Video: Metronomy's "Radio Ladio"

I just adore this video.
Just came out about a week and a half-ago.
They keep getting better and better.




mp3: "Radio Ladio"

Diamond Hoo Ha Man: Good Lord.

In America, bands from other countries either get passed over like the Israelites, destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah, or are worshiped zealously like Baal. Sadly Supergrass is one of the Israelites.
Passed over in the U.S., Supergrass have labored in quiet popularity in their native Britain, making fabulous records and blowing minds across the globe.
Now they return with the first single from their follow-up to 2005's excellent Road To Rouen, called "Diamond Hoo Ha Man".
And boy, is it a single.
This is quite furious for them, but I love it.
Tiny Mixtapes does too...There is definitely some hype coming from the machine.

Diamond Hoo Ha Man--mp3
(from Diamond Hoo Ha, to be released 4/15/08)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The music video for the song, posted last week, bears this description:
"To spare your confusion - the fabulous Diamond Hoo Ha Men are covering for the band in the video, as Supergrass were not available for the shoot. Enjoy!"



Speculation is that the Diamond Hoo Ha Men are simply Gaz and Rob Coombes, the brothers that front Supergrass. Wouldn't surprise me. Not one bit.

YAWA's Videos That Changed (My) Earth: The Runners Up

I decided, in the same vein as VH1's 10 Videos That Rocked The World, that I would undertake a similar venture. Only these are ones that I've seen in my lifetime, and none of them are from before I was born (1989). And they're better than VH1's list.
There will be a top five and 3 Runners up.
Today we focus on the runners-up.

-------------------------------------------

Runner Up #3:
First up, we have Beck's iconic "Devil's Haircut" video. It's hard to choose one Beck video, because their all awesome in some way, but this is the first one I ever saw, and let me tell you, I hadn't seen a thing like it. The pure cool and swagger as he jaunts down the streets, the stop-and-stare zoom, and the odd ending combine for true Beck experience. As Odelay went on to change Beck's status from one-hit wonder to musical wonderboy, this video (along with "Where It's At") did much to change his image as well.

Beck: "Devil's Haircut"




Runner Up #2:

Next we have Gorillaz's earth shattering video for their 2001 ultra-smash "Clint Eastwood". To be fair, the video is neither something magnificent or brilliant. But nobody had ever done anything like this: the total stripping of human personality from a band and replacing it with made-up (or some would say fake) characters to do their singin' an dancin' for them...plus having a complex background story for each to boot. And here's the kicker: Everybody (and I mean just about everybody) liked it. Gorillaz will forever be on the map for this one.

Gorillaz: "Clint Eastwood"



Runner Up #1:

There's not much I can say to describe the beauty and power...and oddity of The Flaming Lips' classic "Do You Realize??". Honestly, this was such a close runner-up to the top 5. Like personal agony close. But my top 5 should justify the absence of this video.
Enjoy the Rabbits, Elephants, and weird girls:

The Flaming Lips: "Do You Realize??"



Tomorrow (Time Permitting):
The Top 5!

Album Review #1: Bedlam In Goliath

There was a time, long ago, when there was a prog rock band set to change the world. They had the earth in their hands, and everybody eagerly awaited the follow-up to their ear shattering debut. Behold, the album came, and the general reaction was...well...a bit like this: "okay, this is it?"

Yet hope still remained, and after several years off, this band was poised to strike again with a new album, rumored to be better than the rest...and the general reaction was...a bit like..."what. what the hell."

That band of course was, and unfortunately is, The Mars Volta.
I used to be a fan. I mean, when I got Deloused in the Comatorium I was floored. Then came the Tremulant EP and I was yet again, floored. I couldn't wait for Frances the Mute.
Disappointment.
Despair.
Despond.

But this review (my first) is not about that album, or Amputechture, the un-musical album that they made last year.

It is about Bedlam in Goliath, today's release.
I popped this album in, waiting, just hoping for something intelligible to come out of my speakers, something brilliant.
And....
Nope.
Not going to happen.

