Viva La Vida

There's two things that usually suck me into a song, simplistic intro/outro and emotional high notes. Coldplay has managed to master both on their newest single "Violet Hill" off their anticipated album Viva La Vida or Death and all His Friends.The album doesn't come out until June 17th, but you can download the single for free for a week at Coldplay.com. You can also see the artwork for the new album. I'm lovin the free-be's.

Viva La Vida

Coachella Withdrawal

Although I spent this weekend at the beautiful Lake Powell, I'm still really bummed I missed Coachella this year. So to add to my depression I have been you-tubing and blog checking. I found this video of American Bang doing a acoustic version of "She Don't Cry No More" on Spin's Poolside performances. I dug it in all its entirety. Especially the backup vocals doing the reach around. Definitely lots of hints towards Kings of Leon for me, not to mention their Nashville roots. I love me some Kings.

Here's their opening performance from Coachella that is much more rock n' roll:



I'm quite excited to explore them some more.

Coachella Withdrawal

Coachella

due to the lack of funding, i missed it. and seems most of you did as well.....prince and dcfc at the same fest and im too broke to attend...meanwhile, a good friend of mine and her kids were in a horrible car accident and in ICU....there is a food shortage in the US, we are STILL at war and gas is approaching 4 dollars a gallon. YET, im uber pissed about missing prince....

Coachella

New Nine Inch Nails "Discipline" (stream)

Nine Inch Nails have released a new song, "Discipline". You can download it yourself at discipline.nin.com. It's a good track that builds more on the sound of With Teeth than Year Zero. I absolutely love With Teeth, and found Year Zero to be a difficult listen, so I'm stoked that this next album will be more along the lines of the former.

The track information for "Discipline" has an album title of simply ?. Which could mean a couple different things: Either ? is the album title, or there simply isn't a title yet. I'm betting on the latter here, but with Reznor, you just never know.

If you'd like to check the song out before handing over your email address to download it, here it is in all it's NIN-ish glory:




You're welcome.

New Nine Inch Nails "Discipline" (stream)

Blast From the Past: Nothing My Love Can't Fix

I want to apologize in advance for this post. But I had to do it.

Remember Marky Mark? He of "Feel The Vibration"? Well, he's Mark Wahlberg now, but back when he was with the Funky Bunch, he was the envy of every boy band-wannabe tough guy. As evidenced by this:



Yes, that's Joey Lawrence. Doesn't he look so Seattle grunge? I love the plaid shirts he wraps around his waist! So hot. And I guess he's from Philly 'cause he's sporting Eagles and Phillies gear throughout this abomination, too.

I almost feel bad for Philly. Almost.

This video was IM'd to me by my buddy Brien, he works for Virgin Records and sends really weird shit to me from time to time. Weird shit like this Joey Lawrence video.

Hope you enjoyed it as I much as I did.

Trivia: At about the 2:00 mark, there's a logo bug that flashes on the screen for a few seconds. It's the logo of KING 5 in Seattle. They used to have a Friday night video show back in the day. Love that this video is from that show.

K, back to work now.


Grant.

Blast From the Past: Nothing My Love Can't Fix

How Many Times Can You Record The Same Song? The Teenagers Reality Check

After reading the review SPIN gave this album (not posted online), I was more than a little interested. I was looking forward to checking out the "spacey mélange of lo-fi guitar tones and cold dance grooves." But when I actually listened to Reality Check I was more than a little dissapointed.

You ever listen to a band that has really only written one song, and just recorded it over-and-over to fill an album? Yeah, they're called the Teenagers. I enjoyed the opening track, "Homecoming," for it's tongue-in-cheek assessment of American girls. I kind of liked track 2, "Love No," for it's humorous look at a relationship falling apart. But as I listened to more tracks I began to realize that they're all the same. It's not so much formulaic, it's just totally uninterestingly similar. The talking verses, and the off pitch choruses just get to you after awhile.

