« April 2006 | Main | June 2006 »

May 31, 2006

Phish Bassist Reconnects with Suffering Fan

[Mike Gordon, Phish bassist and Chewbacca of Phish lot and Star Wars fame share a moment]

In older Phish news, a phan puts gasoline in a bong and lives to tell about it (WARNING: THIS LINK WILL RUIN THE REST OF YOUR DAY. PROCEED IF SEEKING PROCRASTINATION ONLY. ):

Phishdawg writes:

We went to the local Chevron and put in $1 of premuium [sic] with techron into my 3 foot roor. I took the first hit. At first i felt really dizzy, i started vomiting, and then i passed out. That night i woke up in the hospital with the worst headache i have ever had.

Worth reading the rest for the comments alone:

-"You just supported terrorism"

-"You could have done the same with 87 octane - why premium?"

-"Learned your lesson .. chevron gas is shwag .. exxon is where its at.."

-"Are you from Philly???"

Tags: Phish, Mike Gordon, Wookie, Chewbacca

Posted by Merry Swankster at 03:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Retrohump Day - Disappointments

Back at work after a short vacation, and in no shape to wax euphoric. No, today we dwell on the flip side of YouTube's pleasure chest, into the clips that once tracked down, were revealed as pretty lousy. Now, these aren't the absolute worst things I could find. With a mindset of seeking out history's rock bottom, I could have found vids to inspire Oedipal eye-gouging, surely. Just a set of anticipated footage, that once seated with laptop on lap top, left me surprisingly unsatisfied. Let's spread the bad cheer, shall we?

the Cure - "Killing an Arab"
(Live in Paris @ the Theatre de, 08.12.1979)

Early Cure footage has been a consistent search item since the onset of the YouTube era. A chance to get Robert Smith in his pre-pancake make up and women's blouses prime (and far, far removed from his stack of pancakes and hockey jersey present) is very appealing in theory. In this, the only clip from the Three Imaginary Boys era available on the Tube, the desire proves to be pretty misguided. Naked on stage with no theatrics and a bland v- neck sweater, Rob is drained of his weird goth charisma. The music is kind of sloppy and noodling as well, with none of the Camus inspired existential dread coming through. It's still got sort of an appealing minimal charm I suppose, but it's not very sharp at all. With the Cure's gift for pop thrills, the dull edge doesn't suit them.

the Slits - "Typical Girls"

I know I'm not supposed to, but I totally identify with the look on the face of appalled old Brit at the beginning of this video. Ewwwww. On record I try my best to ignore the reggae influence on the Slits music, and the manic enthusiasm and pre-Bjork vocal ticks of Ari Upp mostly make the task worthwhile, but here there's no way around it. That hat is bad enough, but the dance is unforgivable. The whole video makes me want to run to park security. "Hi, we reserved this space for our family reunion, and I think some kids slept there over night. If you could just ask them to leave..."

the Chills - "Pink Frost"

The New Zealand rock scene of the early eighties is still a rich source of discovery for most nascent trainspotters, as most of the significant material is still out of print or available only via internet mailorder (at least until ten minutes after a new blog sensation band starts cribbing from them overtly. This could happen at any time). The Clean, Tall Dwarfs, the Verlaines, the Jean Paul Sartre Experience, and their like were making great, unassuming indie rock long before the term was a badge of honor or a scarlet letter. Sad then, that this is You Tube's only current document of the vital scene. The song is great, unspeakably sad and pretty, definitely the Chills best. But the video is atrocious. A guy walks alone in his forest of pain, or whatever, for the whole video. Sometimes, we get a floating head. Then, when you are so bored that you want to share the fate of the song narrator's girlfriend, the scarecrow of ultimate sorrow comes in for no reason, and looks terrible. Apparently, obscurity fit them like a wool sweater that they never wanted removed.

the Cramps - "Human Fly"
(Live, 1980)

The coolest song in the Cramps' book is entirely ruined for me here by Lux Interior's annoyingly affected perfomance. The music is still pretty tough, but he looks like he just came out of workshopping some facial expressions in drama class as opposed to crawling out of some post apocalyptic biker bar. To amp up his skeeze cred he decides mid song to drink some beer from his shoe. Proving what? It's just gross, and stupid, and pointlessly over the top in a way that makes me want to disregard these garbage pail kids entirely.

But I might just be in a bad mood...

Tags: the Cure, the Slits, the Chills, the Cramps

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 25, 2006

Jesse Hughes from EODM = Thomas Jane?

Thomas Jane (Boogie Nights, Punisher, 61*) or Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal singer aka J-Devil)?

Previously: Eddie Argos & Adam Morrison

Tags: Thomas Jane, Jesse Hughes, Eagles of Death Metal

Posted by Merry Swankster at 02:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Flaming Lips on Leno tonight | Eagles of Death Metal did Letterman on Broadway

"The Flaming Lips will be on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight, Thursday May 24th. Tune in and watch them perform "The W.A.N.D." The show starts at 11:35pm/10:35pm central."

-- -- --

Last week the Eagles of Death Metal performed on Broadway outside the Ed Sullivan theatre for the Letterman show.

More pics after the jump.

//Flaming Lips - site
//Eagles of Death Metal - site

Tags: Flaming Lips, Leno, Letterman, Eagles of Death Metal

Posted by Merry Swankster at 02:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Still Waiting for Implanted iPod controlled by thoughts

My dream tech toy has always been an iPod like system that is controlled by thoughts and plays in my head. No wires, no headphones and no scrolling. Simply thinking a song cues the track and it immediately begins playing. Version 2.0 can have a Terminator style pop up graphic in your field of vision for searching through the dozens of blogger approved MP3s that get regularly downloaded.

Sounds far out? Brain waves can’t control electronics, that’s super sci-fi nerd stuff. Or is it?

In a step toward linking a person's thoughts to machines, Japanese automaker Honda said it has developed a technology that uses brain signals to control a robot's very simple moves. In the future, the technology that Honda Motor Co. developed with ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories could be used to replace keyboards or cell phones, researchers said Wednesday. (Link via AP)

The next move is a joint operation with Cupertino, CA to get cracking on my dream iPod. iThink? Is that already a Mac app?

The feeling returns/Whenever we close out eyes
Lifting my head/Looking around inside…
I’m still waiting…I’m still waiting - Talking Heads

Tags: Robots, Honda, iPod, Brain waves

Posted by Merry Swankster at 12:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Finally, Some Long Blondes News...

