The Best of 2011 Part 1.2

“People who say they like all kinds of music actually like no kinds of music” - Chuck Klosterman

Well, 2011 has come and gone. Frankly, the Prig was underwhelmed. The Prig respects his PFOS brethren, but obvious to most, he doesn't share their enthusiasm for what has transpired musically over the last 12 months. Here is a rundown of the small amount of music that came out in 2011 that didn't massively suck, for the rock snob in all of you.

Ryan Adams

The guy has been through a lot. The Prig likes his rockstars to act like rockstars. When he was writing songs at the back of Niagara - ok, dece (cuz it was easy to make out with girls there) but not too NYC hip. Oh wait, then he starts doing some kick ass covers or weird shit? Cool. And then getting real dark with his lyrics? Nice. Then he is doing speedballs with Courtney Love and attacking hecklers who call him Bryan Adams?! Whoa, the Prig takes serious notice. Cleaning himself up and marrying Mandy Moore? Shit, the Prig wants to BE you. Combine that with serious cred when it comes to the music he enjoys and soulful songs like the below? Nice job in 2011 and in life, bro!



Girls

Un-googleable names piss the Prig off...but given the sweet indie pop sounds, from a band that actually plays instruments, Girls get a pass. And Christopher Owens actually seems to have the makings of a rock star. He is interesting. Best of the newish artists out there, bar none.



The Raveonettes

No one talks about them. Seriously, no one. But damnit - they have a formula and it works (and has worked for like 10 years). Rock music baby, sexy fucking rock music.



Watch the Throne

They initially received a lukewarm reception on the PFOS listserve, which obviously made the Prig all the more willing to put his full effort behind the two best rappers alive. I mean, come on, the shit is hot. The video says it all



The Vaccines

Instruments! Lyrics! Swagger! I know - it doesn't make much sense in 2011. Oh well. The Prig remembers.



Uhhhhh.....that's all I got.

Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine all put out stuff that didn't totally suck, but didn't overwhelm anyone. I don't particularly like where Iron & Wine are going. Fleet Foxes might get boring soon. Bon Iver showed himself to be a bit of a herb, but the guy parties with Kanye and talks shit about other people selling out for a Grammy. The Prig already wrote about Wu Lyf and Frank Ocean, so please feel free to review those posts again as well.

Bring on 2012 and the eventual death of Skrillex. A snob can dream, can't he?

PFOS Best of 2011 - Part 1

It's that time of year.  Here at PFOS, we (mostly) liked all the new music everyone else did -- Bon Iver, MMJ, Girls, etc.  We've also mentioned some of it before -- M83, Frank Ocean, Weeknd, etc.  Here's a tribute to some of the other songs and bands we enjoyed in 2011.

1,2,3 - Riding Coach

Hollering:  "I love the idea that people take themselves serious enough have a sit down conversation and discuss writing a 'working class anthem.'  Frey - please get started on the drunken slob anthem when you get a second.  I'll pen a crysterbation ballad..."

Youth Lagoon - Cannons

Kowieski:  "Maybe its that pre-seasonal affection disorder now that October's here, but this Youth Lagoon shits really been making me feel feelings."

Future Islands - Balance 

Devo:  "Sounds a bit too much like the vampire in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but if you acquire a taste for it it's great stuff."

Action Bronson - Brunch

Tatarsky:  "Morbid.  Dude seems like a good chef too."



Princeton - To the Alps

Via Stereogum:  "Princeton's 'To The Alps' sounds like a song called 'To The Alps' by a band called Princeton:  It’s smooth, classy pop you’d imagine listening to while thawing out in front of a ski lodge fireplace."



Shabazz Palaces - Swerve ... (etc)

Kowieski:  "Don't let the long-winded song titles turn you off, its worth an illegal download."



Reptar - Stuck in my ID

macarella:  "New space chasm electro dance pop band out of Athens, GA.  They call themselves Reptar."

Blitzen Trapper - Astronaut

Tatarsky:  "Addictive old time rock and roll.  God damn stellar."



Real Estate - Green Aisles

Kowieski:  "This new Real Estate joint is really putting a wrinkle in my satch.  Surfy rock for blowing doobs (or dudes - this is a judgment-free zone)."



The Antlers - 

Dinger:  "A good year for neo-new wave. This other Antlers tune has been on HEAVY lately..."