And the lyrics! Oh, the lyrics are so annoyingly juvenile, and not laughing-at-farts juvenile, but lacking-an-understanding-of-English juvenile. Which makes sense because they are French, after all.

Wait? They're FRENCH?!

No wonder I don't like it.

"Starlett Johansson"


"Love No"

How Many Times Can You Record The Same Song? The Teenagers Reality Check

Music on T.V.? Don’t worry, it’s not what you think.

Is the future of music really going to be TV? And I’m not talking about MTV, VH1, or Fuse; none of them even play music. No, I am talking about TV commercials; because while movie soundtracks are trying to find the next big hit from the big guys, the underdogs are finally given a chance. Think about it, how many times does your favorite commercial come on? It’s not your favorite because it’s funny, or has half naked girls in it (even though those are some damn good ones), they are good because they have the songs that your not gonna find anywhere else, and you wouldn’t have heard of had it not been for Honda.

The TV commercial is quickly becoming a staple in the music scene, as a place to hear unheard of musicians, and inspire someone to take the time and learn about them. For a while I thought that the days of music hunting was over; that there wouldn’t be a time to really go out and search for your next favorite band. I was wrong. I can’t count the artists that have gotten their recognition because of a :30 second ad. Ingrid Michaelson on Old Navy, Landon Pigg on Debeers Diamonds, even Brett Dennen is getting some love on Hilton commercials.

Makes me wonder if there is soon going to be a job opening as music supervisor… for an ad agency. Hell I’ll apply, that job would be amazing, simply watch a commercial, and to be given the opportunity to go out and find that song which will fit the ad so perfectly. Hope it makes it Craigslist soon.

Music on T.V.? Don’t worry, it’s not what you think.

Political Rock Is Not Dead! Flobots Fight With Tools

If you haven't met them yet, please let me introduce you to Flobots. These Denver natives have not just an interesting story behind their rise to the public eye, but an interesting lineage behind their music. The two vocalists/emcees have a very distinct style that can be easily compared to Eminem with a touch of Schleprock from Gym Class Heroes. The music is very dry, reminiscent of Cake or Violent Femmes. The combination is a refreshing change of pace from standard back-pack rap and indie rock.

While the sound is a newish one, it's really the lyrical content that sets them apart. Not since Rage Against The Machine has a band been this overtly political in their lyrics and general presentation. They follow in the footsteps of giants like RATM, the Clash, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Asian Dub Foundation and others.

Let me just pause for a moment and say that no, I am not comparing this band to those listed. I am not saying they are as important, or that they will be as big. I'm saying they are just as political. I'm saying that those bands are more than likely listened to a lot by members of Flobots. Back to the review...

If you listen to radio even a little, then you've probably heard Flobots' song "Handlebars". An interesting song without a refrain that I wouldn't have ever thought would do as well as it is in Alternative and Rock. The very fact that it doesn't sound like anything else out there today (how many bands these days have a violin?), and that it doesn't follow the formula (no verse-chorus-verse for these guys!), is why it is working so well. Radio is so stale right now that a change of pace like this is so refreshing that people gravitate en masse to it.

The band formed in Denver and won a radio competition hosted by KTCL and won it handily. The station, due to the overwhelming support for the band, put "Handlebars" into rotation and it has been spreading like a virus ever since. Flobots signed with Universal Music Group and their song now appears on more than 70 stations nationwide and ranks 11 (yes, with a bullet) on the Alternative chart.

Here's the video (this is the original, early mix of the song):


Their album Fight With Tools is out now and features their hit "Handlebars". (Download the song from The Pop View.)

Political Rock Is Not Dead! Flobots Fight With Tools

Now The Flask Moves To Your Mouth: Clinic Do It!

Liverpool's surgical mask sporting band Clinic have such a great recipe for success. Namely, catchy hooks and driving beats. It doesn't hurt that they also have a shtick: the aforementioned surgical masks. (Check out the pics on their 'Space page.)

