From the news so flippin’ hot it’ll burn your epidermis department: Shortly after Komakino announced that they were disbanding, they announced the birth of their new project: You Animals.
While the band has yet to launch the player on their Myspace page, they did put together a video digest that I have embedded above so you can check them out. I will keep you updated on this project as their debut effort unfolds.
Tickets for all shows in New Zealand and Australia are available now. Click here for information.
15 JAN 2008: AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Kings Arms
16 JAN 2008: BRISBANE, Australia - The Zoo /
17 JAN 2008: BRISBANE, Australia - The Zoo // SOLD OUT
18 JAN 2008: MELBOURNE, Australia - The Corner // SOLD OUT
19 JAN 2008: MELBOURNE, Australia - The Corner
21 JAN 2008: SYDNEY, Australia - City Recital Hall Angel Place w/ Clogs
22 JAN 2008: SYDNEY, Australia - City Recital Hall Angel Place w/ Clogs
23 JAN 2008: SYDNEY, Australia - City Recital Hall Angel Place w/ Clogs
22 FEB 2008: BROOKLYN, New York - BAM Opera House
09 MAR 2008: BIG CYPRESS RESERVATION, Florida - Langerado Music Festival
As many of you are probably painfully aware, Seattle’s legendary Crocodile Cafe has closed it doors. I received an e-mail about a benefit the wonderful ladies from Three Imaginary Girls had arranged and wanted to do my good deed for the weekend and pass the information along.
Photo: Joshua Trujillo/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
To help the stellar group who were employed at the Crocodile Cafe who found themselves suddenly without income, Chop Suey and Three Imaginary Girls have assembled a benefit show this Sunday, December 30.
Join them this Sunday for an evening of fine songs from some of Seattle’s rock star royalty, share your Croc story, and get a chance to say goodbye…with members of Fleet Foxes, Peter Parker, Siberian, Pale Pacific, J.Tillman, Damien Jurado, Pleasureboaters, Dave Bazan, Triumph Of Lethargy, Dave Terry (of Aqueduct), Sonny Votolato and many more!
Photo: P-I File
$10 adv | 7pm doors | 21+ Auction/raffle prizes too! Show your support! Buy your ticket now!!
If you’re not able to make it to the show but still want to donate, organizers suggest you buy a ticket (or two) to the show as all proceeds will benefit the cause.
I know, I know…this was posted on their Myspace well over a week ago, but cut me some slack and realize I tried my hardest to enjoy the holidays and not worry about the site being updated. I’m sure it’s new to someone.
The message was short and sweet, but here it is: Death Cab For Cutie is hard at work on their new studio album. It will be in stores May 2008, but you can take a sneak peak by clicking here to watch some video footage from the studio.
What can be said about Kurt Cobain that hasn’t already been said?! I revisit Nirvana’s studio albums from time to time and always walk away feeling enlightened in a sense. The guy got the big picture, did he not?! He might not have liked it, but he certainly had the insight to make it transparent.
From a personal perspective, I think Cobain shed light on how ridiculous the 80s lifestyle was for me. That’s probably something I should’ve been able to figure out on my own, but I didn’t. He made me realize that the “rock star” mindset was a thing of the past. We’re all equals regardless of sex, race, creed…uplifting oneself upon a pedestal wasn’t tolerated in Cobain’s world. Reference their video Live! Tonight! Sold Out! where he talks about the band Extreme and how ridiculous the way they carried themselves was. Brings a smile to my face every time I watch it. I’m rambling.
I was listening to In Utero this morning and decided to take two lesser known Nirvana tracks (if there is such a thing) and pull some lyrics from them. Almost every song Cobain penned has something ridiculously clever in it (to me at least). One of my favorite lines from this album that hits so close to home is from the album’s opener, “Serve The Servants”:
“As my bones grew they did hurt, they hurt really bad…I tried hard to have a Father, but instead I had a Dad”
Heavy stuff! You know lyrics of that nature are going to be felt by the masses. Here’s another example that you can’t help but wonder how he stole the thoughts directly from so many heads and communicated it back through song. From the song “Dumb”:
“My heart is broke, but I have some glue…help me inhale and mend it with you”
The future of Bonde Do Role is still in question with lead singer Marina’s departure a few weeks ago, but we still have the memories and the music, right? I hope the band forge on, as this was surely one of the funnest tracks of ‘07. The band had a more off-kilter sound in comparison to their friends CSS, and I was hoping for more. Watch the chicken-centric video below.
I still say this sounds like ‘Palo Alto’, but that’s okay. Who expected Radiohead to whip out the guitars again this year? Or that they’d decide to thrill fans and annoy record labels worldwide by going Priceline on us and letting everyone decide for themselves what the music is worth? The jury is still out as to how many of us actually paid for the privilege, but it doesn’t change the fact that this track rocks.