Wye Oak - 

Devo:  "I'm going to see the National at Beacon next week, and Wye Oak is opening.  Out of guilt for seeing their name everywhere, but never spending any time to find out what their music is like (several bloggers and I actually skipped them opening for Portugal the Man at a Lolla aftershow), I decided to download their album, Civilian, last week.  I was a bit surprised to see them at the top of the AV Club's best of 2011 today but I'm not surprised people like them.  They're great.  And supposed to be better live."


Tiger Love - Pussy Cocaine

Hollering:  "Heading to a Euro Trash Dance party tonight and my stoner/yeti friend neglected to put a playlist together. He's approached me with the task. I've got the potential to be a DJ hero and score some worn out hippie box. Any suggestions?  Tiger love will be every other song of course."

Bonus show review - FreyDon:  "Well, Kramer, Tyson, Tat and I caught Tiger Love last night. They played two songs that sounded exactly like Pussy Cocaine and then they played Pussy Cocaine. And then the show was over. Literally a 12 minute concert.  They really Odd Futured us good. Well done."

Grandpa Understands

What's your excuse?

Azealia Banks

Just in time for black wednesday, stumbled on this new party jam from our girl Azealia Banks.  Real hot.



"I'm a ruin you cunt"  -- not THAT is a battle cry.

Says Azealia, "Right now I'm in negotiation with labels and I just switched management. Once I sign a deal and get shit in place it's gonna be like nonstop, just fucking drilling on music for like, the next five years. I don't really have any other plans aside from making money [laughs] If I can say that."  (via the Awl)

And she's even got some range.

The Heir to the R&B Throne?

The Prig can't help it - this shit is hot. It brings the Prig back to 1998, when he was using Maxwell and R Kelly to get to third base. And DAMN, this might even be a little cooler.

MIGHT. The Prig will have to wait to hear the full album and Frank's subsequent work. The kid has a dece tumblr that shows a variety of influences if you dig through the randomness. He already postponed a show in NYC and then sold out another. Prig didn't get tickets to either. His backup on Watch the Throne was underwhelming, but fine enough. A creative kid with love for Radiohead, Prince, Pink Floyd and James Brown? It sure sounds right to me. But we'll see...

It isn't Chris Brown or Drake. The Prig thinks that a good thing.

Regardless, this is hot like fire.

Everything is a remix

Caught Trampled by Turtles last night at Bowery.  Solid show, great energy, highly recommend.  At some point while the crowd was rocking out (to 5 guys playing acoustic string instruments), I realized they sounded more like a punk band than a bluegrass band, at least in some songs.  Lucky for me, a fan previously shot a video of one of their shows and uploaded to it youtube, so now we can all see what I mean:



Short songs, fast aggressive guitar (and fiddle) work, simple melodies -- yeah, it's some kind of punk rock. And the meld with new grass got me thinking about other acts that successfully combined dissimilar styles to create something new and tight.

E.g., the Police.  They wanted to be a punk band, but added enough pop melody and reggae to create a new sound and sell 50 million records.



Or more recently, a (comparatively) lesser known band named Junip is mixing acoustic folk with downtempo, to redefine the chill-the-fuck-out genre.



Obviously not everyone, just a few of my favorites.  Kirby Ferguson dominates the whole concept with the Everything is a Remix project, I encourage you to check it out.
  

A Public Service Announcement

Last month, the Prig got the chance to see The Smashing Pumpkins in concert (well, Billy Corgan). The Prig considers them a greatly under-appreciated band, whose double album Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness pretty much legitimized "Grunge" in an artistic sense. We can argue about this later.

As you'd imagine, I was having a good time rocking out to the appropriate Prig approved SP tunes (no, not this).

As this song hit, Billy was really shredding. Yet while I should have been seeing this,



all I could see was this:

What



the



fuck.

Listen, I pay good money to see my favorite (and not so favorite) artists. I want to see the f'ing show. I don't want to see it through that little screen on your Apple branded device.

And seriously, what are you going to do with that fucking video? Post it on Youtube? Well, it usually sounds like shit. And you know what? That asshole listening online didn't pay to see the show - you did. If there is some awesome moment happening, why stare into that small ass screen for someone else's benefit? Are you really gonna watch that video ever again? You need to focus on the show bro, not on uploading a blurry picture for your Facebook status.

No one gives a shit. The band you're seeing probably sucks anyways.

Please, for Prig's sake, put down the fucking phone.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

11/11/11, Black Sabbath announces a reunion with the original lineup and a world tour next year.

Fuck yes.

#whitepeopleproblems

Lack of Afro

UK-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Adam Gibbons has released two albums under the above moniker and just recently released his third, "This Time" in September.