The first thing you see when visiting the band's official website is a menu. On this menu the band is described as "A succulent yet tropical blend of lounge, drizzled with psychedelia, with just a hint of dementia." I don't know that I could say it better myself. Though they are an English indie-rock band, Do It! most definitely has some lounge flavor, and it's pretty obvious that the band has a lot of Pink Floyd in their catalogue. The dementia? That comes through too. Front man Ade Blackburn whispers and sings and generally illustrates a lack of sanity that is so convincing as to force you to wonder if the surgical masks are hiding the patients as they run the asylum.

However, their fourth album, Do It!, is so much more than just indie-rock with lounge and psychedelic flavors added. The album has driving songs that hook, and the band uses strange instrumentations to create hypnotic textures (flute, synthesized fog horn, church bells, etc.) that lull the listener into a fall sense of security before bashing the whole thing to pieces with their raucous sound. The album kicks off with "Memories," a song that houses a riff so thick and fuzzy as to make you wonder if it's the long lost twin of Keith Richards' "Satisfaction" riff, but is counterbalanced by the soothing vocals of Blackburn (who reminds me of Eamon Hamilton of brakesbrakesbrakes). This juxtaposition is nearly perfect in its execution, and even moreso in its catchiness. The followup punch, "Tomorrow," is a surf-tinged floater that immediately shows the other side of the plate. With haunting harmonica and whispered vocals adding a texture that is present throughout Do It!

The band has several songs from the album posted on their 'Space, and "Free Not Free" is available as a free download at clinicvoot.org. Here are a couple videos for the first two singles off Do It!

"Free Not Free"


"The Witch"


The album is out now on Domino Records (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand), and is available on iTunes and in your finer record stores.

Now The Flask Moves To Your Mouth: Clinic Do It!

Gas Masks Not Required.

The Airborne Toxic Event.













I've never been a believer of love at first sight in any situation, be it romance, literature, film or music. Until now. Miles away from their first full length release, The Airborne Toxic Event has exploded onto the Los Angeles music scene and most recently into my eardrums. Hailing from Los Feliz, California this young quintet plays with what sounds like years of experience. After dozens of live gigs on both coasts and in between, and considerable airplay on major market Alternative radio stations (hat tip to KROQ's Locals Only host, Kat Corbett), Airborne is poised to make their mark on alternative rock both memorable and permanent. The delicate mix of impassioned vocals, storytelling lyrics, hard rocking guitar and gentle violin - and vice versa - combined with an incredible veteran-like stage presence, and they've managed to pull off in a short time what many bands fail to do in a lifetime. Sometimes everything comes together to congeal into near-perfection and serendipity is at hand. Enough of my rambling, I'll let the music speak for itself.

Their first single "Sometime Around Midnight," set to various pictures ripped off their myspace site.



And for fun, here's a live vid of "Gasoline" just so you can see Anna shred her violin to pieces.



More studio recordings and live videos can be found at The Airborne Toxic Event's myspace page, here. I also have MP3's of a few tracks, which I will be more than happy to make available to anyone who asks. They can be seen live in June on the main stage at Live 105's BFD 2008 in the SF Bay Area and in July at the Pemberton Festival in beautiful British Columbia alongside such acts as Death Cab for Cutie and Coldplay, (perhaps you've heard of them.) Also, they make their national TV debut on Last Call with Carson Daly next Tuesday, April 22. Stay up late, it'll be worth it.

Gas Masks Not Required.

Bragging about Misery

I'm certain I'm one of many who have a Dylan obsession. The man soothes me. There is nothing like revisiting an old album, especially one of Dylan's. Last night as I was doing some weights, I put on 'Blonde on Blonde'. 'Visions of Johanna' came on and I heard it completely different than anytime before. I love it when this happens. The first line just sucked me right in, "Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're tryin' to be so quiet?" I began to create the characters in my mind as he told the story. I searched for a live performance. Hope you have a Dylan experience like mine.

Who would have thought things would become so "concise and clear" while bench pressing

Bragging about Misery

Sure. Rocks Friends!

