Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
[REVISIT SUNDAY] Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!
The recent release of Los Campesinos! new album, Hello Sadness, has set me off on a Campesinos listening kick lately. This song is off their debut album Hold on Now, Youngster..., which came out in 2008.
You! Me! Dancing! was the first Los Campesinos! song I ever listened to. I always come back to it because of that incredible minute-long build up into an explosion of sound. And exploding is definitely something Los Campesinos! has in their repertoire of skills. Evidence #1: just look at their use of exclamation marks. This is a band that yells in your face. Makes you want to dance and stomp around. Shoots you up with adrenaline. And I know I will always love them for that.
Check out their new album Hello Sadness here. (Recommended listens: By Your Hand, Hello Sadness)
You can also buy Hold on Now, Youngster... here.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Raveonettes - Let Me On Out
"'Let Me On Out' is probably the least commercial song on Raven In The Grave, in that respect you could refer to it as an anti-single. We really love the song. It's beautiful, haunting, loud, and dynamic. Everything a great song should be. We wanted to showcase the song in a static setting to draw the listeners attention to the raw sound."
Wow, humble much? Still, this I believe they've accomplished. It's reminiscent of Andy Warhol's factory screen tests on stars such as Lou Reed, Dennis Hopper, and Bob Dylan. We've even got an Edie Sedgwick character, complete with extravagant black eye makeup and short almost white blonde hair. Looking down and away from the camera, or directly at it, no action, just focusing on the people themselves as they do nothing in front of the lens brings some sort of curious and aesthetic satisfaction to the frame.
Pick up Raven In The Grave over at amazon.
Bob Dylan's screen test
Dennis Hopper's screen test
Edie Sedgwick's screen test
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The Joy Formidable - Moth's Wings (Passion Pit Cover)
I had the pleasure of seeing these guys yesterday at Fun Fun Fun Fest here in Austin at Auditorium Shores. I was waiting at the orange stage in order to be in front for tUnE-YarDs when they came up to play. I knew I recognized the name, and about 15 minutes into the set I realized that I not only knew, but really liked several of their songs. So, as I sit here spraying saline solution up my nose in order to clear the copious amounts of dust I have clogging up my sinuses and popping allergy pills and drinking orange juice and getting ready for day three of FFFest, I am hype machine-ing them. And whilst doing so, I discovered this.
I believe that a truly good cover does more than just put a new spin on the song, but also awakens the feelings one had during their initial listen, which is exactly what I just experienced while listening to this. Passion Pit, I've found you again. I've suddenly forgotten the entity that is currently the Passion Pit I know, and am remembering this band when Manners first came out in 2009.
I'm remembering driving to Dallas for Thanksgiving with two of my friends, seeing the city lights with Little Secrets blasting as we curve around the city. I'm remembering the joyous moment in the music video for To Kingdom Come when the moon explodes and rains down upon the earth. I'm remembering that this album was a originally a love song and letter, I'd forgotten that. It all is clear again. This music was good, still is good. Forget the hype.
But returning to The Joy Formidable, the songs I recognized during their set were Cradle and Austere, which have a much different sound than the cover above. In fact, all their music has a different sound, it's much harder and (obviously) electric, which made for a very energetic and solid set. They gave a lot to the crowd, and were clearly very excited to be playing the festival.
Also, 2,000 views? Huh? This needs to be seen/heard.
Buy The Big Roar by The Joy Formidable here.
Buy Manners by Passion Pit here.
Also, Pitchfork is live streaming Fun Fun Fun Fest all three days this weekend. Check it out on their website.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Real Estate - It's Real
Just a little over a week ago, we got a wonderful live video of It's Real from vimeo-lord 4eyes. And just incase I didn't emphasize how much I love the song in that entry, let me emphasize again: I love this song.
And also, just incase Real Estate was worried that my love was trivial (which it's not), or insufficient (believe me, there's plenty of it), or surface-y (are you kidding, this is a love to last a lifetime) they came out with a video circled around DOGS.
And so now that I've expressed my love for It's Real, let me just express my love for dogs:
I LOVE DAWGS.
Canines, pooches.
They are the ultimate example of unconditional love. Seriously, no conditions.
They are forever overjoyed to see your face.
They have a deeply ingrained passion for getting as dirty as possible.
They will cuddle with you until the world stops.
You want me to love your song even more, Real Estate? Well done. You win. I'm sold.
The video is directed by Weird Days, who also directed one of last year's popular favorites: Delorean's Stay Close.
It's Real is off of Real Estate's latest release, Days, which can be purchased here.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
[REVISIT SUNDAY] Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
Since nothing makes the end of the weekend/start of the week blues feel better (ok, with the exception of new secrets updated on PostSecret) except some good homegrown nostalgia (and you know as indie music enthusiasts we love our nostalgia), I've decided to try something new here.
It may be the new startlingly foreign cold weather in Austin, or the fact that my housemates and I have built the coziest giant sheet fort downstairs, but lately every time I've left my house in the past few days, I've felt this odd string tying me back to it. I've been perpetually wanting to go back home. Which, for the record, is completely unlike me. The solution? Familiar, cozy songs. I've been playing them constantly to keep me going.
So in light of that, I've decided to start Revisit Sundays, in which a cup-of-soup-good song from a few years back will be focused on so we can all get over the letdown of a weekend gone past, and play it throughout Monday to keep from retreating into shelter.
Today's pick is Band of Horses' No One's Gonna Love You, off their 2007 album Cease to Begin. This was filmed live at Amoeba Music in Los Angeles, exactly 4 years ago in October 2007. Check out that beard, yo. Listen, and feel ok.
Modeselektor ft. Thom Yorke - Shipwreck
What's with all these kids having superpowers? Indie music is going all Matilda at the moment. First M83's music video for Midnight City, now we have a brand new music video from German electronic duo Modeselektor. The track features vocals from Thom Yorke and is off their latest album, Monkeytown. Don't know much about these guys, but with sounds and visuals like these, I'll be sure to keep an ear and an eye on them.
Directed by Tony T. Datis.
Monkeytown can be purchased here.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
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