The Long Blondes have signed to Rough Trade Records in the UK and are preparing to release "Weekend Without Makeup", their first single for the revered label, on June 19th. Our favorite fashionplates remain on the uber hip What's Your Rupture? imprint in the states, but no word yet on whether the single will have a domestic release. As previously noted, you can listen to a truncated demo version of the song streaming on MySpace, here.

Even better is the Lamacq Live BBC radio broadcast from this past Monday the 22nd, featuring an in-studio session with the Blondes and a live rendition of the forthcoming single. It's up for now, but I think it'll probably vanish before next Monday's show, so get on it. Steve Lamacq's radio show isn't bad overall, but for those that want to go right to the main attraction should skip up ahead to roughly 20:07:30, on the provided counter.

Full Setlist for BBC session:
Fulwood Babylon
Once and Never Again
Weekend Without Makeup
Lust in the Movies
You Could Have Both
Giddy Stratospheres

In addition to the afforementioned "Weekend" (which has grown quite nicely from the streaming demo version), the set provides a possible window into a tracklist for the still mysterious debut album, which thanks to the BBC, we now know the kids are scheduled to begin recording in the next two weeks. Previously unreleased tracks "Fulwood Babylon" and "You Could Have Both" are typically strong, and the oldies rock as always.

No plans announced for a return to the States, and since they are just now rolling up their sleeves to record their first proper LP after a two year gestation period, it could take a while. Which puts a real crimp in my stalking plans...

the Long Blondes - "Lust in the Movies"

UPDATE: The Rich Girls are Weeping has the new single right now. Go there.

Tags: Long Blondes, Rough Trade Records, Steve Lamacq

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 07:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 24, 2006

Sony settles DRM lawsuit after staining CDs, Corrupting computers, & Angering artists

Remember that DRM (Digital Rights Management) issue with Sony CDs containing harmful spyware? It appears to have been settled.

Under the settlement, consumers will be able to exchange CD's with the copy-protection software for a replacement CD without the software and other compensation depending on what type of software was included on the CD they purchased. (NYT Link)

You may be entitled to free music, cash, or both if your purchase of effected CDs meets eligibility requirements.

Check out the list of tainted CDs (assuming your computer wasn't trashed by the embedded software) here. Titles include releases by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Imogen Heap, Kings of Leon, Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon, Neil Diamond, Sahara Hotnights, Trey Anastasio, Velvet Revolver, and one of my 2005 favorites, My Morning Jacket.

-- -- --

The Digital Music Weblog has extensive coverage on the fallout. Find out more than you ever wanted to know about XCP copy-protection software, security threats, Amazon blacklists, frustrated artists, and Sony's rootkit here.

Previously: Sony & DRM - It's All Gonna Break, eMusic - Scrappiness pays in volume

Tags: Sony, BMG, DRM, XCP Software, Spyware

Posted by Merry Swankster at 01:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

MOKB Covers Project | MP3s

Retrohumpish, albeit outsourced.

The oft cited by MS and fairly excellent 'My Old Kentucky Blog'-ger has been posting exhaustive cover versions of popular songs. For starters there are currently twenty different covers of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." Twelve versions of Blue Oyster Cult's classic, and SNL bovine-percussive favorite, "Don't Fear the Reaper."

MS readers may find it interesting that Belle and Sebastian cover both the aforementioned songs. Other tracks include a handful of past MS picks.

MKOB tally so far:

Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds [20 Versions]
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper [12 Versions]
Beach Boys - God Only Knows [22 Versions]
The Smiths - There is a Light That Never Goes Out [16 Versions]
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart [34! Versions]
Prince - When You Where Mine [10 Versions]

Previously: James Blunt covered the Pixies at Coachella, Drag Karaoke, I am a rock, They are the Islands, Under the Covers ("Classic" MS)

Tags: Covers Project, Elvis, Blue Oyster Cult, Belle and Sebastian, Beach Boys, The Smiths, Joy Division, Prince

Posted by Merry Swankster at 11:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Retrohump Day - A Little Bowie...

Sunset Rubdown still on the brain, with me earning superfan status by hitting their second Mercury Lounge date tonight. For cohesion's sake I thought I'd stay on the same page with a man and his piano, artin' it up. THE man and his piano, regardless of what Billy Joel might have you believe.

David Bowie - "Oh, You Pretty Things"
(Old Grey Whistle Test, 1972)

The similarities to SR are most apparent in this clip, yet another gem from OGWT. The fits and starts of tempo, the slightly surreal, but heartfelt lyrics, the otherworldly vocal wail. Both write elegantly powerful music with a premium on melody and intelligence. 30 + years of rock music between them, Krug understandably comes out a bit more ragged and a little less image conscious, for better or worse. Folks just don't rock the open chested singlets like they used to, and Montreal is quite cold, I hear.

Tags: David Bowie, Sunset Rubdown

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 10:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Will Butler of Arcade Fire guestblogging on Said the Gramophone

Will Butler guestblogging about Czech history and Rock n' Roll over at Said the Gramophone. Specifically when the communist regime was overthrown:

"...[R]esistance to the Communist government, which is ultimately toppled by student demonstrations snowballing into everyone demonstrations in 1989. They call the revolution "The Velvet Revolution" because it’s non-violent and everything goes so smoothly. And also because the leaders of the opposition were really into the Velvet Underground. I’m not kidding. Absurdist playwright Vaclav Havel becomes president and in his first month invites Frank Zappa to the presidential castle as a guest of state (US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia Shirley Temple Black (yes, that Shirley Temple) meets him at the airport and asks him how his daughter Moon Unit is doing). Later on in the year he has Lou Reed come as an official state visitor and play songs with the Plastic People of the Universe, who are totally stoked about it." - Will Butler (Link via Said the Gramophone).

Tags: Will Butler, Arcade Fire, Czech Republic, Velvet Underground, Lou Reed

Posted by Merry Swankster at 05:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 23, 2006

Sunset Rubdown/ Frog Eyes / Beirut @ the Mercury Lounge, New York City, 5.22.06

Photos by Devon Banks

There's likely going to be a digital quart of virtual ink spilled on Monday night's exemplary Mercury Lounge bill, so I'll spare you the flowery intro. It was very good. Terrific even. Fucking awesome, perchance. Band by band, here we go...