From the very beginning, guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez intrudes into any and all space he finds in the record with his idiotic noodling and off key solos, making it sound absolutely horrendous. Cedric Bixler-Zavala yells and chortles himself into oblivion, once again singing about absolutely nothing at all. Give it up, Voltaheads. The "It's a concept" thing isn't working here. And the back-up band, which used to give such a flair and finish to their earliest work, seems to just follow Omar's lead and just noodle and off-key each other, like their one upping themselves on how bad an 8-piece can sound.

The bright spots only truly come when Omar stops playing (which is like, never), and, more specifically, in one song: "Goliath". In a rare return to good songwriting, TMV crafts a real gem here, and honestly, the only song worthy of listening to on the album. "Goliath" captures the speed and immediacy of their earlier days, burning a hole in the speakers and leaving us ready for more.

But it never comes.
The rest of the album is absolutely worthless.
And that's where I think The Mars Volta has hit the proverbial wall. As a friend of mine put it when I told him of Bedlam's imminent release: "Who gives a f***?". That is what TMV has done to itself, namely, noodling and off-keying themselves out of relevancy. They simply don't matter. I really DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN to this album. It feels like a damn chore. Singing about nothing and playing long flowing concept songs with the wonderful Latin fusion used to work for them, but now it just sounds like their not trying.
The problem is they are, and very hard.

And that is why,
Bedlam in Goliath receives a:

3.2 out of 10

Here's the only good song for your listening pleasure:
Goliath--mp3 (from Bedlam in Goliath)


I hope they break up.

OH MAH GAWD!

This is certainly unexpected.
New GNARLS BARKLEY, children!


The Song is called "Run"...but no word on the contents of the new album, although
Rolling Stone says they've heard it, but you know those jokers, I can never see em' straight.

I wont tell you what I think of the track just yet,
Listen to it.
One of four things will happen:

1. The ghost of pop will ask for his trousers back.
2. You will spend the entire song wondering why this doesn't sound like "Crazy".
3. The sugary pop goodness of the track will give you type 2 diabetes.
4. Danger Mouse will bust up in your room, produce an album, and leave like the shadows. The album will be hailed as a "modern masterpiece" by critics.

Gnarls Barkley--Run--mp3

This is a good thing.

Update:
Pitchfork, as always, has let us know about the album.
It's called The Odd Couple
I can't wait.

Cut Copy

This is gonna be big. Real Big.
Cut Copy:

"Cut Copy is the musical lovechild of Melbourne human giraffe and 70’s MOR fetishist Dan Whitford. A project born in the early 21st century, Cut Copy was originally more of a solo project for Dan to exercise his love of sampling and instrumental hip hop, before he took a turn for the dancefloor and released the I Thought Of Numbers EP in 2001. Following it’s release and a live mishap that saw his sampler fried, Dan recruited a posse of friends for the recording of his sparkling debut album, Bright Like Neon Love.

Enter Tim Hoey [guitar/bass/keys], Sonic Youth groupie and all round renassaince man with a penchant for mainlining espresso shots; Mitchell Scott [drums] avid bird watcher, owner of the largest collection of rare African stick insects in the world; and Bennett Foddy, [bass/keys] library dweller, the sensible one.

These gents joined Dan in the recording process to form like Voltron and make the Cut Copy sound what it is today – scuzzy disco, post-post-punk, electric lovers rock, sweet space pop. A sound that references 70’s rock staples like ELO and Fleetwood Mac, late 80’s/early 90’s indie like Sonic Youth and Guided By Voices, the disco production of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, post-punk and French house.

Since Bright Like Neon Love’s release in Australia, Cut Copy have gone on to sell out shows nationally, play the festival circuit, appear on the Kitsune Midnight compilation, complete a bunch of remixes, find God, lose him again, break hearts and win them back, release Future and Saturdays as singles, and win a massive amount of love along the way. Bennett took a leave of absence and has been buried in the books studying for a Phd, and the outfit was streamlined down to a 3-piece mid-2004..."



