2008 was Great!

2008 was a great year for debuts, half of the top ten on this this are the debuts for new artists. It seems like this was a year where people really rallied around the new guys in a time of change.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-BAMA!
Ahh, politics.

But, that is not why we are here, this is a music blog, so talk about some music, man. Okay then. where to begin? I think that one of the big trends of this year was the "earthy" sound. Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Department of Eagles, She & Him, Blitzen Trapper and even the Dodos to a certain extent. A lot of acoustic driven songs with a definite folk touch, and lots of harmonies.

The electro-dance scene was also in full swing, and will likely have a stronger showing in the coming year. Great tunes from Hot Chip ("Ready for the Floor" is easily one of the greatest songs of the year), Of Montreal, Cut Copy and MGMT. TV on the Radio even went out of their way to make more of a dance record with fantastic results (Dancing Choose!). There was also a renewed interest in Kanye West, who decided to make a electro-pop record, which was surprisingly good, even though there was a lot of auto-tuning.

So let's get into it then, I present to you great records of the year 2000, and eight.

1 the Walkmen You & Me
2 Department of Eagles In Ear Park
3 Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
4 Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes
5 TV on the Radio Dear Science,
6 Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
7 Deerhunter Microcastle
8 The Dodos Visiter
9 Titus Andronicus The Airing of Grievances
10 Jaime Lidell Jim
11 Sigur Rós Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
12 Shearwater Rook
13 Little Joy Little Joy
14 Of Montreal Skeletal Lamping
15 Hot Chip Made in the Dark
16 MGMT Oracular Spectacular
17 She & Him Volume One
18 Blitzen Trapper Furr
19 Cut Copy In Ghost Colours
20 Beach House Devotion
21 No Age Nouns
22 Okkervil River the Stand Ins
23 Beck Modern Guilt
24 Kanye West 808’s and Heartbreak
25 Flight of the Conchords Flight of the Conchords

That is it! The Walkmen totally did it. "I'll see ya in the New Year!"

Earth to the Dandy Warhols

!Mayo feliz cinco!

The Dandy Warhols are giving up a freebie track from their new record, Earth to the Dandy Warhols. Click It.

Enjoy the festivus.

Radiohead On Conan

As part of Conan O'Brien's green-friendly show Radiohead taped a live performance of "House of Cards" from In Rainbows.

The band taped the show as opposed to appearing live to keep their carbon footprint as small as possible. Apparently, flying to New York from England uses a lot of fuel. Who knew?

At first I was not a huge fan of the song, but it definitely has grown on me. It has this kind of simple groove, and does not try to get complicated like a Radiohead song. Wait. What am I saying?

Tokyo Police Club: Elephant Shell

In the summer of 2006 Canadian Indie Rock Group Tokyo Police Club released an EP titled A Lesson in Crime, and scored legions of fans and critical acclaim. On the EP the band blitzed through seven songs in under 20 minutes, giving just enough of a taste of their wry humor and catchy tunes to leave the listener wanting more.

In the time since their first release the bands signature sound has left a distinctive impression. With songs filled with hand-claps about the world’s take over by robots like “Citizens of Tomorrow,” and songs with group-shout-alongs and distorted vocals over squealing guitars like “Cheer It On” and “Nature of the Experiment” the band began to carve a niche of its own.

Two years later the group finally issues their full-length debut, Elephant Shell, to say that the expectations are high would be an understatement. Speculation on what their full-length record would sound like has been formulating in the minds of fans and critics alike for some time now.

On Elephant Shell most of band’s formula remains the same. As expected with a higher recording budget their sound is cleaned up quite a bit, perhaps too much. Vocalist Dave Monks voice had only a passing resemblance to Colin Meloy of the Decemberists when it was shredded though a distortion box. But now on songs like “Tesselate” and “The Harrowing Adventures Of...” it is nearly indistinguishable.

On “Sixties Remake” the band sounds like another band attempting to do a song in the style of Tokyo Police Club. All the elements are there, but it just comes off a ill-conceived and generic. The same can be said for lead single “In a Cave” which is a decent song, but just manages to float by without making much of an impression.

That is not to say it is all bad though. “Your English Is Good” has the same kind of energy that could be found on their EP, and kicks off a trifecta of great songs at the end of the record.

“Listen to the Math” shows that the band is capable of slowing down the tempo and still keep thing interesting. One of the band’s appeal is the terrific drumming by Greg Alsop and this track shows off his talents very well with a complex tom and cymbal pattern during the verses.