Beirut

The grade handed down to teenage buzzwolf Zach Condon by the blogosphere's self professed professors following his first ever show earlier this month as gypsy pop outfit Beirut was a noncommital incomplete. Great pains were taken not to smother the new band in its hype crib, attaching back handed complements like "full of promise" to a performance marred by long between song technical difficulties and an understandably nervous demeanor. Expect the reception to be a bit more rapturous for the impressively smooth follow-up. Beirut's strength was in the freshness of its nonconventional line-up (Mini string section, t-shirt muffled snare drums, mandolin, multiple instances of dueling ukelele) and in the disconnect between Zach's baby face and old soul croon. Album standouts "Postcards From Italy" and "Mt. Worclai" were set highpoints as well, standing out above looser non album material that curiously dominated the short set. Some momentum was lost when Zach had to split his attention from lead vocal to trumpet duty, a problem sure to be rectified by the announced addition of a small brass section for upcoming shows. The gathering strength of his touring ensemble bodes well for live renditions of more of Gulag Orkestar's material, and also the amount of tail this kid is in for. Girls are already starting to wig out a little. Good luck, Zach.

Sunset Rubdown

You get the feeling that Spencer Krug has little use for name distinctions seperating one of his bands from the others. Songs are frequently reworked, expanded, defanged, or amped up across the Rubdown-Wolf Parade border with a refreshing lack of regulation. In that vein, Spence started Sunset Rubdown's set with a beautifully vulnerable solo piano rendition of band shared track "I'll Believe in Anything." Lines that come across as end of your rope defiance when framed by electric guitar took on the air of quiet pleading collapse when painted with a softer brush. So fragile that the segway into glam stomper "Snake's Got a Leg III" was all the more shocking when the full band finally exploded into form. Playing there together, the band had a weight that surpassed lofty expectations. The songs on their excellent album, Shut Up, I am Dreaming are thrilling and, well, dreamy, but not this ferocious by half. Even pristine ballad "Us Ones in Between" gained a swagger via pounding drum work. Some of the beauty was lost, maybe, but it was still awful pretty and the recorded version doesn't hit you in the chest like it did on Monday.

Nearly all of their debut album was accounted for, and a good many of the songs were equalled if not improved by a live reading. Whereas my experience with a drunken Wolf Parade last year was that of mild disappointment that they couldn't seem to handle the complexity of some of their own songs, and ended up rushing through, Sunset Rubdown tackled multi part opuses like "I'm Sorry I Sang on Your Hands That Have Been in the Grave" with assured prowess, Spencer rocking his keyboard with as much fury as a seated man can muster. Talent like his is hard to miss no matter what name he's operating under, and I (and the rest of the floored audience, I can only assume) will make it a point to investigate any project he sees fit to release for the forseeable future. Can we start getting insanely excited for Swan Lake yet?

Frog Eyes

Frog Eyes took the stage post Rubdown, and commmenced freaking out for the entirety of their set. It was as if Jack Black's High Fidelity clerk didn't wuss out in the end and had brought a Sonic Death Monkey concert off to completion. As predicted, Laura's bourgeois lawyer friends couldn't handle it, and the audience shrunk to roughly a third of its former size. Frog Eyes' live show reverses the normal structure of things, laying out a full throttle perpetual climax and only occasionally seguing into a calm transitional moment. No one can accuse Carey Mercer of taking it easy, or lacking passion, but his message is a bit muddled when every song is a ten car pile up. On record, access points into the dirge storm can be found in inventively far out lyrics, and subtle keyboard counter melodies, but subtleties were lost in the electric shock delivery. Despite the addition of Krug's tired hands on the Yamaha, the synth accompaniment here was a tad drowned out. When he finally took a breath and slowed the pace on a new song towards the end of the set, it displayed how expressive and beautifully weird the sound of Mercer's voice can be when given a little space to make it's impact. That space was hard to come by in this remarkably committed, but ultimately punishing performance.

More Sun Rub and Frog Eyes pictures after the jump...

Tags: Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown, Beirut, Mercury Lounge

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 06:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 22, 2006

Auld Lang Syne

For a band that's been steadily rocking for nearly ten years now, in a Brooklyn music scene that couldn't be more exhaustively discussed, Oneida still kind of slips in under the radar somehow. For their early career output the marginal attention was at least understandable. Album after album of towering guitar epics rooted in psychedelic experimentation and krautrock repetition are enough to cement a cult presence, but aren't generally going to break through to the indie audience at large (is that an oxymoron?). Stranger is the lack of widespread love for their last two albums, 2004's Secret Wars and last year's the Wedding. Wars reined in the more noisy grandeur of the band somewhat, adding Sonic Youth-ish mid tempo, almost pretty tunefulness to some shorter songs, giving the lumbering workouts some balance in the track sequencing. The Wedding developed the sound even further, embracing a sixties baroque pop influence that opened the blinds, shining some light on the basement jams with falsetto and deft string arrangements. Now, the admirably prolific band returns, with the forthcoming Happy New Year album, revealing a firm control of their slightly shifting signature sound. Able to draw on the brutal lock step of the formative albums, without sacrificing the newfound emphasis on vocal harmony and the wider pool of utilized instruments.

Oneida - History's Great Navigators

Excepting the false start electro bit that threatens to be a Life Aquatic homage, this song uses their previous obsession with repetition, but builds it self up with raggedly human elements rather than alien synths and dominating electric death. A single note piano stab is manically repeated, giving the song as much percussive drive as the lazy drum pattern hiding near the back of the mix. A woozy, bent guitar refrain is the other key element, diminishing the psychotic impact of the ivory assault a bit, and setting the stage for the vocals, which are still hanging out in the Wedding's high register. The end result is a rock treadmill, energetically sprinting in place, but building up a satisfying sweat in the process.

Oneida - Up With People

In contrast to the stationary circling of the last track, this one is a return to the ample riff brokering and ear punishing volume of the band's earlier work. An 8 minute monster that goes from rapid fire scrapes to more conventionally heavy psych air raid tones and back again. While the guitar contorts and flips about, the drumming anchors the song forcing a straight line trajectory onto the abrasive wanderlust. Humanizing the pyro-technical prowess is a chanted mantra, a tad on the blandly new age-y side ("You have to get up to get free!") but judiciously placed throughout the song, allowing for some release from the claustrophobic tightness.

The Happy New Year comes on July 11th, via the party animals at Jagjaguwar Records.