From there...to now: Cut Copy release the first single from their forthcoming album In Ghost Colours (Due 4/4/08) called "Lights And Music".
What A Gem.
You have my seal of approval on this one.


It's hard to say right now how much of a classic this will be,
but one thing is for certain: It is a CLASSIC.
I haven't been this excited since Waters of Nazareth (or, known more commonly as the BEST ELECTRONIC SONG EVER) came out.
and if you know me,
you know I was DAMN EXCITED for that one.

So, without further ado (or dedoo), You And Whose Army proudly presents:

Lights And Music--mp3
Cut Copy (from In Ghost Colours)

Also, head on over to their blog to download their mixtape, called "So Cosmic"...Its excellent.

Piazza Cavor, What's My Life For?...

Ephone

Behold, The New EPHONE!

Commercial #1




Commercial #2



Commercial #3



Commercial #4





Well, they've sold me.

Oh Lord Please Don't Burn Us

"O Lord, please don't burn us.
Don't grill or toast Your flock.
Don't put us on the barbecue
Or simmer us in stock.
Don't braise or bake or boil us
Or stir-fry us in a wok.
Oh, please don't lightly poach us
Or baste us with hot fat.
Don't fricassee or roast us
Or boil us in a vat,
And please don't stick Thy servants, Lord,
In a Rotissomat."


Every Day Needs It Humor

Reviewing things...

This is interesting.
Pitchfork the Mighty did a readers poll for best album of the year, best song, etc. etc.
Pitchfork Readers Poll

It remains a complete and total mystery to me why LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" is the best song of the year on like every single goshdurn blog and music website.
I will be the first to admit that LCD Soundsystem is greatness, and their music is perfect for everybody, but c'mon, really?
Best song of the year?
Not so much.

Anyway,
Here's some little dainties I've been floating around my head for awhile now.

Maximization Nation (Trevor Loveys Remix)--mp3
--The Touch

Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes) [8bit Remix]--mp3
--Beck

Leni (Crystal Castles Remix)--mp3
--Goodbooks

Ouroboros (Nobody Remix)--mp3
--The Mars Volta


Indie kids. Psh.

Quote Of The Day

“It's up in the air, ... But in my mind, it's up in the air for every artist. Who knows, really, if they are going to record another record?”

-Rivers Cuomo

The World We Love So Much--mp3
Chess--mp3 (this one's really good.)

(from the new Alone: The Home Recordings Of Rivers Cuomo)

Head on over to ye olde Pitchfork for a review. It might surprise you...

The Jolliest Band In Rock History

THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE--mp3
-The Smiths (from live compilation Same Day Again)

the jello is on the face.

Timbalakeland

that should be Justin Timberlake's stage name.
I hath found an excellent remix of "My Love" by some people (Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso, to be exact).
It's a bit on the longish side, but shortish isn't a word either, so longish wins this round.
Longish: 1
Shortish: 0

I will update you on the score of this exciting match, with highlights coming in the Nine 0'Clock newscast.

Enuf.

My Love (Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso Remix)--mp3
-Justin Timberlake

And for your listening pleesure, a LIVE set by, you guessed it, my favorite one man band from England: Metronomy!

Metronomy (Live At Soldout)(Short Edit)--mp3

Well, I was looking around for things and just found this:
a new song from Metronomy's new EP (which hasn't come out yet).
It is so dern catchy, and I absolutely cannot pull my ears away from it.
Don't be fooled by the odd intro...this is pure gold...
I'm going to try to acquire the whole thing to put on here soon:

Heart Rate Rapid--mp3
(from the upcoming Metronomy EP which doesn't have a name yet)

Watch out for him in the near future.
It's gonna be big.

UPDATE:
Shortish with a spectacular goal in the 53rd minute brings them level with Longish.
Score:
Longish: 1
Shortish: 1

That's All for now, men.
At ease.

