is an awesome unofficial Alternate video that is as trippy and beautiful as Animal Collective's music. Pretty sure I spotted some Andy Goldsworthy in there too.
Canada's finest, Leslie Feist and Kevin Drew discuss Drew's new film project which features Feist's "The Water." The movie also apparently stars Cillian Murphy aka Scarecrow from Barman aka definitely awesome. This clip is actually really fascinating if you are a fan ofBroken Social Scene and/or Feist and/or Cillian Murphy and/or experimental film.
In case you weren't satisfied with the silhouette + weird mouth combo of Animal Collective's official "My Girls" video, here is an awesome unofficial Alternate video that is as trippy and beautiful as Animal Collective's music. Pretty sure I spotted some Andy Goldsworthy in there too.
"My Girls"
I've never really listened to Man Man but this video for "Rabbit Habits" makes me feel weird and strangely happy.
I've never really listened to Man Man but this video for "Rabbit Habits" makes me feel weird and strangely happy.
"Rabbit Habits"
For a bonus video, Youaintnopicasso has Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno trailer which looks hilarious.
For a bonus video, Youaintnopicasso has Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno trailer which looks hilarious.
Beirut Live Show/ New Song
At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Senor Condon decided to play a new/old song. Its new because Beirut just started playing the track but it is old because Zachery wrote it when he was a wee 17 years of age. The track is called "East Harlem" and beaukuleleful. Beirut also played several other songs of theirs. The set material focused on the two new EP's. I though it was cool to see how they arranged the Realpeople songs for the whole band. They also played their contribution to Dark was the Night and a few old favorites. Wonderful music ensued. Watch over half of the show here, or else.Video Tracklist:
1. "East Harlem" (New)
2. "The Shrew" (March of the Zapotec)
3. "The Concubine" (Realpeople Holland)
4. "Mimizan" (Dark was the Night)
5. "La Javanise" (Serge Gainsbourg cover)
6. "The Akara" (March of the Zapotec)
7. "Cozak"
8. "My night with a Prostitute" (Realpeople Holland)
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9. "Gulag Orkestar" (Gulag Orkestar)
10. "Forks and Knives (La Fete)" (The Flying Club Cup)
11. "Brazil" (Ary Barroso cover)
(Full track list here)
Arcade Fire + Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are Trailer
Ok I know this was news like two weeks ago but better late than never right? p.s. two weeks is a great Grizzly bear song.
If you haven't heard about this already and were once a child, chances are you will love this. The unbelievably exciting combination of Spike Jonze's music-friendly directorial prowess with Maurice Sendak's classic and personal favorite Where the Wild Things Are keeps getting better. For example, I just found out that Dave Eggers helped write the screen play. Karen O is responsible for much of the film's music with some purported help from Bradford Cox. And now there is this trailer featuring an alternate version of Arcade Fire's brilliant track "Wake Up."
To quote videogum "McDonald's should change their motto to "I'm Where The Wild Things Are-in' It" because of how much I'm lovin' this."
Where the Wild Things Are is now set for release October 16.
Watch here in HD.
Arcade Fire - "Wake Up" - Trailer Version
Arcade Fire's Miroir Noir on P4K
Miroir Noir streaming at P4kTV.Arcade Fire's video composition, Mirroir Noir is certainly and adventure. It is riddled throughout with concert footage, shots of the recording process, goofing around, rehearsals, and strange voicemail confessionals from fans (or haters). Although it is subtitled "The Neon Bible Archives," the material is not just restricted to Neon Bible tracks, as there is a lively rendition of Funeral's "Haiti" in part four that I definitely recommend. The video's gracious host, the ubiquitous Pitchfork, has this to say:
Not just another concert movie, this experimental documentary mixes live footage with intimate in-studio bits and bizarre infomercial-esque scenes to create an intriguingly unnerving atmosphere. The 70-minute film is featured in its entirety.By far my favorite parts are when they play acoustic versions of their songs in elevators. So cute. Also don't miss the recording of the orchestral parts from "Intervention" and the various shots of vocal recording, which I find strangely hilarious. Be quick though, the video is part of P4k tv's "one week only" series so you only have until the 10th to check it out for free. Unless you partake of that horrid illegal download jargon.