To visit Oneida's offical site, click here.

Tags: Oneida, Sonic Youth, Krautrock, Jagjaguwar

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 12:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

...little patience, mm yeah, ooh yeah

Guest blogging, Yonah Korngold:

The real change in the book market is not the big guy vs. the little guy, or chain vs. indie stores. Rather, it's the reader's greater impatience, a symptom of our amazing literary (and televisual) plenitude.
-Tyler Cowen (via Slate)

I can’t wait to chew on a handful of the newest focus pills and then chase is with a triple latte. I curse furiously when there is traffic in the EZ pass lane. I should have a little more patience, after all I learned at an early age from The Jetsons that even in an ever expanding universe inhabited by aliens, robots, and his boy Elroy, standstill bumper to bumper traffic in mid air is a constant. Some might call me a little impatient, but then again I am only the by-product of a society full of fidgety masses drowning in Ritalin, whose attention span can no longer support the local indie book and music store.

But maybe it’s my fault that indie music and book stores are following the Republican Party and Britney Spears down a hole six feet deep. I have to take part of the blame because not only do I buy books at Borders but am a former employee. But as Tyler Cowen points out in his article on Slate.com, I can’t really be the one to blame. After all I was only following a culture of impatience. I was only following society! I continue my plea to the jury at Nuremberg.

There is no doubt that cultural impatience has changed the market for the indie book and music store. Al Gore’s famed invention of the internet is usually the number one culprit in making these independent stores fold against the threat of the big chains. When everything is available at a click we are of course less likely to spend time seeking them out in the indie store, even if it makes us look cool. There is no doubt that impatience has changed the market, but I am even more interested in how our impatience has changed the product. How our anxious, restless ways have changed the way books are written and songs are composed.

It is easy to see how a reader’s impatience has changed literature. I have made a couple gentlemen’s bets that hotels will start putting copies of The Da Vinci Code instead of The Bible in the nightstand. Even though The Bible is a well written book it could benefit from shorter chapters and several more cliff hangers.

There is no doubt that modern readers need a quick fix. In order to compete in the publishing world writers have to make plots that develop at a Jack Bauer pace with little or no attention to the development of character and pacing the mood. Yesterday I swear I saw Hemingway in the unemployment line! We have such a short attention span for words that even I have stopped reading this blog two paragraphs ago. So it makes sense that books are now written for a mouse clicking audience that needs their information fast and to the point. But if books are being written differently, wouldn’t it also make sense for music to follow cue?

I was originally convinced that the attention to the individual song on iTunes and the iPod was a death sentence for the concept album. If Tyler Cowen is right and we no longer have the time to finish Tolstoy, then how are we going to sit and listen to an entire album from start to finish? I grew real scared that there would be no Dark Side of the Moon or Abbey Road in the album less musical future. But then along came Green Day’s American Idiot which won every award from the Grammy to the Nobel and I relaxed a little because this proved that a band could make a concept album and simultaneously sell every one of its songs as a single.

The truth is that even though I know music has to be composed differently to reflect our squirming restless ways, I can not put my finger on how song writing styles have changed. The Ramones have already played a song twice as fast and it seems that music is still being written in the same fashion as it has since the beginning of time, or at least since The Beatles. Maybe there is no real change in song writing and like everything else music is entirely cyclical and the three minute pop song revolves in the same vacuum as the ten minute guitar solo. And is it true that Axl Rose tuning his vocal chords for an encore of “Patience?” Maybe readers and listeners will finally take the lead singer’s advice.

Previously: href="http://www.merryswankster.com/archives/2006/05/the_other_side.html">The Other Side of Mt. Retailer

-Posted on behalf of Philadelphia's favorite literary scientist, Yonah B. Korngold. Yonah is eagerly awaiting the crushing devastation of defeat the NY Mets will bring to his beloved Phillies. Email him here.

Tags: Independent Music, Retailers, Corporate Patronage, Slate

Posted by Merry Swankster at 08:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 18, 2006

Bloggers Announce Sirius Radio Show!

Satellite radio day at MS. How serendipitous. Top bloggers and Sirius announce daily ‘Blog Radio’ show on the already awesome Left of Center station.

Press release:

Sirius satellite radio announced today that it will launch a daily music show hosted by some of America's top music bloggers. The innovative new program, Blog Radio, will debut on Monday, May 29 on Left of Center channel 26, the commercial-free SIRIUS music channel that plays the best in college, indie and alternative rock music.

Each weeknight at 10 pm ET, Blog Radio will be hosted by a blogger who will showcase his or her favorite music and provide views and insights into the indie rock music scene.

Holy crap. Just over two hours since this post and my comment about bloggers’ influence gets negated:

”How many satellite radio users have been introduced to new music they otherwise wouldn’t have? As self important as music bloggers may feel, most people do not get their new music from online media blogs. Shocking to some, but at the end of the day MS and its ilk do not light a match to the mega reach of broadcasters, even (arguably) niche media channels like satellite radio.”

Gorilla vs Bear says:

"Boy are we excited. I've already lined up some great "in-studio" performances with some of my favorite artists, and of course I'll be playing the best music played on any radio station ever. Should be a lot of fun." (Link)

Brooklyn Vegan says:

"It's true. I've joined Howard Stern, Deepak Chopra, Eminem, Little Steven, Mark Cuban, Matt Pinfield, Martha Stewart, and Richard Simmons at Sirius Sattelite Radio." (Link)

Product Shop NYC says:

"One of the sweet parts of this deal is that we get 100% creative control of our programming. I plan on taking full advantage of this part of our agreement and have some killer surprises already lined up." (Link)

See, I told you Sirius was sweet. 'Blog Radio' premieres Monday May 29th on Sirius Left of Center, channel 26. Congratulations to all involved.

Previously: XM Radio sued by RIAA, Radio JACKasses and Hypocrisy | NAB, Diagram of an Indie Rock Show | Crossing over to Satellite Radio

Tags: Blog Radio, Sirius, Satellite Radio, Music Bloggers, Left of Center, Wow,

Posted by Merry Swankster at 03:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Jodie Foster - Lose Yourself (Penn Commencement)

Jodie Foster @ University of Pennsylvania Commencement

Viral video alert! No word on tourdates...

Tags: Jodie Foster, Lose Yourself, Eminem, Penn Commencement

Posted by Merry Swankster at 02:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

XM Radio sued by RIAA

Taking a break from persuing college students, dead grannies, and banging their heads into walls, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed a federal lawsuit against XM satellite radio.