All I Wanna Do Is...

WELLLLLLLLLLL, I be a little tardy on this one, cos I'm pretty sure the BLOGOSPHERE (it must be spelled in all caps, or you die) has run M.I.A through and through. But, I thought I throw out my two cents on her and her odd swag.

Anyway, my first reaction to her song "Paper Planes", off her new album Kala, was not positive. I thought it sounded contrived and, in all honesty, just plain stupid. But, through the incessant repeating of the aforementioned jam's chorus by a certain kid in my AP Art class, I gave it another shot (side note: he now says he thinks the song is stupid, but he is a fool and says things like that often). And I loved it.

The sarcasm involved in this song is not readily apparent if you don't know who M.I.A is.
Eherm...from WIKIPEDIA (also spelled in caps, or death):

"Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, a British vocalist, songwriter, composer, record producer and visual artist, and a Tamil of Jaffna origin. Best known by her stage name, M.I.A, her work in music often features a range of elements of genres including grime , hip-hop, ragga, dancehall and electro."

(Lol. So many linkz!!! you stop that WIKIPEDIA.)

What was I even talking about...OH yes now I remember...

THIS SONG IS FREAKING AWESOME.
I LIKE IT. I LIKE IT ALOT.
I mean seriously, if this song had been done by a "legit" (hahahahahahahahahhahah...oh..hohoha...oh) rapper, say Snoop-D-O-double-G, it would have been an absolute smash. I mean, like of monstrous proportions.
But it wasn't, so that's to bad.
He should cover it.

Here is this song I've been rambling about, and a DFA remix of it to boot!

Paper Planes--mp3
(From Kala)

Paper Planes (DFA Remix)--mp3
(From A Dark computer in the DFA mix lab somewhere in New York)

(that's not really the album name, you tard)
(I know you thought it was for like a second, then were like, "oh, he's trying to be funny,
but I'm so hip that I'm anti-humour". Then you adjust your white belt and your girl jeans and put on your Death Cab coat with artsy designs on it and walk outside to stare at the sky. Because it soothes your oppressed soul).


Paper Planes:




Some Some Some of them I murder,
Some of them I let go.

Quote Of the Day...Bigmouth Strikes Again

Strangeways, here we come:


The Smiths:
This Charming Man--mp3 (from The Smiths)
Frankly, Mr. Shankly--mp3 (from The Queen Is Dead)

Morrissey:
You Have Killed Me--mp3 (from Ringleader Of the Tormentors)
At Last I Am Born--mp3 (from Ringleader Of the Tormentors) ((and my favorite Morrissey song))


Not really a quote, but one my favorite lines from "Still Ill":

"I decree today that life
Is simply taking and not giving
England is mine - it owes me a living
But ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
Oh, ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
But we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore
No, we cannot cling to those dreams

Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body ?
I don´t know...."


If you haven't noticed already, I absolutely adore The Smiths/Morrissey/Marr & Co.
Old Bigmouth has been kicking up some press recently for his "racist" comments in a New Musical Express interview (read about it here). It's all malarkey though, we all know the Moz.
It's died down a little because people are sensible, at least, so we think.

Well, I Guess this is Sweet

I had to post this, this is just too priceless.
Its Willie Nelson...Get this...covering Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
O.
EM.
GEE.

Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana Cover)--mp3
--Willie Nelson

So what that it's like a minute long and he only sings the chorus...its the coolest thing I've heard in a long while.

My gettochip just malfunctioned so I'll catch you fools later...

Lunacy

Does anybody else think this is absolutely stupid?
Or I am just retarded?

"For first time since '82, NBA upholds protest requiring replay"
--From Yahoo! Sports.

51.9 Seconds? Really, David Stern? REALLY?

Stupid. Who gives a flying flip if Shaq fouled out. He's a gigantic faggot anyway, and just about the worst rapper to ever step into a recording studio.