This song was actually on the Van She’s 2005 EP, but it seemed they didn’t get the attention they deserved till this year. It’s such a carefuly crafted piece of 80’s-inspired pop that you’d absolutely swear you’d heard it before (say back in ‘82). Now give us that full-length fellas, okay?
You couldn’t escape this song in 2007, whether it was via video game, car commercials or dance clubs across the country. One gem among many on Digitalism’s debut, this track was nonetheless the perfect merger between the band’s indie and electro leanings.
Yet another chanteuse given to us courtesy of Broken Social Scene, this was most definitely the Year of Feist. Not only did she release her most successful album to date, but everyone went crazy for her singles - including Apple and Verizon. She also found plenty of success on the dancefloor thanks to treatments from remixers including Van She (1,2,3,4), Chromeo (Sea Lion Woman), and Boyz Noize (My Moon My Man). Still, the original version of ‘My Moon My Man’ has enough groove of it’s own to easily qualify on the jam meter.
Who would have thought a song about Joy Division would be this fun? This is hands-down, one of the most enjoyable songs I’ve heard all year. Anything that gets those gloomy Goth kids smiling is a worthwhile enterprise, in my opnion. And as if the chorus wasn’t catchy enough, The Wombats go and throw in a children’s choir midway through! Honestly, try to listen without grinning.
The Gift Box is on my Top list for 2008 already, and this single certainly will help it retain that position. Plus, I’ve said it before, but girls & guitars are my personal poison. God help any woman that starts strumming a guitar within 100 ft of me. That aside, this thing is damn catchy. Resist the power of Blood Red Shoes at your own risk!
Watch: Blod Red Shoes - It’s Getting Boring By The Sea
Ladytron’s occasional live bassist sure outdid himself this year, didn’t he? Imagine BRMC with a sunnier disposition and you might be in the ballpark when it comes to Pop Levi. This track literally is an assault, both on your ears and on your legs. Just try to sit still when this comes on.
Kate seems to be perceived as a sort of ‘Lily Jr’, but I found myself listening to Made of Bricks a lot more often than Alright, Still. Sure, some of the songs are pretty silly or lighthearted, but you have to remember Nash is barely 20 years old. As for ‘Foundations’, well, if you haven’t been in a relationship like the one described, then you’ve probably helped a friend through one. Plus, every time it comes on I find myself singing along (always a solid sign something has achieved ‘jam’ status).
Oh hell. Someone’s covered The Smiths! Call the police, because clearly this is a crime. But wait! It’s by NYC DJ/Producer Mark Ronson. Oh, and he’s got some Australian R&B guy on the vocals! And hey, this is pretty fucking great! Yeah, I said it. I know this song is a love-it-or-hate-it property, but I’m firmly in the former category. Sure, the original will always be untouchable, but that doesn’t mean Ronson’s hip-hopization isn’t to be admired. And this is as close as we’ll likely get to that Morrissey/Donna Summer collab we’ve all waited for.
Ahhh, Simian Mobile Disco, can you do no wrong? Who would have thought that out of the ashes of the band that brought us ‘La Breeze’ we’d have the greatest electro/dance/house act on the planet. Sure, ‘Hustler’ is my jam, but I’ve been listening to it for going on 2 years now, and I think the next standout was definitely ‘I Believe’. The track features a reunion of sorts, with former Simian lead singer (currently of The Black Ghosts) Simon Lord back with James Ford & James Shaw. It’s the kind of track a DJ could easily drop at 3 AM to a packed and sweaty dancefloor.
Okay, okay. I clearly have a lot of affection for Neck, Render & Nina. But for good reason! These guys (and gal) are making Glasgow a dance destination. Every new track hits hard, and I’ve never been disappointed yet by any of their output. This song was my favorite this year. It immediately produces images of dirty dancefloors & sweaty bodies. Watch out 2008, The Retrosexuals plan on owning you.
Maligned as the Kaiser’s last album was, ‘Ruby’ was pop perfection. Big hooks, catchy chorus & la la la’s cousin - ah ah ahh. All these things equal a song that stays in your head for days on end. They may have softened a bit since their ‘I Predict a Riot’ days, but they’re still on top.
The boys in Chromeo live in a universe where the 70’s never ended. I don’t personally want to live there, but I’m glad they do, because they give us tracks like this. Relate a circumstance where this comes on and you don’t want to bust out really bad breakdance moves. Come on, I’m waiting. While you’re chewing on that, the rest of us will be thanking our lucky stars that Hall & Oates live on in Dave 1 & P-Thugg (even though Hall & Oates aren’t technically dead).
Those Gainsbourg’s really know how to turn people on, don’t they? Charlotte never lets her daddy down, and ‘The Operation’ is no exception. I actually have to wonder if it’s difficult being that sexy all the time. I mean, it’s not just anyone that can make a line like ‘deep within the abbatoir of your entrails’ sound erotic (in a non-repulsive way). She probably has a hard time just having normal conversations, because everyone around her assumes there’s a double-entendre behind every remark.