Think '60s or '70s uptempo soul/funk. The first track below features rappers Wax and Herbal T on it; the second is one of Gibbons' more "popular" tracks. I believe this first video was shot by my good friend and fellow blogger, WhipptsONwkdayz.

Take a moment and enjoy this sound. And forget about me filming that Predators remake about a year ago. Poor form, I realize.

- Adrien Brody

Re: Wu Lyf; Are they worth it?

Even though the Prig hates most new music, he goes to a lot of shows. Why? I dunno, self hatred?

Regardless, I saw Wu Lyf on Tuesday at an intimate show in Williamsburg (where else?). Some douche taped it instead of enjoying the show (I'll get to that on my next post). Here was my favorite part:



Should I care about Wu Lyf? Let's suss it out:

They have a pretty solid hipster attitude, which in this case actually works for them (it doesn't work for this broad). They're from Manchester, which the Prig loves, and their name is ridiculous enough to work for me. I can't understand a damn word they say, but at least they aren't these pussies. I got nervous when the keyboard was in the forefront, I must admit, but luckily it was an afterthought as far as the sound went.

The kids have got swag - the drummer drummed savagely, the guitarists actually played their instruments with acumen, the singer got points for stage diving without being weak about it, and they all held the crowd's attention throughout.

The album itself is listenable, more-so after seeing them live. The pronunciation issue will be a limiting factor going forward - they'll never write the perfect pop song - but with a chance to grow I think they could be legit.

Should you care?

Prig says...yes. Go download the album (legally if you'd like), see them live and then maybe buy a t-shirt. When I see it on your Apple branded audio devise, The Prig will approve.

Childish Gambino, Camp

Our boy Childish Gambino has Camp coming out nov 15, but npr has a
full listen here:
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/06/141934309/first-listen-childish-gambino-camp

Best line from the article: Childish Gambino got his unusual stage
name from an online "Wu-Tang Clan name generator" — he says it just
felt right.

The Weeknd - Glass Table Girls

Song is hot, and this Robocop mashup is hotter.

Throwback Thursday

For the 1%ers on the blog that have HBO, the George Harrison documentary Living in a Material World (produced? by Scorsese) was released on October 5-6 and is currently available on demand. I know the time honored debate is John v. Paul as to who the better Beatle is but after seeing this you can make a strong argument that George is the best overall artist. The best part is that it focuses on much more than just his time with the Beatles. It details the formation of the Traveling Wilburys and the schister that is Eric Clapton. I can't recommend this enough and at the very least you will be introduced to some songs you may not be familiar with. One such song for me was Ballad of Sir Frankie Crist (Let It Roll). The song is about his incredible and eccentric estate, Friar Park, but it strikes a much deeper chord. I'll surely spend many lonely Missouri winter nights gazing out the window, dreaming of puffy chicks and a cab accessible city.

The Happy Mondays

The Band: The Happy Mondays
The Place & Time: Madchester, late-80s to mid-90s
The Sound: While influenced by funk and northern soul, the band actually helped form and popularize the “baggy” rave culture
The Song: Step On



Why Do We Care?
The band helped create a culture that paved the way for a ton of other great bands, including Blur, Oasis, Pulp & Suede. They, in turn, spurred The Libertines, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, etc.

I don't know any of those bands.
Ugh. They also influenced The Arctic Monkeys.

Ah! I love the Arctic Monkeys. Why else should I listen to the Mondays?
NME quoted Paul McCartney saying that the Mondays, "reminded [him] of the Beatles in their 'Strawberry Fields' phase. "

They are the most interesting part of one of the most interesting music pseudo documentaries ever 24 Hour Party People, which chronicles the Factory Records story. They were discovered by placing last in a battle of the bands.

The Stone Roses (the best band ever) considered them the best band in Manchester. Ian Brown added, "There's some mental stories going around about them. One story I heard was about the time that they bought a gun from a gun shop sale, took it back to school and sat on the school playing-fields all afternoon playing Russian Roulette with it." They also held the master copies of their upcoming CD for ransom to buy drugs. They are way cooler than that art band you just saw in that loft in Bushwick.

Dude, I Totally Know This Band!
Damon Albarn enlisted Shaun Ryder to play on Gorillaz's "Dare." The Prig saw their Harlem show live - Ryder had his fly down and stared intently at Rosie Wilson's ass the entire song. It was some rock star shit, even though he's mad old.

Dude, I love Gorillaz! Damon Albarn is a genius!
He is a genius, but not because of Gorillaz, ya prat.