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I tired to find a song by Shaq to put up, but apparently the internet doesn't even care about him, so a little MF Doom will do. He could beat Shaq in a rap battle without a voice box. He could beat him with sign language. He could just beat him with a blunt plastic Shaq Doll.)

Sofa King--mp3
-DANGERDOOM (from The Mouse and The Mask)

all right, I'm done now.

Quote Of the Day

We Americans live in a nation where the medical-care system is second to none in the world, unless you count maybe 25 or 30 little scuzzball countries like Scotland that we could vaporize in seconds if we felt like it.

--Dave Barry (noted humorist and satirist)

Why Hillary Clinton Will Lose The Election:

...because Bill Clinton's her husband:

Yes, Bill, we know. She's a woman:





...what?

AND THE FINALE...DRUMROOOOOLLLLL PLEEEEEEEASEEEEEEEEEE.....



Just thought I'd let you know how hard he's been working for his beloved.

Mo' VNDLSM

Since I let you in on VNDLSM's absurdly good remix of Gingy's "Rios For MVP",
I'd thought I'd share with you a couple more of my favorites from the Toronto-based
duo's arsenal.

Umbrella (VNDLSM Remix Diplo Re-Edit)--mp3 (from the Goods & Services Mixtape)

Killin It Patchy /Bart B More.Switch.Prydz (DJ EDIT)--mp3 (from the Goods & Services Mixtape)

and for you fools who are too lazy to go to their myspace,
here's the whole mixtape for your listening pleasure...



Goods & Services Mixtape --VNDLSM

Now you can sit at your computer and wish you were in a club, then realize that you actually wouldn't want to be in club because you'd get drunk as hell and then do something you most likely will regret and come back to haunt you when everything is fine and make your life miserable and then you'll commit suicide...but fail and then go into rehab and die a penniless old hag.

Oh well.

VNDLSM's good.

Quote Of the Day

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.
--Groucho Marx

Wale (It's WAH-LEY you Idiot)

First of all, I really dont know what to say or think about this fool.
I really dont.
No idea.
......................um.........umm.......yeah........okay I got IT!

Wale pretty much has come out of nowhere, busting up on the D.C. "scene" (like there's a scene in D.C. Right) and began getting radio play in 2004 with a single called "Rhyme of the Century" which got Wale in the June 2005 "Unsigned Hype" section of Source magazine and his buzz started growing.

SKIP AHEAD TO THE FUTURE........

In January 2007, Wale released a new single to radio called "Good Girls." Daniel Weisman, who nobody cares about except that he...gave the song to Mark Ronson ("oooh look at me, I'm such an awesome producer, ooooh I AM AWESOME!!!") and on February 23, 2007, Ronson began playing the song on his East Village Radio show.
A week later, at Ronson's studio, Wale recorded a freestyle for Ronson and in exchange, Ronson put Wale on an unreleased remix of Lily Allen's "Smile" which appeared on a number of music blogs (LOLZ...) around the world on March 13th, 2007. In April of 2007, Ronson asked Wale to join him on a UK tour to promote the release of his newest album.

And then...
He releases this song called "Nike Boots"
And then...
The 100 Miles And Running Mixtape
And then....
ITS THE BEST THING IN RAP SINCE WU-TANG...

So without further ado,
(click links)

Nike Boots--mp3 (From Nike Boots CDSingle)

100 Miles And Running Mixtape--((full album)) (mixed by Nick Catchdubs)

WARNING: The freestyle on W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E will blow your mind.
handle with care.

All this is aside, this kid is just out-of-this-world-good. Honestly, this is the BEST rap/hiphop mixtape I have ever heard. Ever. Seriously.
And I've heard alot of them.
So, you have been put on due notice for him to blow up.
It's already basically happening, so it's not like nobody's ever heard of him,
but let's just hope he doesn't turn into a pop rapper.

Personal Opnion: I don't think he will.

Oh VNDLSM, You Card...

This is a tad bit dated, but still excellent nonetheless.
Gingy is a electro duo out of Toronto, who, in all fairness, aren't my cup o' tea.
They're not bad...just nothing special in this fuzzed up electronic scene that has become outlandishly popular recently.
But.