SKY Report reports:

The Recording Industry Association of America, which counts as members major labels such as Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, EMI and Sony BMG, filed the suit late Tuesday in New York federal court. The litigation accuses XM of "massive wholesale infringement," and seeks $150,000 in damages for every song copied by XM customers using the device, which went on sale earlier this month. The litigation involves the Pioneer Inno XM2go radio.

XM responded in a statement:

"These are legal devices that allow consumers to listen to and record radio just as the law has allowed for decades," the company said in a statement. "The music labels are trying to stifle innovation, limit consumer choice and roll back consumers' rights to record content for their personal use." XM also claimed the suit "is a negotiating tactic on the part of the labels to gain an advantage in our private business discussions." The company said it's the largest single payer of digital music broadcast royalties, and royalties paid by XM go to the music industry and benefit artists directly. XM said it will "vigorously defend this lawsuit on behalf of consumers."

My comments after the jump.

I’ve written about my love of Sirius satellite radio and the immense superiority the service has over traditional radio. It never ceases to amaze me hearing a band like Tapes ‘n Tapes segueing into the latest Belle and Sebastian single on my freaking radio. I’m convinced the exposure these bands receive (entities the RIAA is in place of protecting) are nothing but positive. Why they would sue an avenue of publicity and promotion is beyond comprehension.

How many satellite radio users have been introduced to new music they otherwise wouldn’t have? As self important as music bloggers may feel, most people do not get their new music from online media blogs. Shocking to some, but at the end of the day MS and its ilk do not light a match to the mega reach of broadcasters, even (arguably) niche media channels like satellite radio.

How is recording music on traditional radio any different than recording music on satellite radio? Just because next generation devices make it easier to record shouldn’t make them illegal. Makes me wish they’d win so they can screw themselves further. Like cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Maybe the RIAA should start suing bands for sucking, oh wait sratch that.

Previously: Radio JACKasses and Hypocrisy | NAB, Diagram of an Indie Rock Show | Crossing over to Satellite Radio

Tags: Satellite Radio, XM, Sirius, Tapes 'n Tapes, Belle and Sebastian, XM2go

Posted by Merry Swankster at 01:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Duran Duran Guys Have Great Taste. No, Really...

Newly released to the shockingly priced import racks of US metropolises, is the Nick Rhodes and John Taylor curated Only After Dark, a surprisingly phenomenal compilation of dark, seventies/ early eighties electronic tinged rock music that provided them with inspiration in their formative years. Slaved over like a manically curated iPod playlist, the Duran-ers have very few missteps, hitting art rock highpoints like Wire, Magazine, Iggy, and Bowie. They show excellent sequencing prowess as well, bumping Kraftwerk up to Donna Summer, following Bryan Ferry with Roxy nemesis Eno, as sample moves among a uniformly well crafted disc. Most hardcore rock nerds have probably got the majority of these tracks lying around on a harddrive somewhere, but for those who don't it's pretty can't miss (New Yorkers try Tower Records in either their NYU or Columbus Circle locations, as they do employ perhaps the best import buyers in town).

In its full glory;

Only After Dark Tracklist:

1. Being Boiled - the Human League
2. Computer Game - Yellow Magic Orchestra
3. Always Crashing In The Same Car - David Bowie
4. Sister Europe - the Psychedelic Furs
5. Changeling - Simple Minds
6. Only After Dark - Mick Ronson
7. Underpass - John Foxx
8. Warm Leatherette - the Normal
9. In Crowd - Bryan Ferry
10. True Wheel - Brian Eno
11. Are Friends Electric - Tubeway Army
12. Robots - Kraftwerk
13. I Feel Love - Donna Summer
14. I Am The Fly - Wire
15. Shot By Both Sides - Magazine
16. Private Life - Grace Jones
17. Passenger - Iggy Pop
18. Slow Motion - Ultravox

So, good show boys. But I have to ask, really? I mean, don't get me wrong, Duran Duran had some pretty decent little pop songs and everything, but you're saying that this is what you put in your creative blender and "Hungry Like the Wolf" came out the other end? I'm not sure if that makes this redemptive, or further damning.

Mick Ronson - Only After Dark

The compilation's title track from lead Spiders From Mars guitarist Ronson was recorded in the brief period post Ziggy Stardust fame when Bowie claimed he was retiring. Quickly stepping into the glam star void, Ronson turns in a track that sounds exactly like prime David material. Exactly. If I claimed this was a lost track from the Aladdin Sane sessions that only just turned up, you would believe me. So similar it must have creeped Bowie out a little, as if Mick came to a party at his house wearing a sequined space pirate outfit indentical to the one he had worn out the night before. "Oh, that's nice Mick, I, uh, I've actually sort of been into Philadelphia soul lately..."

Tags: Duran Duran, Mick Ronson, David Bowie, Kraftwerk

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 09:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 17, 2006

Retrohump Day – Selling Out!

There was a time when rock bands regarded commercial deals as an intoxicating pestilence to their integrity. Product shilling was the ultimate no-no. Touring dingy bars in a crusty van and rejecting corporate gigs were essentials for maintaining honesty. It was honorable, and probably smelly. Indies and punk rockers in particular preached the ethos of not selling out.

These days Sonic Youth appears on the Gilmore Girls and indie outfits suck the corporate teat for cash and publicity in practically every car commercial on television. Almost silly to think the Flaming Lips’ Peach Pit performance was a defining musical moment for my generation. I doubt ten years from now anyone will regard Modest Mouse rocking the Bait Shop in the same way.

This edition of Retrohump unearths classic commercials from overworked families, contrived boy bands, and rock legends. Playing celluloid clubs on teenage dramadies is not the same as unconcealed product endorsements, but I’m sure Ian Mackaye hates it all.

The Monkees
(Kool-Aid)

Before crashing through walls became fashionable, the kids were very lonely. Naturally the folks at Kool-Aid suggested befriending powdered drink mix for spontaneous desert parties. They say the original idea for Coachella was spawned from this commercial, “oh yeaaaah!”

Rolling Stones
(Rice Krispies)

Contrary to popular belief, Bill Gates was not the first to feature the Stones’ music in product placement. Kellogg’s beat nerdy billionaire/malaria hater by 30 years and $12 million less. However, I think the real revelation is the unfailing consistency of snap, crackle, and pop.