Man Man, Life Fantastic

Making a halloween playlist, I got a suggestion from a blog for a reportedly kick ass song called Spooky Jookie by a band called Man Man.  Indeed, it kicked ass and so does this band.  they have been on repeat for 2 straight days.  I recommend that whole album, Life Fantastic.  i included a few of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdS1MvmKvkI

Spooky Jookie- Man Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpVLWh8se_U&feature=related

Life Fantastic- Man Man

A tasty jam from Tyler

The video speaks for itself.

Tight.

Dream Love

It's a tale as old as time:  two basses are better than one.  But only when the groove is real heady and the song is two minutes long.

Well done guys.

Sweet performance, bro

Dear Grouplove,

Hey guys! Just saw this video and I had to tell you - you guys are really rocking. I dig your scene, for real. Nirvana wanted to sound like the Pixies too, and look at what it did for them!

That alt shirt is so sweet bro - the hole near your nipple shows how punk you are. When you are truly alt, you get dressed up for no one. I really feel your vibe, bro. I would love to know your musical influences. Were you totally into Minor Threat?!

Whoa, did you just throw on a mask girl?! Wow - you guys are true artists. I bet you met while attending an artists' residency on the island of Crete.

How did you guys get Rob Zombie to be your bassist?

Anyways - keep on rocking. Hope you are playing CMJ; I bet you would totally rock the Red Bull tent. Hope to hear from you!

- Prig

Friday Alt Throwback

Days of the New.  90s rock at its finest, but I feel like they've been swept under the rug.  Well, that's a mistake. This video is boss.

Bosley

This guy has PFOS written all over him. A real nice sound, one of the best videos I've seen in a long while and a really fantastic kickstarter call for money. If i weren't 250,000 in debt, I'd consider donating it just to see a cat get blown up.

You can listen to his album here, http://bosleymusic.net/ which is pretty good.

But, So, like, we’re raising money for the Sharp Shooter Music Video right? Killin’ We’re basically gonna close down some city streets for two or three days and I’m gonna blow some shit up with a shot gun. Really.  Beyond that we’re rehearsing thousands (millions!) of dancers as we speak, to flesh out our broadway dance numbers, and we currently have the best special effects artists in the world working on ways to realistically explode a cat. Anyway, if you think this would make good entertainment fodder, and like me, you’d desperately like to see the twisted visions in my head realized on the screen, then please enjoy this new song live from the Honey Pig Release Party and donate here!

Rapture Remix / Dubstep Tribute to DJ Mehdi

Yesterday, DJ/Producer A-Trak put this up on Soundcloud via the DFA Records account. If you enjoy the Rapture's new album or enjoy dubstep, I suggest you check it out. Easy listening on the ears.

I did this remix over the summer, and when I was close to finishing it I played it to my friend, the irreplaceable DJ Mehdi. We often played each other our productions for feedback. As it turns out he and Riton were visiting New York so they stopped by my apartment. I was working on the main version of the remix, the vocal version. I knew I would make a few alternate edits during the mixdown. The funny thing was, Mehdi's favorite part was the ending! He and Riton suggested that I have that part come in earlier. My reaction was: that would work well for the dub version. And sure enough, when I finished mixing it down I made a dub with their suggestion. When I sent it to Mehdi shortly after, he responded (as a joke) that I should call it "Dub For Mehdi". He included it in his "Tunisian Summer" mix. And then, as we all know, the unimaginable happened and we lost our dear friend. The least I can do now is name the edit after him. This one's for you, Memed.
A-Trak

How Deep Is Your Love? (A-Trak Dub aka Dub For Mehdi) by DFA Records

Gold Panda - You

Don't know much about this dude, other than his real name being Derwin Panda and that he hails from just outside of London. Hope you all enjoy this beat:

Gold Panda - You

Gold Panda - You from Thomas Borowiak on Vimeo.

Action Bronson - Brunch

Action Bronson, respected chef and rising MC.  Makes it kind of tight to watch a dude kill his girlfriend in this one.  Cool video.

M83 - Hurry Up...

Now that we're a mere 3 weeks out from the M83 "release" date I would like to provide a quick primer to the album, which is a bit long - and at times dull - to be consumed casually.  I listen to the whole album straight thru, but I also have an "I'm not stoned and don't have 90 minutes to kill" version, which I've starred those songs that made that list.  If that were the disc it would be much tighter, but hard to complain that he gave us more music considering the current LP climate.