Album closer “The Baskervilles” is arguably the group’s strongest song to date. Starting off with the line “A toast to last of the dying breed” over a soft synth riff before giving way to the drums and guitars. The song puts all the elements that made the band so appealing in the first place. For the first time on the record you get the feeling that Monks is putting all his energy into a song, instead of just throwing the lines away like he did on much of the record.

And like that it is over. Perhaps it was the fact that the songs were likely over analyzed in the studio, or maybe the group has already run out of ideas? But it is not the record that many were hoping for. It contains a few gems that will at the very least keep you interested until the next record comes out.

Hope for New Weezer?

There is going to be a new Weezer record this summer, and after listening to the new single there may hope for them yet.

Most people would agree that most everything that Weezer hast done since Pinkerton has been a huge load of crap. However, we know what Rivers and Co. are capable of, so there is always a chance for the next one to regain some of that past greatness.

The new single brings back some of the honesty, and leaves behind the some of the contrived nonsense that corrupted their newer records.

Click here for a taste. Oh yeah, the record is another self-titled one, and this time it is red. Also, Rivers grew a 'stache.

Les Savy Fav: "What Would Wolves Do?"

A sweet new video from post-punk rockists, Les Savy Fav, for their new single "What Would Wolves Do?"

The video has some great animation with some M. Night Shamalama-ding-dong worthy twists.

Another example of the good stuff that is coming through Pitchfork.tv.

STP Reunion Tour on Track?

After his recent mutual departure from the underwhelming Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland reunites with fellow Stone Temple Pilots for their reunion tour warm-up show.

The group was in Los Angeles on the 7th to play a brief set that consisted of mostly of crowd pleasing singles. The show opened with "Big Empty" which has been piped down through the youtubes.

Let's just hope they are able to keep it together for their Dallas show on June 29th.

Radiohead on Pitchfork.tv

Pitchfork.tv launched today and it already has great content available for viewing pleasure. Today has the Pixies documentary loudQuietloud, live songs from the Liars (who will be opening for Radiohead on tour), and Radiohead performing Bangers & Mash.

During the performance we get to see a Thom Yorke on a gimp drum kit to give some extra kicks and snares. Even though he is banging out some beats Yorke is still able to pull off the vocals. The man is a bad ass.

Watch?

Flight of the Conchords: Freebies

New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo is giving it away. The Conchords have been busy doing double time on recording their record and writing the second season of their HBO television series. It is good to know that we will be getting to hear/see the fruits of their labors relatively soon.

If you are not familiar with the dynamic duo here is a chance to get a couple of free tracks before their full-length records hits the markets on April 22nd.

Get the tracks here.

And some visuals, because it's Wednesday and you know what time it is. Yes, I know this post is on a Thursday, but just go with it for the sake of keeping it funky.

You can also check out their EP, which is out now.

Everybody Muxtape

Considering that I have not seen a cassette tape for years now, I would say that the mix tape is definitely dated. I guess you could just go the mix cd route, but come on that just lame. Now you can create a tracklist and upload it to a server and listen to it anywhere. It is muxtape: the mixtape for the digital age.

The site it self is very simple to use, you basically upload songs, arrange it and you are done. Not much else to it besides that, but what else do you need?

Check it out here. Listen to a muxtape here. (UPDATED: 04-03. Added to link dump.)

Even the Pros Blog

As he writes and records his new record Andrew Bird, the whistling, looping, finger-plucking singer-songwriter, will be contributing blog posts on New York Times' Measure for Measure.

In his first post Bird explains the part of his song writing process. The entire post is insightful as it is wordy. Here is preview of his whimsical verb-age.

"Almost every breath contains some fragments of an escaping melody. If I shape my lips so as to whistle, my breath will take on a musical shape like sonic vapor. Words are much trickier. I would forgo words altogether if I didn’t love singing them so much. My choice of words and my voice betray so much and that’s what’s so terrifying and attractive about it."

He continues: "I’m kind of the opposite of the confessional singer-songwriter who fills notebooks full of poetry and intones them over a bed of chords. Meaning or “the truth what’s in my heart” usually reveals itself well after the record is released. I’m often surprised that the things I care about actually end up in my songs."

You can read the rest of the posting here.

And for the viewing public.

The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely

Last week the Raconteurs announced that they had a new record prepped an ready to go for release on March 25th simultaneously in digital and physical formats. A statement that caught a lot of people off guard, but the intent was in good nature as the band saw this as a way to thwart off internet leaks.

Then on the 22nd a glitch in Apple’s Itunes store made the album available to download for a short period of time, and soon it was being passed around on the all over the internet. So much for that.