Jackson Five
(Alphabits)

Do you think Michael Jackson succumbs to murderous rage upon seeing a box of Alphabits? Those tricky letters always spelled red rum in his milk, I know it.

David Bowie
(Pepsi)

If rock truisms related to Scientology, David Bowie has reached the status of level 8 operating thetan. The man can unapologetically do as he pleases with zero concern for his veneration. Its enough for him to shit in a bodega bathroom near [insert up and coming band]’s downtown show and Manhattan bloggers are all over it. Why wouldn’t a soft drink maker dress him in a monkey suit while working the levers of the Weird Science set? Evidently a nip and spill of sugary beverage, short circuits and the “Modern Love” soundtrack is all the Thin White Duke needs to create the perfect woman. Don King hairstyle and vivacious legs to boot! Eat your heart out Iman.

Previously: Jack White's Coca Cola commercial

Tags: Retrohump, Monkees, Rolling Stones, Jackson Five, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Kool-Aid, Rice Krispies, Alphabits, Pepsi,

Posted by Merry Swankster at 11:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Other Side of Mt. Retailer

Clearly, though, what Miller and others fear is that the culture of literacy that indie bookstores help cultivate and nurture—the eccentric interests, the peculiar niches—will be lost in the routinized world of the superstore. Part of the value of indies was that they helped introduce us to new titles; Shakespeare & Co. in Lower Manhattan features different books than does Barnes & Noble.

- From a great article from Final Four-appearing-George Mason University professor in Slate.

If there were a dictionary police patrolling the streets and (fortuitously apt) independent music stores, they would be hauling in hipsters by the truckloads for their claims of indie music.

The Fiery Furnaces are indie. The Liars are indie. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have abdicated that indie designation. And that's fine because YYYs sound indie! Point being, independent as is espoused by the music-loving, corporate-fearing public is more an aesthetic statement than anything relating to P&L sheets or corporate hierarchy.

So rather than chortle as they crush enough truly independent store due to infrastructural cost-savings or distribution heft, the major book and music retailers should try to create seperate stores (or sections within their suburban palaces) that evoke a feeling of the much-loved independent stores. Pay a knowledgeable music lover a good salary, give him free music, and brand it as independent thinking, major retailer pricing. B/c, face it: the customer-facing employees of the independent stores (save for unique situations) are probably not getting a great deal of money for their work. Maybe we've confused jadedness for financial situation-based anger. So those people we salute as tastemakers at store might even draw a better salary from a chain (unless, perhaps, they run an ad-supported music blog).

If anyone is angered by the above suggestions, let the record state that I try to shop at the lovely SoundFix and enjoy coffee at its sister cafe. But... if indie stores are being crushed, their consumers need to be served elsewhere. And that patronage is up for grabs.

Notes: Jeff Klingman swears by the amicability of the staff at NYC's Other Music, despite this over-the-top clip. A post on the topic from Coolfer.

Tags: independent music, retailers, benign corporate patronage Slate

Cross posted here.

Posted by Keith O'Brien at 11:33 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

May 16, 2006

Raconteurs - 'Broken Boy Soldiers' out today | Tour dates

Jack White and Brenden Benson's Midwest supergroup, The Raconteurs, released their debut album Broken Boy Soldiers today (Buy for $10!). In honor of this momentus occasion the band has announced dates for the first leg of a US tour kicking off at the current home of the Merry Swankster in Denver, CO.

Pre-Sale tickets go onsale TODAY. Check out the tour page for details.

Broken Boys Marching

7/16/2006 - The Fillmore Auditorium/Denver, CO
7/18/2006 - Marquee Theatre/Tempe, AZ
7/19/2006 - Soma/San Diego, CA
7/21/2006 - Wiltern Theatre/Los Angeles, CA
7/23/2006 - Warfield Theatre/San Francisco, CA
7/25/2006 - Roseland Theatre/Portland, OR
7/26/2006 - Malkin Bowl at Stanley Park/Vancouver, BC
7/27/2006 - Moore Theatre/Seattle, WA
8/03/2006 - First Avenue/Minneapolis, MN
8/05/2006 - Michigan Theatre/Ann Arbor, MI
8/06/2006 - House of Blues/Cleveland, OH

Previously: The Raconteurs Rocked Glasgow, The Raconteurs - Looking for a Store Bought Fix, The Raconteurs - Poised to blow our minds

Tags: Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers

Posted by Merry Swankster at 01:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Danielson - Live @ Northsix, Brooklyn - 5.13.2006

Photos by Devon Banks.

So, in desperate need of a soaping after Giant Drag, we ventured back into the well lit confines of Brooklyn's Northsix for the wholesome spectacle that is a concert by the Famile Danielson. Not just any concert mind you, but the release party for their widely respected new album Ships. Sufjan Stevens, heartthrob to the horn rimmed, was quickly spotted chatting with a nice elderly couple who were likely senior Smiths here for their kids' big night. Being back in a non-Clear Channel venue, things were running late.

Having a bit of time to ruminate on what it is that makes the new record so worthy of celebration, I brought to mind a classic of my childhood cinemania, Muppets Take Manhattan (actually I went to get some beers, but stay with me for a second). In that film, when Kermit finally awakes from his ad-man amnesia it finally dawns on him what has been missing from his Broadway musical. More of well, everything. More dogs, and bears, and chickens, and things. It appears Dan Smith might have had a similar epiphany, as Ships just has MORE. The animal kingdom might not be quite as represented, but there is more Deerhoof, more Sufjan, more Serena Maneesh, more voices, more instruments, but also more structure, more memorable choruses, etc. When the time finally came for the set up to begin, the maximalism was on obvious display. Two drumkits, two keyboards, guitars, tamborines, a xylophone, and green notebooked hymnals. Everywhere, the hymnals.

Finally taking the stage in sharp blue policeman (and police nurse?) uniforms, that believe it or not were fairly reserved for the band, the D fam was as always a formidible visual presence. Only two female vocalists in tow this time, Elin and Megan to be precise, that I suspect might have had to do with the need for more specific instrumentation for the complex arrangements. Gracious thanks, and away we went.