I don’t think I really have to explain why Calvin Harris is here. This song is silly and repetitive and cliche, and I love every single moment of it. If you went to a club this year and didn’t hear ‘Acceptable in the 80’s’, you need to start going to better clubs.
This is a funny one. Yelle is a bit like Tiffany rapping in French. Which is wonderful, of course. I can’t listen to her album all the way through in one sitting, though. It’s a bit like eating an entire cheesecake all by myself - I’m just not equipped to process that much sugar. Still, in doses it can be quite good. Same principle works for Yelle, and this song is the perfect slice.
Who knew a 90’s househead had this in him? This track slaughters any dancefloor it’s introduced to. It’s a little bit Prydz, a little bit MSTRKRFT. Of course, the video famously features Daisy Lowe - Gwen Stefani’s stepdaughter - and two blondes partaking in various apple-related activities, such as bobbing for apples (mainly to show hot girls in wet t-shirts). Armand, you’ve found the formula for fool-proof success!
How amazing is this song? James Murphy may wear his influences on his sleeve, but what he does with those influences always impresses me. He makes dance music that never fails to be personal, and connect on an emotional level (something sadly missing from too many songs in the genre). This song is one of many gems on Sound of Silver, but it’s definitely leader of the pack. Check out the video where Murphy constantly appears on the verge of tears.
Is it an obvious pick? Maybe, but the simple truth is this catchy little Jackson 5 rehash took us all by storm. From the radio dial surf to the children’s choir chorus to the funky 70’s bassline filtered through the sounds of the aughts, this song was THE jam of 2007. Forget ‘Phantom’ or ‘Waters of Nazareth’, this was the track that guaranteed Justice worldwide domination. Gaspard & Xavier, I salute you for taking my jam meter to 11.
The summer of ‘82 started on a rough note when I skipped the last day of my freshman year. I met a girl named Shari that day and the two of us spent the latter portion of that afternoon at the local video arcade. I got home a few hours late and held up a family outing…I was greeted with the words “you’re grounded”.
A neighbor of mine had a few older sisters that would turn us on to albums from time to time. I had borrowed April Wine’s Nature of the Beast from one of them prior to getting in trouble…it would keep me company while I spent the first days of that summer vacation in my room.
I’m not sure what triggered this memory or thought about this album as I don’t have any April Wine in my collection. I was driving to work recently and it just came to mind. I’m going to have to revisit this one, I think…I’m really enjoying what I downloaded this evening!
The eagerly awaited debut offering from Temposhark, The Invisible Line, will be released March 3rd on Paper and Glue Records. The album was produced by Sean McGhee (Kate Havniek, Robyn, Sugababes) with two tracks produced by Guy Sigsworth who has worked with both Madonna and Bjork. Other notable collaborations include Imogen Heap,Youth(Killing Joke/U2/The Verve’s Urban Hymns) and virtuoso violinist Sophie Solomon.
Photo: Jim Dyson
The album is full of suprises shifting from filmscore-esque chillout to underground electronica. These darlings of the London club scene played two showcases at SXSW in 2007. They supported former Savage Garden front man Darren Hayes on his tour of Canada and the US in June 2007 building up a strong fanbase stateside. Influential LA radio station, KCRW, have begun spinning several tracks from the album. KCRW were responsible for breaking Coldplay, Sigur Ros and Damien Rice amongst others in the states.
Consisting of Robert Diament, Luke Busby, Mark Ferguson and Mathis Richet, Temposhark play intelligent electronic music. They remind me of Depeche Mode meeting Patrick Wolf. Sure, they will appeal to the mainstream, but there is more to Temposhark than catchy tunes. The track “Crime ” shows what they are all about and is representative of the album as the NME wrote “You will be hanging their picture on your wall”.
Potentially a major artist of 2008! I for one will be interested to see how the band develops.
One of Sweden’s many musical prides, The Mary Onettes are finally going to reach the states for real. The band posted this message on their MySpace:
iTunes USA!!
Our debut album is now released in the states! After only two weeks on the shelves everything seems to be working out pretty good. This week, starting from today and seven days ahead, TMO has got the amazing spot “single of the week” on iTunes (USA). We think this is very nice!!
We are also in the progress of getting a US tour together! Hopefully not in a very distant future.
All the best! TMO
If you haven’t discovered the greatness that is The Mary Onettes yet, I suggest you take a listen below!
It’s been a while since I tossed a handful of mp3s in your direction and asked for an opinion, but the stack of CDs on my counter isn’t getting any smaller, so it’s time to start cleaning house once again.
If you like any of the songs I’ve shared below, please take the time and share your opinion. These artists were cool enough to share their blood, sweat, and tears with us…the least that could be done is if you like what you hear, let them know.