Ludo – You’re Awful, I Love You

If you’re in the mood for the next nerdy-pop punk band who isn’t Fall Out Boy, give a listen to Ludo’s new album, recently released in February and their first on a major label (Island). I stumbled upon them while listening to Live 105 online, spinning the first single “Love Me Dead,” an ode to that girlfriend who is high maintenance and a total wreck, but hot and irresistible at the same time. It’s like the duality of man, you know, the Jungian thing. It boils down to – she’s evil and hateful, but she still lets me put my penis in her vagina, so it’s kinda like breaking even. From the second verse:

“You're a faith-healer on T.V.
You're an office park without any trees
Corporate and cold
Gushing for gold
Leave me alone.
You suck so passionately
You're a parasitic, psycho, filthy creature
finger-bangin' my heart
You call me up drunk
Does the fun ever start?
You're hideous and sexy!”

You get the idea.

Musically, this is pure Top-40 with a little meat for the Alternative audience, too. They’ve got some driving guitar mixed up with a cutesy little Moog synth, which makes for a pretty good blend here. Most of the tracks on this record are of the storytelling variety, the aforementioned “Love Me Dead,” “Go-Getter Greg” details trying to help the girl next door move in, while taking advantage of the opportunity to ask her out. (I've narrowed down the field/And I'm taking a glance/And I'd say you've got a pretty good chance/To be my girlfriend.) Also, there’s “Lake Ponchartrain,” detailing a strange encounter down on the bayou. This is what can best be described as a playful band, dressing up in Rivers Cuomo preppy fashion for gigs (Sidebar – Weezer’s new self-titled record, “The Red Album” is due out in June. This makes me happy.) but still cranking it up to eleven.

Ludo is by no means my new favorite band, but they are my favorite band named after a Muppet. Tune in next time for: The Airborne Toxic Event

Sure. Rocks Friends!

Preme: The Kooks - Konk

The new album from the Kooks is due out on tax day, but I got my grubby little hands on it a bit early, and while it is a pretty good collection of songs, it doesn't quite live up to the first album. Konk, named after the studio it was recorded in, just doesn't have the pop-appeal or catchiness of Inside In/Inside Out. What it does have is a heaviness not found on their first album. This is a good album, but it's the followup to a great album.

If you're a big fan of the Kooks, you'll likely enjoy this album, too. The single "Always Where I Need To Be" has been blowing up on Alternative radio. Which is more than you can say for any of their singles from the first album. This band was a sensation in Europe, they had 6 hit singles on the BBC and a total of zero in the US. They seem poised to raise that number to at least one with this album.

The music itself covers a larger breadth than the last album. They have a couple pop gems ("See The Sun," "Always Where I Need To Be"), there's a very bluesy tune ("Mr. Maker"), one of their hardest songs ("Do You Wanna") and that's before you get to track five. I have a feeling that the more I listen to this album, the more I'll like it (especially the steel guitar that seems to be everywhere), but I fell in love with Inside on the first listen.


Grant.

Preme: The Kooks - Konk

The Day is Done But I'm Having Fun

14 years ago today, Kurt Cobain killed himself and wasn't found until three days later (thanks Grant.) Here's a clip of All Apologies from the 1992 Reading Festival. Enjoy yourself, bitches.

The Day is Done But I'm Having Fun

well i'm here

I'm here.

just remember, sometimes I like bands just cuz the lead singer is a chick and I think she is hot. Stupid? Yes.
Piggish? Of course...

But what does it matter?

Music can appeal to people for many reasons. Be it sexual or musical. But the Beatles have never given me a boner. While Paramore and The Vincent Black Shadow often do.

Do I know music? No.

Am I 24 with a dick? yes.

do I care what you think? no.


But, I'll post something worth reading soon.

best.

ck da dj

well i'm here

new fave band...for the moment

OK OK, when you listen to this, you will reminisce about the first time you heard WILCO or better yet, UNCLE TUPELO but i assure you, they are not blatant rip offs...they are amazing....