1*. Intro w/ Zola Jesus - I really like Zola and I think this song adequately sets the tone for what you'll get in the album.  If you don't like this then I don't think it's going to get a whole lot better...
2*. Midnight City - ...except for this song.  This is a contender for song of the year and unfortunately placed some unachievable expectations on the album as a whole.  Nothing M83 had done before was like this - but then nothing on the rest of the album was like it either and that was ultimately disappointing.
3*. Reunion - I listen to this song, and recognize this song, and I think like it more than I should because of it's placement on the album after Midnight City.
4. Where the Boats Go - short, purely atmospheric.  Good for couch melting, bad for any other time.  
5*. Wait - This has been criticized as a Coldplay ripoff ("The Scientist" in particular, which if you're going to ripoff one of their songs is a good place to start) but I think it's pretty enjoyable.  
6. Raconte-Moi Une Histoire - it's very funny to be a frog.  But that kid gets pretty annoying pretty quickly.
7. Train to Pluton - filler.
8*. Claudia Lewis - one of the better tracks.  A little faster-paced than most of what surrounds it which this album probably needs more of.
9. This Bright Flash - high quality filler, but still filler.
10. When Will You Come Home - filler.
11. Soon My Friend - longer filler.
12. My Tears Are Becoming a Sea - would probably be useful for an epic movie score but otherwise boring.
13*. New Map - this is a great headphones walking around the city song, for whatever that's worth.
14*. OK Pal - one of the more radio ready songs.
15. Another Wave From You - more high quality filler.
16. Splendor - it's beautiful music I guess, but it never really goes anywhere.  Longer filler.
17. Year One, One UFO - not really feeling it.
18. Fountains - filler.
19*. Steve McQueen - probably my second favorite song off the album, I think it would play well live.
20. Echoes of Mine - some nice crashing filler.
21*. Klaus I Love You - this track is probably the most frustrating on the entire album.  Has almost a Risky Business train scene feel to it, and has the potential to be "Midnight City" level - and then stops.  I can only hope he makes an EP, which after a 22 track double album is probably unlikely, and turns this into an actual song. .
22. Outro - the leaked version is cut short but this is fine for the album as a whole but doesn't work independently.


Essentially he made an album for the 80s, when we didn't have iTunes, Spotify, and our attention spans were longer.  So I respect the ambition.  But it's pretty impractical.  It didn't quite hit as high as you'd hope - or as "Midnight City" led you to believe it might - but I think overall it's still pretty good.  Trimmed down to the 9 tracks I starred gives you the highlights and potential singles off the album while probably losing the overall feel he intended.
- Devo          

Germany. Reggae. Masturbation. This story has it all.

This isn't new, but it's for sure new to me and they just posted their videos, so let's count it.  The band is Seeed and they are, of all things, a german reggae band.  Every time I want to be sick of them, there video is just fucked up enough, their german just weird enough, or Cee Lo shows up on the song.  They are very popular in Germany, and have, according to wiki, really started to spread to surrounding countries.  How german.  Still really quite good.

But, none of that is the best part.  The best part is where I found this band, my best pick up of all time.  Porn.  No joke.  I'm redtubing my night away, watching this high class film, and i start to take notice of the music this well suited, emotionally stable, upstanding couple is listening to.  I skip forward and it's more off this album, it's really good. But of course it's in german, so I can't even google it, and the credits, despite the high production quality and fine script work, were lacking.  What's my next move? Email the company? "Dear DieselTits.com".  So I do what no God fearing, tax paying, society contributing man should ever do...i went to the comments section.  They looked like this, "Yeah! Fuck those tits" "cum on face" "hey what's that band?" "SUCK it" "They are called Seeed, the song is schwinger" "NO MERCY, Cum on her face!!! also the music is really good".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk4fxsrJajY

Seeed- Wonderful life (the Aaargh song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6cosC_QHNo

Seeed- Schwinger

The Drums - Money

The Drums - Money from Tim Heinrich on Vimeo.

..because I really would like to buy you something, but all I got is street cred.

@whipptsONwkdayz

Autumn Throwback

First day of fall.  Here's a chill track from our friends at Yo La Tengo to help welcome the chill weather.

ACL in video

Tore my ACL this weekend.  It was pretty fun.  Here are some videos.

Thursday: J Roddy Walston reveals he is really the lust-child of Jerry Lee Lewis and Andrew W. K.  I shake his hand after the show.  Real nice guy when he's not fucking a piano.  Well done.  In other shocking news, Kanye's headline show starts on time.  

