Tuesday, December 30, 2008

BURNING BRIDGES/BREAKING HEARTS

ps. anyone hankering for some Arcade Fire in the space between Neon Bible and their next record head this way for the previously unreleased track 'Burning Bridges'. While you're there also check out 'Miroir Noir', the documentary following the Arcade Fire through the making of Neon Bible .... and if you've still got the hankering, courtesy of La Blogotheque.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Sunday, December 21, 2008

YOU'VE GOT MY HEART YOU KNOW

I have not taken the time to listen to a Metronomy album in it's entirety which is stupid because one song or another or a remix of theirs has been on repeat with me since that bygone era of june 2007, perhaps it is time to invest...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU'RE BRINGING ME DOWN

Sound of Silver and many a LCD Soundsystem live show closer, New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down, gets a very simple but highly effective video treatment from director Simon Owens.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

BACK HOME

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Gold Panda - Back Home

Shoreditch based Gold Panda has been on constant repeat with me lately. If you like the sound of this head over to his myspace for some free songs and remixes. Also take a look at his recent interview with Illegal Tender Magazine for downloads of Back Home and Quitter's Raga.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

2:55








Arch M - 21st Union

head this way to pick up the MOUNTAIN TAN CASSETTE (2008) EP for free.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO

This has been out for a while, but it's been stuck in my head for months now. So good, and even better live, so if they're passing through your place of residence any time soon, be sure to attend....



and if they're not, head over to NPR who are currently streaming Hercules and Love Affair in concert (set list includes 'You Belong', 'Blind', and 'Athena').

...

I have a thing for bands covering songs, i have an even bigger thing for bands covering unexpected songs that you never knew you missed and/or never knew you liked the first time round... you can spot these gems thus-ly - when you hear the cover version you'll most likely be singing along, maybe not enthusiastically at first, but there'll definitely be a little self conscious lip syncing to start with. Secondly you'll most likely be frantically asking the good folk around you "what is that?!".

example no. 1 - Frightened Rabbit covering N-Trance's 'Set You Free' (1995)


example no. 2 New Young Pony Club cover Technotronic's 'Pump Up The Jam' (1989)


ps. my love for that last one is unparalleled, if anyone has an mp3 of the cover please send it this way...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

BUTTER FOR MY PIECE OF BUN

It's a Lykke Li extravaganza of sorts, first up is the alternate version of the Breaking it up video, truly can't go wrong with bare bulbs, a bull horn and some crazy dancing...



Secondly comes Dance Dance Dance with some back up from Bon Iver, randomly live somewhere in LA (it's just crazy dancing and a water feature here, but it still works.)



and last but not least, a cover of I'm Good I'm Gone from Friendly Fires, Lykke Li's support on her UK tour I believe. It's starting to slightly overtake the original with me.... excellent stuff. Check out more from Friendly Fires over at their myspace, including the very cool and recently re-released Paris.









Friendly Fires - I'm Good, I'm Gone (Lykke Li Cover)

Friday, November 21, 2008

THEY'RE NOT RULING IT OUT...!!!

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Carrie Brownstein's interview with Pitchfork today gave all Sleater-Kinney fans the crumb they're been looking for since they announced their hiatus in 2006.


Pitchfork: Finally, I have to ask: Any possibility of a Sleater-Kinney reunion at any point?

CB: [laughs] [pauses] Yeah, I don't think we're ruling it out. But it's not going to be any time soon. We probably wouldn't use the word "reunion" [laughs]. We would say that the hiatus is off. It's just semantics, but yeah [laughs]. "Reunion" is a scary word. There's some horrible connotations in the word "reunion" [laughs]. It involves a lot of, like, face makeup, and everyone commenting about how much older we look. It's precarious: the longer you wait, I think it gets worse.

Pitchfork: Well, I know it would make a lot of people happy.


Until that happens, if you're looking for something new from Carrie Brownstein at least, check out her project with Mary Timony called The Spells over on her highly addictive NPR blog Monitor Mix and become the brand new owner of some previoulsy unreleased tracks.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

BOTH THIGHS SQUEEZED TIGHT

new album on the way according to most reliable sources, and with a promise that reads 'we've been working extra hard on this one with the intention to make you as happy as possible', expectations are high... until then

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

HELP I'M ALIVE

Really honest interview, and a really beautiful song from Emily Haines and Metric.



It's been three years since their last album 'Live It Out', expect Metric's new record some time early 2009. To be the first to find out when, sign up here.