Watch Miroir Noir
Arcade Fire "Intervention" - Neon Bible [Merge; 2007]
Arcade Fire "Haiti" - Funeral [Merge; 2004]
Black Box 4/3/09
Friday's Black BoxFriday is a day to crash. Crash meaning "to kick back and relax." And also, for me, meaning to violently burn to the ground in a heap of broken pieces because of all of the things that I have neglected to write about during the week. Since this happens pretty much every friday, I've resolved to go the way of the airplane and record everything in a tiny black box. Also, for your convenience I have decided to forgo the inevitable casualties usually associated with plane crashes. Cheers.
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New Joanna Newsom!
Ok, so here is what happened. On monday, I post about how I am frustrated that Joanna Newsom hasn't made any music for a long time. Then on tuesday, she plays a secret show debuting two and a half hours of music. So obviously, the only thing I can conclude from that is Joanna Newsom reads this blog! Right? Please...? Ok fine. But still, this is awesome news. Via Naturalismo Newsom, playing under the pseudonym "The Beatles's" played through her forthcoming 3rd LP which "combines the strong melodic presence of songs on The Milk-Eyed Mender with her continued instrumentational prowess and maturation beyond Ys." Apparently there are some "Only Skin"-esque songs over the 12 minute mark and a bit more of a focus on piano. Be sure I will keep you updated on everything I know about this.
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Phoenix on SNL
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Phoenix on SNL
French popsters, Phoenix, will grace the Seth Rogen hosted SNL on the morrow promoting their forthcoming album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which is out on May 26. Definitely sound promising.
Phoenix "1901" - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [2009]
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Covered A Cappella
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps" Covered A Cappella
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New Bob Dylan Track, Lp
Bobby D has made a track from his forthcoming 46th LP, Together Through Life, via this website. The track is entitled "Beyond Here Lies Nothin" and is free. Album's out 4/28 on Columbia.
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Cryptacize Have Video for "Blue Tears"
Cryptacize Have Video for "Blue Tears"
If you do love this band, then buy their forthcoming (how many times can I say forthcoming in this post?) album Mythomania on April 21st via Asthmatic Kitty.
Cryptacize "Blue Tears" - Mythomania [2009]
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Bat For Lashes Album on Myspace
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Bat For Lashes Album on Myspace
You can now Stream her forth-------- album for free. I am still on the fence about this one. Let me know what you think. It seems like it is trying to be really big and grand but I'm just not sure that it has enough content to fill all that space. Not to mention it employs the now ubiquitous synths.
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Yeasayer Video from Dark Was the Night
Yeasayer Video from Dark Was the Night
In addition to writing their follow album to the excellent All Hour Cymbals, Brooklyn's Yeasayer made this video of their also excellent contribution to the charitable Dark Was the Night compilation. It's a lot more intimate than the recorded version, which offers a new angle to the song that I think is really interesting.
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Stuart Murdoch Offers Song from his Musical
Belle and Sebastianite, Stuart Murdoch has written a musical. He calls this musical God Help the Girl. The music itself is mostly new material with a few old B&S songs. The album is due June 23 on Matador and the first single "Come Monday Night" is out May 11, but you can hear it right now on the God Help the Girl MySpace.
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Sigur Rós performed an acoustic version of the title track to last years beautiful 'Með suð í eyrum' for the French blog La Blogotheque. They bang on a bucket, which I think is rad....................................................................................................................................
Department of Eagles "No One Does it Like You" Video
The Grizzly Department of Bear Eagles Does Many Things of NoteThe Brooklyn based Bear and Eagles associates have been busy lately. If you are one of those who have already partaken of the low-quality leak of Grizzly Bear's forthcoming album, Veckatimist, you may be pleased to know that "Cheerleader" is now available in a (slightly) higher quality version.
Veckatimest is out 5/26 via Warp.
Again in the Grizzly camp, if you are planning on attending Record Store Day, then you may be able to get your hands on the limited edition Live on KCRW 7" LP that looks awesome. A full list of participating stores here.