Friday: "Carella, get your girlfriend off of there."  You can see that Theo London does not take kindly to being upstaged.  He ends the show abruptly.  Also, Cut Copy is upstaged by Twin Shadow (not pictured), at the last show ever at historic Emo's East.  

(Ed. note: my affiliation with "Party Full of Strangers" got me drunk at a Gears of War 3 launch party Friday morning.  Other attempts to use PFOS to gain restricted access were met with malice.)

Saturday: After a WHOREendous DJ set the night prior, Cut Copy puts on one of the best shows of the weekend - slaughter.  Still, no evidence that Dan Whitford, who could not be any whiter, has anything to do with it.  Then again, he does mention that he can't "find his instrument in all this foliage," which I suppose sort of redeems him, for now.

Saturday - About a quarter of the UT class rolls to Fitz & The Tantrums after PFOS offers some rave reviews.  Killing it on crowd control.  Michael Fitz stays after the show to sign autographs to commemorate the band's big break at last year at SXSW.  Opener Aloe Blacc is also mad smooth (not pictured).

Sunday - Long time members of Brit-rock royalty, Elbow, play opposite of No Homo.  The Elbow set recalls Silence of the Lambs except starring Peter Gabrial wearing a Ricky Gervais suit.  Critically dehydrated at this point so there is only fine powder coming out from my tear ducts.

Sunday - Is something considered weird when you are fully prepared for the weirdness?  Luke Steele, despite being a complete wacko, absolutely shreds.  Also smashes a pretty nice guitar from the looks of it.  You may notice that I'm in a snake pit full of Neons (90's babies).  I hope you like electronica, because I think these little fuckers might elect Skrillex the next President.

Ding

Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx

Saw "Drive" last night - maybe the first must see movie of the year.  Awesome in every way, but most surprising was the soundtrack - you can check out the full list here, or if you want to know what you're in for here's Nightcall from Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx.

The Stone Roses

This is the Prig's first post – lucky you.

Allow me to set the mood for a moment:

• Who is your favorite new band? The last truly great rock / indie rock album came out in June 1997; my soul has been dying slowly ever since
• Why did the art of songwriting suddenly go south? The internet
• Why bother posting on a blog? For the kids. A long time ago, the gift of good music profoundly changed my life; I'm paying it forward
• Don’t you just love the new Cut Copy album? Oh, piss off

There are bands that people listen to their entire lives – these are the bands I bring to you. The music on your Apple branded device will not be there in 3 years. The lack of authenticity in today's music is startling. While you are not spiritually aware enough to recognize this at first listen, your soul knows. I will help you reach enlightenment. And so, for your first lesson:

The Band: The Stone Roses

The Place & Time: Madchester, mid-80s to mid-90s

The Sound: Indie pop, sprinkled with northern soul, Mod and dance music; the band helped form and popularize the “baggy” rave culture

The Band’s Defining Moment: Headlined a concert on Spike Island, May 1990 – dubbed the Woodstock of the baggy scene

The Song: She Bangs the Drums

Why Do We Care?

The band took the music of the Beatles to another level and helped create a culture / sound that paved the way for a ton of other great bands, most notably Blur and Oasis. Without The Stone Roses, they likely would never have existed, nor would their haircuts have been as sweet.

Oh, and their self titled album is probably one of the greatest ever created.

Dude, I Totally Know This Band!

You probably don’t. Oh well, maybe you’ve heard Fool’s Gold on a commercial. Or maybe you loved "Green Street Hooligans" – I Wanna Be Adored was in that. Or you saw Ian Brown in a Harry Potter movie.

Dude, I love the Kooks, these guys have a similar sound!

Oh, piss off.

Beirut

Beirut is still fairly young, but they've got a pedigree that indie fans will admire (Neutral Milk Hotel member Jeremy Barnes was an early member).  Their latest album, The Rip Tide, represents a shift from experiments with ethnic music to a more American pop sound.  It's very reminiscent of the Talking Heads.  This is my favorite from the new record: Beirut - Santa Fe by Revolver USA

Reptar

Has anyone mentioned the Reptar EP? It's fantastic although their website isn't nearly as cool as it was. I can't even remember what it looked like, but I just remember feeling like someone punched me in the face with a kaleidoscope.

http://reptarmusic.com/music/

I apologize for the shittiness of this post, I don't know why it looks so bad.