VNDLSM is a different story. Also a duo. But so much more awesome.
They turned Gingy's track " Rios For MVP" into a veritable H-O-U-S-E B-U-R-N-E-R.
I mean, my goodness this track is heavy.
And it just gets better and better as it goes along...its the electronic equivalent of a headbanger.

From the Goods & Services Mixtape (You can get it off their myspace...its worth it.)
(click link)

RIOS FOR MVP (VNDLSM'S KICKorSNARE SWAP DJ EDIT)--mp3

How bout dat.

Quote of the Day

Behold...
The Quote of the Day:


"This is my home. Home is where the disease is. As long as I stay in America, I'll never run out of subjects for songs"

--Jello Biafra
(Vocalist for the Dead Kennedy's)


We've Got a Bigger Problem Now--mp3
--The Dead Kennedys (From In God We Trust, Inc. /Plastic Surgery Disasters)


Peace Easy, Brosefs.

CAHAANQUEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST!!!!

In December, The Ever Lovley White Stripes released an EP featuring two versions of their song “Conquest” and three other non-album tracks. I'm not sure how I could miss this, being that Beck produced it and all...Yep, thats right, good ol' Jack teamed up with Beck...
I can hear it now, the chanting:
SUPERGROUP!
SUPERGROUP!
SUPERGROUP!
Anyways,
whadayaknow...I got 'em right here for ya.
Songs Below: (click links)

(From the Conquest EP)

It's My Fault For Being Famous--mp3

Cash Grab Complications On the Matter--mp3

Honey, We Can't Afford To Look This Cheap--mp3

Conquest (Acoustic Mariachi Version)--mp3


Good Stufz, Eh?
Not bad for two of the most magical men in all of Rockdom (or whatever part of music Beck is).

SEACREST, OUT!!!

NOTHING HERE TO SEE

Radiohead has confirmed that they will play in Dallas and Austin during a two leg tour of North America. No news yet as to where or when.

EXULTATION!!!
JOY!!!
JUBILATION !!!
ECSTASY!!!

Also,
On a unrelated but also exciting note
here's a nice new remix of the Interpol track The Heinrich Maneuver by Phones: (click link)

The Heinrich Maneuver (Phones Remix)--mp3


There's another remix of Mammoth by Erol Alkan, but it sucks, so I'm not worried about it and most definitely won't take the time to waste parts of the internet that could be better spent making something else, like, I don't know, money or something.

Now carry on, nothing here to see...

Sunset Rubdown...At Least Until Wolf Parade Comes

If you haven't heard of Sunset Rubdown, the "side project" of Spencer Krug...Of Wolf Parade fame...then now you will. This band is absolutely amazing. Unbelievable. Absolutely out of this world. I had been told of their merits some time ago by a good friend of mine, but never really bothered to give a listen because I figured nothing could be as good as Apologies to Queen Mary, Right?? RIGHT??? WRONG!!!

Sunset Rubdown has released (as far as I know) three LP's and one EP, all of which...well I guess I could describe it to you, but I bet you'd rather listen instead...(click links)

Child Heart Losers--mp3 (from the LP Random Spirit Lover)

The Empty Threats Of Little Lord--mp3 (from the LP Shut Up I Am Dreaming)

The Dust You Kick Up Is Too Fine--mp3 (from the LP Snake's Got A Leg)

A Day In The Graveyard II--mp3 (from the EP Sunset Rubdown)

Basically, at least to me, this is everything music should be. It captures the subtle beauty of the nature of sound while directing it in ways which affect your soul...and leave you humming with expectation for the next track...the next hook...
Be sure to check these albums out, they will not dissapoint.
And we ARE STILL WAITING for a follow up to Apologies to Queen Mary, Spencer Krug. It needs to happen. Like now. GO.

Anyway, I'm back and will be posting much more, so stay tuned for more musiks and musings...