Set and album opener, "Ship the Majestic Suffix," gave a good indication of what we were in for. Despite a healthy dose of nautical wordplay, the title reveals that this song is really about a love of language. How adding "ship" can turn your singular friend into a two way friend-ship. How changes in language change meaning, elevating lonely nouns into warming concepts of community. A bit touchy feely, I guess, but also very clever tackling of commonplace, minute subject matter ignored by countless "so there was this girl" type lyricists, and refreshing in these decidedly anti-intellectual times. Reminiscent of David Byrne crafting odes to paper and oxygen. Of course, all the smarts in the world are useless without a performing conviction, and the band came through, with Dan Smith's high pitched whisper giving way to a thrilling eight vocalist blast on numerous occasions.

The set focus was almost exclusively on their new material, which was great since the dedicated core crew was ably replicating the work of dozens that brought the album to life. So, not surprisingly, the album's highlights were the set's as well. "Bloodbook on the Halfshell," an enthusiastic rocker about the library was a prime example. The genius of this one is in it's decision, once transitioning from slow to fast, to keep picking up speed for a third gear rather than receding into a more conventional A-B dynamic. With all of the cascading sounds and voices, meshed perfectly on stage, the progressive exhilaration was dizzying. And the hand claps, good God the handclaps.

Dan tipped his hat as to the impending arrival of the band's finest moment, "Did I Step on Your Trumpet?" by asking if anyone on the audience had indeed, stepped on a trumpet. When some drunk said that he had, Dan met him with playful skepticism. "Really? On the bell?" No, the drunk guessed not. But, Dan isn't one to make you feel bad, and cheered everyone in the room with the soaring psychedelic chorus, and hilariously bizarre lyrical turns. Also gets as close to trash talk as he's likely to come with the very true line about detractors who might not have been able to enjoy the moral, religious overtones of some of their previous albums, "I've been called the wet blanket/ By cranks who I outrank/ But do-oooooo not have/ a clue." Preach on, brother.

A good time to note that as much as religion has been (fairly) mentioned in regards to their work, the new album and its live rendition is less overtly Christian than ever. The one unambiguously scripture inspired track "My Lion Sleeps to Night" was even excised in favor of a snappy ditty ("Singers Go First") from their until recent peak, Fetch the Compass Kids. The tone was more about general celebration, and good feeling and it acheived both in a way that's less saccharine and obvious than the ironically more creepily cultish Polyphonic Spree. The set closer, "Five Stars and Two Thumbs Up," spread the love both ways as the band thanked all collaborators and fans, wishing them luck in their endeavors in a typically well phrased manner.

The encore was even more community minded, as he prefaced their final number, the older "Cutest lil' Dragon" by declaring that "This one is a sing-along." There had been previous attempts at audience participation (a couple of "clap-alongs") that hadn't gone entirely to plot, the crowd struggling to keep up with the complexly giddy two drummered beat. This time Brother Daniel took us by the hand, laying out the lyrics and giving us a practice run before starting. It worked out well, a dog tired and boozy room just giving itself over to togetherness. He had turned the relation between audience and performer into a relation-ship. It was a mighty fine time indeed.

Tags: Danielson Famille, Sufjan Stevens, Northsix, Christian Indie Rock, Ricky Schroeder on Drums

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 10:38 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

May 15, 2006

More Hating on Lady Sovereign

[Louise Harman proving her mettle and fishing for promotional deals.]

We try to keep it positive here at MS.com, golden rule and all. Though sometimes, hype demands squashing. Case in point, Lady Sovereign. She wasn't even mildly entertaining at Coachella. Bland, irritating and embarrassingly unconvincing. Hip hop, rap, grime, whatever has a reputation for toughness. Lady S. leveraged her cornrows and oh-so-hardcore sideways ponytail with a shout out to everyone on MySpace. Jay-Z got his props and is totally in her top eight.

Notes from a Different Kitchen blog chimes in on the UK grime scene and lets us in on comments from an equally unimpressed industry head who was at her Def Jam audition (link).

"In the meantime, what's the state of the UK grime scene in 2006? Well let me relay a story I heard from a very successful A&R/artist manager in the hip hop game about the much-feted Lady Sov and the now legendary-in-the-blogopshere [sic] audition for Jay-Z which led to her improbable signing to Def Jam:

"That chick signed to Def Jam?! I was there that day when she was at Def Jam. She barely said a word and Jay kept begging her to kick a freestyle and she kept refusing. When she finally did she was terrible, I can't believe she got a deal."

That pretty sums it up as far as grime's prospects in the US go and is a pretty accurate assessment of this chick too in my view. Outside of a couple bright moments on an mp3 or 12" here and there, I don't see what the fuss is all about. She hit one out the park one time on a fluke and got to sign to the Yankees?! What part of the game is that?!"

Lady S. gets publicity (and perhaps even a record deal) because she's a cute girl rapping. Not being misogynistic as regular readers of this site can attest. MS staff have nothing but love for women in music. In fact we are likely guilty of disproportionately praising female bands in our discourse.

Bottom line, Lady Sovereign is a hip hop story because she is a girl like Eminem was the hip hop story because he is white. The colossal difference is Eminem has the talent to back up the curiosity.

If the blogosphere is going to clique on a performer, do so with Long Blondes jerks!

[Ed note - Expect more contrarian posts like this one from MS.com. Lily Allen? WTF?]

Lady Sovereign, Jay Z, Def Jam, Eminem, Hype?

Posted by Merry Swankster at 03:30 PM | Comments (39) | TrackBack

Mogwai Video - Friend of the Night

Mogwai - Friend of the night

A video of still life art pieces connected to one another. Word association on film. Mesmirizing.
Mogwai, Friend of the Night

Posted by Merry Swankster at 12:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Giant Drag / (5 min of) the Joggers - Live @ Irving Plaza, New York City - 5.13.2006

photos by Devon Banks

Several years of New York City livin' has totally altered my social clock. Late bar openings, cell phone arranged on the fly meet ups, and venues bluffing the actual time span of equipment set-up, all contribute to making one chronically unable to be at an event bright and early. So, with apologies to the Joggers, there was no way I was getting to the Irving Plaza by 8:30 for their opening slot Saturday night. The dash from the subway to the venue, more of a brisk saunter than the appropriate jog, got us in for maybe the last three songs or so of what was probably a pretty good set.