New UM, Old Kihn Band

New Umphrey's album out today, Death By Stereo.  A few face melters, a few fun experiments, and an unexpected highlight in Booth Love, a toe-tapper reminiscent of a bygone era:

Umphrey's McGee - "Booth Love" by kwall

Can't help but make you think of the great Greg Kihn, a man who could literally give you nightmares with his funky smooth swagger:




To Bayliss et al -- thank you and keep up the good work guys.

Odd Future...The Show?

In the latest chapter of Odd Future's over-exposure, the group is currently working on a television show with the producers of Jackass.  "Loiter Squad" is set to air during Cartoon Network's Adult Swim starting early next year.

I can see this being a defining move, or a jump-the-shark career ender.  If Earl Sweatshirt's video for "Earl" is an indication, the group know how to put on a Jackass style sideshow.

The question is whether they want that image to trump their music chops as the band's defining trait.

Source

James Vincent McMorrow - Straight Croonin'

James Vincent McMorrow has been around for a couple years across the pond but is just starting to get some notice in the US. I'm going to check him out tonight at Bowery so I figured it was a good time to throw him on here. Plus he just crushed "Higher Love" this week:


James Vincent Mcmorrow - Higher Love by ichmibunu

This was the song that I first heard which I still check in on pretty regularly:

James Vincent McMorrow - If I Had A Boat by partisanpr

And this remix of his other most popular song is pretty serious:

james vincent mcmorrow - we don't eat (adventure club dub remix) by iivnaiiv

Two bands that start with an M

The first is MUTEMATH with Blood Pressure, first single off their forthcoming album.  This band could make waves soon if the rest of the album hits like this one.



Fuck yeah.

The second is Motopony with their downtempo croon King of Diamonds.  When I first heard this song in my car, I thought "wow, its like Tracy Chapman is singing for Radiohead."  But it's a dude!  And they don't really sound like Radiohead.  Either way though, the song is calming and pleasant.

Rainbow Arabia

These guys have been crushing my play count lately.  They have a strong electronica and middle east influence and some videos that are equally eclectic and weird.  This is off their recent album, Boys and Diamonds and is a great track. I also love Omar K and play it almost daily for a pep talk.

Ryan Adams

Another track released off the upcoming Ryan Adams album "Ashes & Fire". I'd say this album is going to be pretty strong if you are into his stuff.. which I am.. so there's that.

http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/9885579201/video-ryan-adams-ashes-fire-last-weeks

Bit Funk

Summer's unofficial end is today, but that doesn't mean the party has to stop. Get to know Bit Funk if you haven't already.

http://www.bitfunk.com/

DJ based out of Brooklyn, his latest track is "Rap Music".

Bit Funk - Rap Music by Bit Funk

Pickwick - Get to Know 'Em

My sister's boyfriend introduced me to these guys and one listen to "Hacienda Motel" blew me away.

You can get their stuff here: http://pickwick.bandcamp.com/.

They're from Seattle and, without trying to be too blasphemous, they sort of sound like the lovechild of the Black Keys and Fitz and the Tantrums. As the blog Folkhive succintly put it: "White dudes, man. White dudes with some serious fucking soul."

Live From The Basement - Pickwick from Sound on the Sound on Vimeo.

At the Bottom of the New York Dial

WFUV, Fordham University's listener-supported radio station at 90.7FM, is one of New York radio's last bastions of indie music. Not only is it one of my favorite sources for new artists, but they're sure to sprinkle in old favorites like The Grateful Dead, Peter Gabriel, and The Pretenders (all of which got airtime today). To give you a taste, here is a random sampling of songs WFUV played today:

Options, off Gomez's latest album Whatever's on Your Mind:
Gomez 'Options' by Eat Sleep Records

Justin Vernon might have the most distinctive voice in music right now. Here's Bon Iver with Towers:



The Head and the Heart - Lost in My Mind



This is one of those songs that makes you feel cooler than you are, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Mondo Bongo



For those of us still mourning James Brown, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears - Livin' in the Jungle



The first and last time I will say this, the following YouTube comment sums up my thoughts well: "This band's effortless knack for creating nostalgic dream pop is something to behold. Thanks for creating music that makes me feel so happy to live."



To check out WFUV's playlist for yourself, head to http://www.wfuv.org/playlist

Lil Wayne - Interlude (feat. Andre 3000 and Tech N9ne)

Been through "Tha Carter 4" one time now. Not a whole lot stands out, but I was pretty psyched to hear the Show-Me state - by way of K.C - getting some love. Pretty solid track, too.

LIL WAYNE - INTERLUDE FEAT. TECH N9NE (THE CARTER 4)

Never forget...

this man had moves. Happy birthday to the king.