The band is also readying a music video for "Two Weeks," directed by Patrick Daughters who did the video for Feist's "1234." Pictures of the set via Stereogum.
If you are in the video watching mood, you can check out this live video of "Two Weeks" at SXSW with Beach House's Victoria Legrand singing the chorus backup just like on the album.
Onto the Department of Eagles camp. One of In Ear Park's best tracks "No One Does It Like You" got the artsy mcfartsy video treatment directed by Patrick Daughters (this guy keeps coming up) and Marcel Dzama. I say artsy mcfartsy (which is a technical term) because it debuted at MOMA (which I think is awesome). I would describe the video to you but I think you should just watch it.
Veckatimest is out 5/26 via Warp.
Sasquatch Preview: Episode 1 - Passion Pit
Sasquatch! Preview: Episode 1 - Passion PitBecause I can not wait to go to Sasquatch this year and I don't think you can either, I will be posting a couple times a week about the bands comprising the lineup.
Start with the history. For Valentine's day last year, frontman Michael Angelakos recorded for his girlfriend a few lap top ditties and called them Chunk of Change. Everyone who heard it loved it, including record labels, they got a spot at Bumbershoot '08 released a slightly expanded EP and here we are. Named one of the BBC's favorite up-and-comers of '09, Passion Pit, now grown into a five-piece, use simple electronic flourishes and synth lines to craft soft and catchy melodies that explode into energetic and euphoric choruses. They have gotten a lot of comparisons to MGMT as far their momentum and "who cares, lets dance" sound. However Chunk of Change is often much more intimate than MGMT with ties closer to Postal Service's brand of electronic minimalism. The Ep's standout track "Sleepyhead" was not originally on the v-day offering which means that it is quite potentially a sign of things to come and a reason to see this band.
Having just rocked SXSW and released a trippy vid for "Sleepyhead" (see below), Passion Pit are gearing up to release their debut full length called Manners. Columbia will release it in the UK on May 18, and Frenchkiss will drop it in North America eight days later on May 26 (the day after Squatch ends).
Listen to Passion Pit.
Buy Chunk of Change
Download "Sleepyhead" - Chunk of Change EP [Frenchkiss; 2008]
Download "The Reeling" - Manners [Frenchkiss; 2009]
Bumbershoot announces partial lineup
Partial Bumbershoot Lineup Announcedlimited-time offer of three day passes for $80. More of the line-up and how to buy:
Sheryl Crow
Modest Mouse
Katy Perry
Michael Franti & Spearhead
De La Soul
Raphael Saadiq
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
The Long Winters
Sly & Robbie & the Taxi Gang
World Party
MSTRKRFT
Roy Ayers
Common Market
UH HUH HER
Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women
Eric Hutchinson
No Age
Matt & Kim
Dead Confederate
The Cave Singers
Swollen Members
Vieux Farka Touré
Lenka
Gang Gang Dance
Todd Snider
Holy F**k
DJ Spooky
Iglu & Hartly
Low vs Diamond
Sera Cahoone
Eleni Mandell
Carrie Rodriguez
The Honey Brothers
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
Extra Golden
Cordero
Forgive Durden
Hey Marseilles
Adrian Xavier
Sheryl Crow
Modest Mouse
Katy Perry
Michael Franti & Spearhead
De La Soul
Raphael Saadiq
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
The Long Winters
Sly & Robbie & the Taxi Gang
World Party
MSTRKRFT
Roy Ayers
Common Market
UH HUH HER
Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women
Eric Hutchinson
No Age
Matt & Kim
Dead Confederate
The Cave Singers
Swollen Members
Vieux Farka Touré
Lenka
Gang Gang Dance
Todd Snider
Holy F**k
DJ Spooky
Iglu & Hartly
Low vs Diamond
Sera Cahoone
Eleni Mandell
Carrie Rodriguez
The Honey Brothers
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
Extra Golden
Cordero
Forgive Durden
Hey Marseilles
Adrian Xavier
for more go to Bumbershoot.org
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