LUCERO


this song is from their album TENNESSEE which hit waaaaaaaay back in 2002 but i have just recently gotten my hands on it. the(full length of originals)follow up, NOBODY'S DARLINGS(2005 liberty&lament) is better still...yet my favorite so far seems to be something called the ATTIC TAPES i dont know enough about this band yet to make comparisons but i do know when something rocks and well....

think wilco for sure, but without the pill addiction and manic depression of jeff tweedy and add the absolute no holds barred drunkeness of jim morrison with none of the stage presence or overly poetic personality...a few songs that stand out to me are obviously the one you just heard, my best girl...(mostly cause its a little too close to home being that its all about a man who loves his guitar more than his girl...) and KISS THE BOTTLE. youve heard kiss the bottle before, countless times im sure if youve spun the b side to BEST OF YOU (foo, der) or maybe youve heard jawbreaker do it..(its theirs originally) but ben nichols(vox/guit) puts just that much more soul into it...kinda puts you over the edge if the love of your life just drank himself to death....fo real.oh, and they are from Tennessee...but not as bluegrassy as OLD CROW...hard to describe....


i got into this band one random evening as i went to meet the boy's friends for the first time....i walk in the door and there is obvious screaming of lyrics coming from the kitchen area where everyone had gathered....but i did not recognize them...GASP!!! i had never heard it before, but felt the energy immediately...so i ask around, find out the band being worshipped this evening was LUCERO....i made a mental note to buy the record because i loved it already....didnt have to. i talked enough about it, and listened to the boy's 7 inch of my best girl b/w kiss the bottle and was more than hooked...flash forward to today, dug my hoodie out of the closet, where its been due to very spring like conditions in flag, stuck my hand in the pocket---and there was the disc...with a lovely note 'i know you dig this, spin it.' from the boy...tell me he's not amazing...


better yet, give these fags a listen, and tell me THEY are not amazing. i triple dog dare you..

new album from them due soon...i just dont know when.


www.luceromusic.com

new fave band...for the moment

Video: The Raconteurs "Salute Your Solution"

Let me just start by saying that I really dig this song. Like, a lot. However, I don't understand why it's a Raconteurs song.

I expect the Raconteurs to sound different than the White Stripes. Their debut, Broken Boy Soldiers, was a very classic rock sounding album. That's what I want from the Raconteurs. This new album, Consolers of the Lonely, is a great album that shows the band progressing as a unit. But this particular song would be better served, in my opinion, by being on a White Stripes album. It would have fit really well on Icky Thump, and I'm sure would fit well on whatever the Stripes put out next.

Anyway, enough bitching. This video is shot in black and white, and is entirely start-stop photography. Which is a form of video that I actually really dig. This is a manic song, and the footage matches the general feeling of the song: Manic.

If you like that song, you're likely a fan of the White Stripes. But this isn't a Stripes song. You can find it on the new Raconteurs album Consolers of the Lonely, in stores now.



Grant.

Video: The Raconteurs "Salute Your Solution"

Blast From the Past: Living In Sin

It seems that on YouTube many old videos are finding new life. Stereogum revisits old videos infrequently, and there's a lot of 80s footage on the 'Tube as well. I subscribe to several record labels on YouTube and recently Universal uploaded several videos from my favorite band from childhood.

Yes, Bon Jovi!

This is a video that features a youngish, if not adoringly handsome, Fabio. Before he was an international sex symbol, and then total joke, he was a video star. (Actually, this video was probably after he became an international sex symbol, but before he became a joke.) This song, "Living In Sin," surprisingly was a number one hit on the Billboard 200 chart. It's one of the cheesier songs (aren't they all?) from the Jovi crew, and I still love it today.

Highlight: Watch the look Fab shoots at his dad at 2:31. Priceless.



Doesn't that just make you want to dig out the purple leather pants?

God bless you, Jon Bon Jovi. God bless you.



Grant.

Blast From the Past: Living In Sin