Ryan Adams Unretires

There is no number of meltdowns that would have to occur for me not to at least check out new Ryan Adams material, and this track is mellow enough to very much look forward to his new LP in October.

Ryan Adams - Lucky Now by theaudioperv

The Rapture, How Appropriate

We laughed and laughed and laughed at those religious nuts going on about the impending rapture. And now we have a hurricane, an earthquake, and this sick ass new album by the Rapture. This one is a real nasty-nate off of it, but the whole album is very good.

Angry Anthemic NYC

Fired up per the local city tax:

Mister Heavenly - Bronx Sniper by subpop

Think twice and dance forever.

Goodnight Irene

Not many upsides to the hurricane, but maybe one is the popular (for a few days, in NYC) resurgence of Lead Belly's Goodnight Irene, as bloggers everywhere google hurricane related songs. I am not innocent, and I'm glad -- because it led me to a few very worthwhile covers, each one fitted for a different part of the weekend.

Get it started right on a Friday night with some boogie.

Jerry Lee Lewis - Goodnight Irene



Maybe even sing along later after you've had a few.

Tom Waits - Goodnight Irene



Tomorrow you might feel hungover, you might be pissed that your Sunday is ruined, you might just want to sit in the dark for a little while.

Johnny Cash - Goodnight Irene



Then Sunday, as this big bitch of a thunderstorm rains down, let Jerry help you relax like only he can.

Jerry Garcia - Goodnight Irene



And when the storm has passed, come out into the sunshine and say so long.

Eric Clapton - Goodnight Irene

Watch The Vocoder Throne

Word on the street was that Justin Vernon and James Blake were going to take a page from Jay-Z and Kanye's hipster-rap handbook and follow the collaboration track.

They've done it.

James Blake & Bon Iver - Fall Creek Boys Choir by pillowjungle

Dispatches from the Disaster Playlist

This has to be my favorite.  And it actually happened..so that's cool.

Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks

Ding

Disaster Related Playlist #1 - Songs for Irene

With Irene's bitchin' arrival looming, and as she tries to steal my thunder in Montauk, we all might as well hunker down with a warm body and some good tunes...this is going to be a bumpy ride.

I'll start us off with a few obvious choices:

Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane

(h/t E. D'elia for the idea)

Bob Dylan - Hurricane (orginal)

Megafaun - The Fade

Justin Vernon really gets me going. Those from Deyardmond Edison, who didn't become Bon Iver, became Megafaun. I've listened to a bit of their stuff, and most of it is pretty straight. This tune has a slight jam-bandy feel, which I don't mind at all.

Megafaun - The Fade

Throwback Thursday

Deyardmond Edison - Silent Signs

Justin Vernon's band before Bon Iver. A bit different than the ever present falsetto of Bon Iver. This guy just really does it for me.

Kimbra vs. Gotye....(feat Kimbra)

The odds are clearly in favor of the name we can all pronounce, given the 2-on-1 match up I'm suggesting, right? Perhaps. But Gotye's voice, however his name is pronounced, really carries this song and video along nicely and seems to channel a young Peter Gabriel at times. Hope you enjoy this, my very first blog post.

Daychanger

This track has been floating around the world wide web ("www") for awhile, but the modern-day Bill Withers just released a video to accompany the track:

Aloe Blacc - Green Lights



Enjoy.

Jam fans, keep an eye out

Digital Tape Machine - jam/electronic music collective out of Chicago, featuring the likes of Kris Myers and Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee) and a host of others. On tour now, debut album The Elephant in the Room coming out soon. From the producers:

"The ten tracks on this album feature a melting pot of many genres of music. Hard hitting dance sections followed by soaring guitar sections backed by string arrangements that give the listener some ear candy. Each contributing artist has been gracing the Chicago and National music scene for countless years. Digital Tape Machine is a new aged studio project that has creativity written all over it."

The Weeknd vs. Weekend

One is an apparent typo gone permanent, the other is virtually unsearchable. See if you can tell them apart otherwise.

New track "Rolling Stone" from R&B crooner The Weeknd's new mixtape.

The Weeknd - Rolling Stone by The_Weeknd

And San Francisco-based shoegazers Weekend, with their new single "Hazel" off their followup LP.

Weekend - Hazel by Slumberland Records

Holy Ghost! Video Aided by Yacht Rock

Holy Ghost! - Some Children -

I'll never get tired of the sexy baritone of Michael McDonald.

- Adrien Brody