YOU GOT TO GO STRAIGHT AHEAD

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

UHH

It's finally getting the chance to stand on it's own two perfectly formed feet. 'Explode' has been a stand out track from UH HUH HER right from the start. One of the initial five tracks from the debut EP 'I See Red'(2007) that was later (and most wisely) included on the album 'Common Reaction' released in August of this year, has now become the second video from Camila Grey and Leisha Hailey.

The animated video is being premiered in the States through mtvU. For everyone else, we're just going to have to wait till some kindly soul uploads it to youtube...


*update* I knew it'd only be a matter of time....

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

ANIMAL IMAGINATION

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Taken from the new Glass Candy cd Deep Gems, a mixture of B sides and rarities to keep us going until they release their new lp sometime in 2009.








Glass Candy - Animal Imagination

Friday, October 24, 2008

THE SUBTLE DOOM OF THE FALL/NEW DEMOS+PRACTICE TAPES

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It's been a while since I mentioned Goxxip but this does not mean they are any further from my heart than normal, and they will always be close. Anyone keeping an eye on their whereabouts will have heard the new demo '1,000 Things' on their myspace this past week, a pretty promising idea of what might be to come on their next album. A slight departure from the torrent of thick bass lines and huge voice that was 2005's 'Standing in the Way of Control', the vocals are more restrained than you might expect for one, and while the bass is still the driving force it's the joy division-like guitar that sticks, highly excellent on all counts.

They don't seem to be playing too many shows from now till the end of the year, having toured with 'Standing in The Way of Control' for around three years now, but if you get a chance to see them I highly recommend that you should- the smaller the venue the better.


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Saturday, October 18, 2008

CELEBRATE THE BODY ELECTRIC

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Ponytail are a four piece band hailing from Baltimore, USA, who join a slew of excellent lady led bands of late (New Young Pony Club, CSS...), and who in Molly Siegel have probably found the most enigmatic/not-of-this-earth front woman since Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs let rip. ICE CREAM SPIRITUAL is their second album which was released through WE ARE FREE back in June. They've been creating a bit of a brouhaha recently around the blogosphere and in the musical press, check them out here and here and find out why.

Also be sure to head over to the WE ARE FREE site for a free mp3 of 'Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From an Angel)'.

Friday, October 17, 2008

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CHEAP

the DIY version of Ladyhawke's 'Dusk till Dawn' featuring appearances from Sia, JD Samson and Peaches amongst others. I think I like this one the best...

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WELCOME TO OUR HOME, PLEASE EXCUSE THE MESS

three songs that are getting me through this week...

Bound Stems - Sugar Magic City



Passion Pit - Sleepy Head



Ponytail - Beg Waves (hopefully more about them in the next post but for more now, go here)



and if you're still not sure whether these will see you through to friday or not....








Brazilian Girls - Losing Myself

surely that ought to do it...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

EVERYONE WILL ASK WHAT BECAME OF YOU

My tickets are purchased, Death Cab for Cutie start their UK tour on November the 12th.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

DIGITAL VERSICOLOR

I only recently discovered this, but it seems to have been out for a year or so.... am i the only one who didn't know Rose Byrne starred in a Glass Candy video?



If you have a certain penchant for a good bass line and a sort of 70's soft focus over your vocals and want to hear more from Glass Candy, head over to their myspace. Make sure to check out Rolling Down the Hills and...

Life After Sundown









This is an older version than the released song, taken off a demo from a couple of years ago, the first minute and a half alone are spectacular.

(and while we're on the topic of Rose Byrne- check out Damages too....)

I AM BECOME YOUR ENEMY

courtesy of Dinner With The Band
Pela - Waiting on the Staircase (make sure you hang about till 3:17...)




also check out Dinner With The Band for more performances from Pela and also this from Matt and Kim (i dare you to try not to smile...) yeah yeah

Friday, September 26, 2008

BRAND AND SPANKINGLY NEW



TV on the Radio released their third album 'Dear Science,' on the 23rd, but the good reviews were coming in well before that ('a masterful future tableau' etc...). Pick yourself up a copy if you haven't already and be sure to check out 'Family Tree' either way.

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This next one came in a little under the radar for me, but Mogwai released 'Hawk is Howling' their 6th studio album on the 22nd. To commemorate this special time, here's 'punk rock:' the opening track from the highly, highly excellent 1999 album, 'Come On Die Young' played over the Iggy Pop interview it samples.



and if you like your guitars loud and your songs lasting upwards of 4 minutes, you really should subscribe to the Mogwai podcast....really (it hasn't been updated in a while, but highly worth it)

and finally, the 22nd also saw the release of Ladyhawke's self titled debut album through Modular Records... prepare to have this song stuck in your head for a long long long long time.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT

I heard the Feist/Gonzales one first so that's the one that got wedged in my brain, but I feel it's best to do these things the right way round...