Either way, everybody now has access to the Raconteurs new record in all its vintage goodness.

Right from the start the Raconteurs make an emphatic point that they are a full blown band. They are not Jack White’s side project that some have perceived them to be. An issue that was quickly dismissed after the reception of their slick debut, Broken Boy Soldiers. The songwriting duo of Brendan Bensen and Jack White is back in full force pumping out more than 20 minutes of more music than their first record.

Album opener “Consoler of the Lonely” spotlights each member of the band and serves its purpose well as an introduction to the record. This leads into the rip-roaring current single “Salute Your Solution” that gets Jack White screaming “and now they want to take it” as he’s running out of breath.

There record shows definite signs of growth as the band has been playing together for a few years now. Songs are looser and more organic than before, but there are also spots that seem more like filler.

Just to get it out of the way there is the persistent track-skipper “Hold Up” which pleadingly shouts its title. Wow! How expected - skip. While on “Pull This Blanket Off” it is as White may have forgotten which band he was in as it has the quaint vibe off some early White Stripes songs, but is out of place in the context of this band.

Those missteps are quickly forgotten though when they give you songs like “Many Shades of Black.” Which has a distinct Queen-vibe to it with its operatic build of the of Bensen’s vocal melody in the verse and Jack White’s new favorite instrument, trumpets, accenting the chorus.

“The Switch and the Spur” brings the horns back to add to the Flamenco-styled song. It all constructs into a biblical-sounding chant of “any poor souls who trespass against us whether it be beast or man ... for this is their power and this is their kingdom as sure as the sun does burn.” It is epic.

Equal to that in scope is “Carolina Drama” which easily contains some the best lyrics that Jack White has written. A song that tells that story of young boy caught in a family drama. The boy’s mom has a boyfriend who is a “triple loser with some blue tattoos that were given to him when he was young/ and a drunk temper that was easy to lose thank god he didn’t own a gun.” The story progresses and hits its climax with a closing sing-a-long chorus of “la la la/ la la la la yeah.”

Attendees of their last tour should recognize “Five on the Five,” which chugs on a intimidating bass-line with White’s maniacal high-pitched yelp before it bursts into an 80s style pop-rock bouncer.

“Top Yourself” contains dirty slide guitar reminiscent of songs from the White Stripes’ De Stijl is already great as is. Yet you cannot help but think how the song would take on an entirely different context if Bensen had sung it.

There is plenty of variety on this record to keep it at the very least interesting and fun to listen to.

Updates for Rock Band

The greatest (music) video game ever will be getting a substantial update this week. Owners of Rock Band (both Xbox 360 and PS3 versions) will be getting a nice patch to the game that will allows users to purchase new songs within the game itself rather than having to navigate through those messy marketplace menus.

This feature will be included in the main menu for the game and will allow a number of advantages over a marketplace download. First, users will be able to preview songs before purchasing, that way you know exactly what you are going to get.

Second, you will get a difficulty rating for each part (vocals, guitar, bass, and drums), that way you know what kind of a challenge you will be taking on. 

Also, there are updates for the fan caps on the Band World Tour that will allow people to continue further before being urged to try higher difficulty levels.

All around a nice update. Now we need some more good songs to download. (Where is my BRMC?)

Jens Lekman @ the Granada Theater

Jens Lekman returned to Dallas Sunday night to share his brand of sample-heavy indie pop.

The show drew heavily from the track-listing of his latest album Night Falls Over Kortedala.

During the show Jens admitted to the crowd that sometimes he does write some "silly songs" but to him they have a "sort of bittersweet meaning" behind them.

That sentiment is accentuated best on his song "A Postcard to Nina." Where during the show Jens gave more of the back-story with intermittent story telling bits between the verses. The song is about his friend, Nina, that he has who tried to pass Jens off as her boyfriend to her father because she is fearful that her dad would not understand that she could love another woman.

Anther highlight of the show include during the performance of "The Opposite of Hallelujah" Jens and the band dropped all of their instrumentation and brought the the full song that is sampled during the song and they danced to 70s soul group Chairmen of the Board's "Give Me Just a Little More Time."

During his encores Jens played mostly songs solo with help from the audience, who he asked to whistle the horn section of the chorus of "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo" and sing along to the chorus of "Pocketful of Money."

Setlist:

I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You

The Opposite of Hallelujah

Black Cab

It Was a Strange Time in My Life

Your Arms Around Me

New Directions

You Are the Light

A Postcard to Nina

Maple Leaves

Sipping on the Sweet Nectar

Shirin

*****

A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill

Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo

*****

Pocketful of Money

Julie

To view more photos at this event click here.