I say probably, because there's no way to know for sure, but in the limited dose, the band sounded great. "Wicked Light Sleeper" from last year's excellent enough With a Cape and a Cane LP was tight and forceful, engagingly delivered by a trio of nicely harmonized (if slightly nasal) voices. The following set closer was a slight development on the formula, breaking into a feedback noise excursion, and then snapping back into the peppy indie rock comfort zone. And then they were gone, sadly. Darrell Borque's oh-so Portland beard and Mt. Hood Jazz Festival t-shirt absent until they can find a headlining spot at a venue that falls more neatly into the night owl lifestyle that NYC forces upon us all. See you later boys. Literally.

Next came Giant Drag, the actual focal point of my interest since the plan was to bail on headliner Pretty Girls Make Graves for a more compelling engagement. Opening with the slow and hazy "Cordial Invitation" Annie Hardy gave a delicate Mazzy Star float in contrast to most of their catalog's PJ H snarl. Noting the change-up in post song banter, she said that she was "Making us loose and wet, before she shoved it in." Yeah. Therein lies the rub with Giant Drag (insert dirty rub pun here). On stage Annie's a bit of a composite Sarah, combining the sarcastic marble mouthed delivery of S Vowell with the "did I just say that?" shock and awww filth of S Silverman. But the juvenilia sometimes overwhelms what is obviously a pretty nimble wit, simultaneously mocking and encouraging the lust of the male indie crowd in pre-Matrix Liz Phair fashion.

She's so naturally funny that it's hard to focus entirely on the music when doing a wrap up of the show, which I think goes a long way to explaining how little discussion the band ends up getting in the alternate universe of music blogging. When there is so much material flooding the 'net, it's easy to see a goofy song title or read about some dirty talk and assume the affiliated band is a joke, not worth the listening time. Or conversely, it might promise something that the music doesn't deliver, as the solidly earnest Breeders' rock they produce doesn't jibe with the tease of shock. So with a confusing raison d'etre not as fully committed to irony as Art Brut, but not as identifiably sincere as a more blog loved band mining a simlar alt rock sound (Land of Talk), it takes a few more words to get to the heart of the matter.

Which is (finally!) the fact that the band has a handful of really great songs. The set's best 1-2-3 punch came with the infamously titled "You Fuck Like My Dad," followed by "This Isn't It," and the totally redeemed version of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game." At their best, the Drag manages to convey the most winning aspects of alternative rock's pendulum swing towards equal gender representation. The music is very feminine while maintaining a rough edge, and is filled with AH's big memorable guitar hooks. The songs play like a kiss off, not a break down and are of much more interest to me than the light as a feather fragile quirkiness of modern folk chanteuses like Joanna Newsom.

Those not distracted by a burgeoning crush or an internal feminist theory discussion, were served by the impressive musicianship of one man backing band Micah Calabrese. Playing keyboard and drums simultaneously (!), Micah deserves much of the credit for the thick wash of sound achieved, especially on the towering "This Isn't It." Worthy of note since he's destined to get disproportionate amount of ink and crowd eyeballs.

Being an opening set, it went by fairly quick in between giggles. After inquiring as to the close time for Magnolia Bakery, and then vowing to finish so they could "get the fuck out of there" the kids plowed through "Kevin is Gay," Hearts and Unicorns' lead track and first single. The MBV guitar swoon of the track was in full force, Annie managing the dense studio squall by her lonesome. Missing was the joke-y meow breakdown from the record. While the charmingly slack cat-erwauling is awfully cute, the song survived its surgical novelty removal admirably. While Annie's good (bad) humor is always going to be a giant draw, the songs are pretty seriously good, and maybe it's better for them in the long run if the jokes stay on stage and in song title form, and resist infecting the character of the music. Which although a bit unfashionable, is admirably tough.

So exit Giant Drag, and exit your intrepid reporter. We left the Pretty Girls to their handmade graves, and took the train back to Brooklyn, where there were bigger (Jesus) fish to fry. More on that to come shortly...

Tags: Giant Drag, the Joggers, Chris Isaak, PJ Harvey, Irving Plaza

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 11:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Editors & Franz Ferdinand - Cover crazy on the Beeb

I've been holding on to these for some time. Here are a couple of fun cover songs performed on the BBC.

[MP3] Editors - Feel Good Inc

Editors don ape masks for their take on on the Gorillaz tune.

[MP3] Franz Ferdinand - What You Waiting For -> White Wedding

Scotland's favorite sons perform a medley of sorts and bridge twenty years of pop music. From Gwen Stefani to Billy Idol.

Franz Ferdinand, Editors

Posted by Merry Swankster at 08:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 11, 2006

Do You Believe in Rapture? (Apocalypse Wow!)

As today's sloppy kiss of a write up by no less an authority than Mr. Pitchfork himself made unneccesary any further fawning from yours truly about the new Danielson record, I turn my attention to another religiously indie Soof-yan associate, My Brightest Diamond.

My Brightest Diamond - "Something of an End"

Focusing on the shiver starter voice of sometimes Iliinoisemaker (no not that one) Shara Worden, MBD give us a taste of the end times, lovingly composed and arranged. Not a pejorative morality tale a la Left Behind, Shara narrows in on small personal details calling into question whether her dramatic imagery is meant as a sweeping prophecy or an allegory for individual loss. It's her vocal trapeze act that makes it affecting, as her varied performance swings from sky high wails, to crushed whispers, with a few showy detours into odd trilling noises. A versitility that reminds one vaguely of legendary strange aunts like Bjork or Kate Bush.

But, we'll put a pin in the hyperbole for now until more material from her debut, Bring Me the Workhorse surfaces in advance of its August release.

A song of hers was also recently featured on the Asthmatic Kitty label's Mews Too compliation, which can be purchased here, or streamed on her MySpace page here, if members of the MS flock are sufficiently curious.

Tags: My Brightest Diamond, Sufjan Stevens, Danielson

Posted by Jeff Klingman at 05:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Merry Swankster's Coachella Setlist | Day 2 recap

Merry Swankster @ Coachella, Day 2:

My plans for the second day in Indio were a bit less structured than the first. I say about 23% less so. Not to say I haphazardly floated through the day without an agenda, but I didn’t pass out in the beer tent after unnecessary drinking in extreme heat either. Amount of beers or cocktails the esteemed staff at MS.com recommends for drinking at Coachella if consciousness is desired: 0[*MS Coachella rule #1].

Merry Swankster's adventure near the Mojave desert in California, Part 2.

Sunday at Coachella - May 29, 2006:

Funk en Espanol

Los Amigos Invisibles (Literally pulled towards the rock en espanol rhythms of the main stage while en route