Feist feat.Gonzales - Lovertits

Monday, September 15, 2008

MORE FREE STUFF

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Go and have a listen to the Noel Zancanella Remix of 'Seventeen' on Casxios myspace. and if you like it, you could downlaod it there, but why not register at Casxios website instead and receive it along with 4 other Casxio songs, including 'Seventeen' in it's original form, for free !!! spectacular.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

I NEED YOU TO CLAP WITH THIS SONG

Sigur Ros live at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, only makes me like this song more...

Gobbledigook


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

LIVE AND UNLEASHED

It has been three days of tent-living, non-washing, wellie-boot-wearing goodness that is widely known round these parts as electric picnic- a 3 day music and arts festival down Dublin way. One of the best festivals i've been to in a long time, made even better by the torrential rains not hitting till we were heading home. The weekend had lots of highlights (including Gossip, CSS, Sigur Ros, Breeders, Cut Copy amongst others) but here are my favourites. I've taken the easy way out and am going to bombard you with video 'aplenty, live and unleashed...


Hercules and Love Affair




Dan Deacon




Chromeo




Finally, the highlight of the weekend, hands down...

The Kills



Tuesday, August 19, 2008

DAY OF EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE... (mark II)

There are two things you have to do today...

1. Buy UH HUH HER's debut album 'Common Reaction', released today through Nettwerk.

2. Log on to TV on the Radio's myspace ->here<- and listen to Golden Age off of their new album Dear Science, coming out on september 23rd.
(update: complete song now streaming on their website.)

after these two tasks are completed the day is yours, do with it what you will.

tally ho muchachas!

Monday, August 18, 2008

WHEN WE STOP, MY HANDS WILL SHAKE

I discovered this a while ago but thought I would post it now because i've just recently been reminded of how good Emily Haines is, in whatever form she comes- (Broken Social Scene, Metric, Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton.... )

The song 'Our Hell' off of 'Knives Don't Have Your Back', directed by Jaron Albertin.



Also check out the highly excellent 'Reading in Bed' Remixed by 65 Days of Static, and Telethon here
And from Metric, Monster Hospital. Gets you from the very first bam-chick-a-lang-chick-a-boom-boom-boom... also keep a look out for the MSTRKRFT remix.

and lastly...


Wednesday, August 13, 2008

UH HUH

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Ahead of their 'Common Reaction' release date, UH HUH HER premiered their new music video for 'Not a Love Song' on MTV in America. You get the feeling they're going be huge and should be. Explode is one of those songs that come along every so often that makes your heart stop the first time you hear it, and then race to catch up with itself before you go listen to it again just to make sure it wasn't a palpitation. Huge i say. Huge.

Also be sure to check out the webisodes, all still streaming on their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/uhhuhhermusic) or here.

ps. here's the video...


LIGHT'S OUT

I discovered this this morning, and i've listened to it 12 times since...
check out the Diplo panda bear remix aswell.


Tuesday, August 5, 2008

FREE STUFF

randomly stumbled over the go! teams new 'free stuff' section on their website, worth signing up both for the excellent 'milk crisis' mp3 and the 4 track ep 'get it together'
go! team

Friday, August 1, 2008

HEART IT RACES

Dr. Dog covering Architecture in Helsinki's 'Heart it Races'. I love this mostly, though not solely, for the backing 'boom da da da da da da's'. spectacular.

heart it races mp3

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

THE BEARER OF MOST EXCELLENT NEWS

TV On The Radio's New Album "Dear Science," Release Date Announced
TV On The Radio's new album Dear Science, is set to release on September 23rd.


until then....

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

ahoy! i have been away for three months traveling the globe, or at least parts of the globe and now I'm back with black feet and a strange patchy tan, I've been following links all over the internets in an effort to find something brand spanking new (it's been three months and 232 songs - shuffling capacity - on constant repeat later) here's a small but highly repeatable list of progress so far...

MGMT - electric feel (see last post)
Crystal Castles vs The Little Ones - lovers who uncover
Metronomy - Black Eye/Burnt Thumb
The Breeders - Bang On
Ladyhawk (not quite Ladyhawke, but if you find either it's no bad thing) - STHD

while on the subject, Ladyhawke's Back of the Van has been released through Modular today and the video is fantastical...