The Death Metal Dog

This is just further proof that music can have an impact on all life forms. This dog here, let's call him Dethklok, who really digs the death metal music, goes totally nutzo when the music kicks in. 

Beware of dog.

Play that Funky Music White Boys

Vampire Weekend took the plane back to New York to show the kids how it's done on SNL. The Columbia University Preps with a propensity for African musical stylings showed they are more than just a buzz band with a tight set.

Go for "A-Punk." UPDATE: The video was removed due to copyrights. Instead enjoy the official music video for Vampire Weekend's "A-Punk." 

Check out how high guitarist/vocalist Ezra Koenig's guitar is hanging! Now, that's a proper rock star!

Wilco - Kicking Ass, Taking Names on SNL

Wilco rocked out with fellow hipster Ellen Page, Juno, on Saturday Night Live this past week. First, Jeff Tweedy and Wilco performed their ode to the everyday mundanity (like doing dishes and mowing lawns) "Hate It Here".

Next, they rocked out to "Walken" featuring Nels Cline on a lap steel guitar, proving that he is a complete and total badass. UPDATE: The video was removed due to copyrights. Instead, enjoy Wilco live on "Later... with Jools Holland" performing "You Are My Face" with Nels Cline being just as badass on a 12-string guitar.

Check out "Hate It Here".

Next week SNL will have Vampire Weekend!

Trent Reznor is my Hero

Here's a guy who knows how to do it right. Last fall Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails, recorded 36 new tracks that he has now collected into a double lp titled Ghosts I-IV, and is available right now.

You can grab 9 of the tracks for free of the Nine Inch Nails website, or $5 for a digital download of all 36 tracks, which includes a 40 page pdf of art and other goodies.

This follows the trend starting with Radiohead's In Rainbows "pay what you want" experiment last fall, where people could literally pay what they want for their new record (including nothing). 

Trent Reznor produced the new record for hip-hop artist Saul Williams titled The Inevitable Rise and Fall of Niggy Tardust that was released in roughly the same time period. People had the option of a free download or a higher quality download for $5.

The distribution of music by major record labels has been failing in the age of digital downloads and pirating, and this is just another shot at industry in general. I say kudos again to Reznor, and have other words reserved for those at the major labels.

In case you missed it: Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I-IV.

Black Cab Sessions with Spoon

This is just a great concept, people with acoustic guitars jamming out in the back of a London cab. It takes a real musician to be able to perform anywhere at any given moment, and this is a great example of that. This edition has Spoon's Britt Daniel performing "I Summon You" from 2005's Gimme Fiction.

For more cabbie rockin' goodness check out Black Cab Sessions. There you can find performances by the National, Okkervil River and the New Pornographers.

Some People Are Just Born Rock Stars

when it comes to rocking, this kid is already way ahead of most. this kid is well on already on his/her way, covering the Beatles, the greatest band ever.

prepare for one of the greatest covers of "Hey Jude" ever.

youtube via digg.

You've Seen Guitar Solos, Drum Solos, But Have You Ever Seen A Triangle Solo?

a new rock first. the show-stopping triangle solo. and what band would have the gall to do this? If you guessed the Foo Fighters, then you are correct. (but really who would have guessed the Foo Fighters? not me.)

Gotta love Dave Grohl for allowing this happen, we were all in need of a good rocking triangle solo. The cowbell has been getting all attention lately, and now it is time for the mighty triangle to get a moment in the limelight.

link via Stereogum.
http://stereogum.com/archives/concert/foo-fighters-msg-ny-021908_008169.html

Radiohead Show

so, i hit refresh on the ticketmaster site selling tickets to the upcoming Radiohead show, only to get hit with an annoying - but expected - load screen.

It took some doing, but I was able to snag 4 tickets in the second section. probably not the greatest spot, but hey, at least i won't be stuck out on the lawn - or paying some random person on ebay a ridiculous chunk of change for them.

$70 for a ticket is probably more than i would be willing to spend on a normal concert, but this is Radiohead and that makes it worth it.

the show is a what was formerly called the Smirnoff Center and is now the Superpages.com Center in Dallas. As of this posting the tickets are sold out. To those out there who were also able to snag a ticket - kudos.

May 18th seems so far off...

the first post

hey there fans of muzak.

this is the first post. yeah, first post!!! (that's three exclamation marks there, and no i don't think that is overkill by any means. maybe i should do it in all caps.)

YEAH, FIRST POST!!!

this concludes the first post.